Key on multiple fields

[thusgaard]

Hi

I'm not sure where I should put this. So here it is in general Access.

I'm trying to clean up a database and make sure that I don't make an error in future entrys.

Is it possible to make a "key" that highlights the rows with matching keys. The thing is that a the "key" is Switchname + Switchport, data placed in 2 different colums in the same row.

How do I do this? Is it possible?

J;-)

[Robeen]

Can you give more details?
For example:
1. Where are you wanting to 'highlight' the 'key'?
2. Are Switchname and Switchport - fields in a table?

[thusgaard]

Can you give more details?
For example:
1. Where are you wanting to 'highlight' the 'key'?
2. Are Switchname and Switchport - fields in a table?

I didn't think it through...

1. I want to highlight one of the fields, say the switchport field
2. Switchname and switchport are fields in a table

J;-)

[Robeen]

Where are you wanting to highlight the rows with matching keys??
Is it in a Form, in a Report . . .

[thusgaard]

I enter data directly to the database, not nice but effective in my case... It would be nice to see it (I don't know the name of the view) in this view. But in a report would be nice as a test after entering data.

Guessing that the report would just contain the ones that has problems....

I'm such a noob

J;-)

[Robeen]

Are you entering data directly into a Table?
If that is the case, then I don't think it will be possible to highlight rows based on the values int the key fields. I don't know for sure because I have never tried to do anything like that in a Table.

You can do things like highlighting when your data is being displayed in a Form or in a Report.

[thusgaard]

I enter directly to the table.
I know this is bad.
But is it possible to make a report?
I'll just have to look at the report every once in a while.

[Robeen]

Entering directly into a Table is not ideal - but if it is only for YOU - and if you're careful - you may not need to bother with anything else.

But - it is easy to create a Data Entry Form based on your Table. If you want to. It'll be a step towards getting your Database a little more efficient.

Also - making reports is really easy.

Go to Create -> Report Wizard and it will walk you through the steps of selecting your Table etc.

Once you've created the report, you will have to size the boxes on the report etc.
If you have Text fields in your Table that have a field size of 255 [the default] - then Access will try & give you a huge field to accomodate all 255 characters!!

Once you have your report looking the way you want - you will want to use something called 'Conditional Formatting'.

Let me know if you need more help - or you can read up on line. Just Google 'ms access conditional formatting'.

All the best!

[thusgaard]

Say I have these fields
Switchname, Switchport
SW1, 1
SW2, 1
SW1, 1
SW2, 2
SW2, 3
SW2, 3

I want the report to show SW, 1 and SW2, 3
How is this done?

[Robeen]

Do you mean:
SW1, 1?

What is the logic behind wanting to see:
SW1,1
SW2,3

?

Are you trying to show the highest Switchport value for each Switchname?

[thusgaard]

They are the ones where the posts are double.
The thing is that you can not use the same switchport twice, and I need to know when I have used the same port twice.