Running a query to count, is multiplying by number of other criteria?

[offie]

I have 3 fields (ProjectCode,TradeCode, QuestionID)

Each project has various trades in it. Each question can come from any trade.

I thought I would run a simple count query, grouping by the other 2:

SELECT dbo_Bid.ProjectCode, dbo_Bid.TradeCode, Count(dbo_BiddersQuestions.QuestionId) AS CountOfQuestionId


FROM dbo_Bid INNER JOIN dbo_BiddersQuestions ON (dbo_Bid.TradeCode = dbo_BiddersQuestions.TradeCode) AND (dbo_Bid.TradeCode = dbo_BiddersQuestions.TradeCode) AND (dbo_Bid.ProjectCode = dbo_BiddersQuestions.ProjectCode)
GROUP BY dbo_Bid.ProjectCode, dbo_Bid.TradeCode;

but for some reason the count is multiplied but the number of trades per project.

ex: A project has trades A B and C. A asked 3 questions B asked 2 and C asked 5

what I get is that A asked 9, B asked 6, and C asked 15

If ther is only one trade it gives the the right answer, if 2 trades then it doubles it.

Can this have something to do with the way I set up the relationships?

Thanks!

[JoeM]

but for some reason the count is multiplied but the number of trades per project.
...
Can this have something to do with the way I set up the relationships?

Quite possibly. It sounds like you may have some many-to-many relationships working here.

It would probably being very helpful if you could post some small data samples of each table, and your expected results from that data.
Many times a visual representation makes it quite clearer for us to see what you are working with.

[offie]

So I took some pictures of what I have already

Here is the data:

Here is what I get:

What I want to get is

40413 P 3
40413 H 1
40413 C 18
(the order doesn't matter)

Here are the relationships : (I only used the 2 tables)


Thanks

[JoeM]

What is the first image of? One of your tables? Or an intermediate query?
It would be helpful to see images of the two original tables you are joining.

[offie]

So actually, taking a closer look at what I was trying to do, I really only need one table, which makes everything much simple and now it works. And yes the first image was a temporary query I had run to get the data I wanted.
Sorry, and Thanks!

[JoeM]

Glad you got it working.
Sometimes, it helps just to talk it out.