Can someone explain how this works?

[daveofgv]

Can someone explain how this works?



If I had one table (main) and had 40 columns:

first_name last_name SSN home_phone age car_type
John Smith 555-555-5555 22 mustang

If I wanted to add another car type (truck) how can I have it relate to John Smith when I select him in a drop down?

I will be doing this in VB.NET, however, I believe this would be the database configuration and not programming.

If the above was not a good explanation: I will give one more.

How do you add fields to someones record without having to create multiple John Smith's in the database?

Thanks in advanced

daveofgv

[orange]

daveofgv,

Can someone explain how this works?

I believe this would be the database configuration and not programming.

You are correct Dave. It has everything to do with database structure.

But your post suggests a number of questions. And the answers to those questions (and others) are key to getting your database structured to meet your requirements.

What does the table represent? People? People who "own" cars? and possibly People who "own" trucks?
What do the 40 columns in table(main) represent?
If you add another car_type (truck), does truck seem to be "at the same level/meaning" as mustang? Truck seems a little more generic than Mustang. Perhaps another column, truck_type? With values like F150 or Frontier....?
If a Person (John Smith) owns 2 cars, will all the data about John Smith be "repeated". That seems inefficient. If John Smith sold his Mustang, would John Smith be deleted from the Table(main)? Seems we might lose the info about John Smith...?
What would happen if John Smith and his brother, Mike, "go halfers" on a motorcycle?
You could add a column called truck_type, or possible rearrange what you have and rename car_type to vehicle_type.

Interesting questions - the kind that must be answered to get the database "right".
Here is a link that describes/explains some of the underlying concepts of database design and Normalization. If you read the first 3 topics, you will be well on your way.
http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/forum/topic238.html

Good luck.

[daveofgv]

Would it be possible to send you a PM?

I work, and also, own a smaller company that I am trying to create this application for. I can send you the actual database so you can see what it is for and what information I have in it.

The cars example was only an example. Actaully, it will be adding people into the application and retrieving their information. I will have to add mulitple items at different times for one person and affraid that they may not be added correctly.

IF possible, can I create an example database and send it to you?

Thanks

[orange]

Dave,

Did you read the material I suggested? Those are the basics.