Multiple options based on a tree structure...

[blue22]

Not sure the title is appropriate, I cant find another one.


I am a novice with some experience in excel and very old experience with foxpro... I want to create a database with a table - name, country and another one with country, continent. When I enter a name in the first table I want to be able to assign that name to every country of a continent (to be able to select a continent, not only the countries individually) or be able to select only a few countries. I am interested in listing each country with its members, but a member can be part of several countries, or only one, or to all from a continent. The tree structure would be earth / continents / countries.
Hope my analogy explains it all...
What would be the best approach? Thank you.

[orange]

I don't know your background/experience but recommend you investigate ISO-3166-2 and ISO-3166-3.
You really don't want to invent your own codes when these exist and are used by many organizations.
Also for Countries and Regions you should look at these accepted standards
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm

Good luck

[blue22]

Thank you, the country/continents is an analogy, I dont actually need countries, but it gave me the idea to use codes. Like the first 2 digits should be the "continent" index and the following 2 would be the country.
I was wondering what the best approach would be for a database design, what relationships and what tables...

[orange]

Suggest you drop the analogy for the moment and tell us about the issue/opportunity you're really dealing with.
Don't arbitrarily make a code

Like the first 2 digits should be the "continent" index and the following 2 would be the country.

.

Here is a good source of database principles that is well worth the read. With database, one fact, one field and research Normalization.

Here's a tutorial that will help you with understanding the "business" and designing your tables and relationships.
Good luck