The proper way to add 34 checkboxes and to get it to show in a query or new form if it has to.

[Leviathin]

I have spent all day searching thru google to find an answer, but I am at a loss. I am a Newbie when it comes to access so please be gentle.

My issue is, I am creating a new database to handle new medical patients coming into our small clinic, nothing fancy, just 3 forms with a single subform. Originally what I wanted was to add a bunch of check boxes for the 34 most common medical conditions that we see. The process would be that on the main form, you click the button "Add new conditions" and a new form pops up with the 34 most common conditions, you select the 5 or 6 you need and close the form. At this time I also wanted those 5 or 6 conditions that you just selected to show up under the conditions heading of the main form, just so you could see them as you continue filling out the form, everything you input will be reported out later.



While I was trying to figure out how to "show" those selected conditions (which I was never able to figure out) I came across a couple of posts saying that just doing check boxes for something like this would be inefficient and "not good database writing." Their logic seems to make sense and I can get on board with it, but after recreating the tables in a more "efficient manner", I realized I can't have my check boxes. The other posts were all describing how to accomplish what I want by using drop down lists and what not, but I would really like to keep the check boxes.

The "more efficient" way involves making each medical condition a separate report in a new table and then using relationships to link the conditions to a specific patient, but now I can't link a "yes/no" box to the condition to be selected in my form. The new table has 3 fields, Condition ID, Condition Name and a Check box. I created the intermediate table to be able to link the patients to the conditions, but linking each condition to it's own Check box is beyond me.

To me, the concept seems simple enough and hopefully I am just missing something small. If anyone has any suggestions or thoughts, they would be greatly appreciated.

[orange]

The "more efficient" way involves making each medical condition a separate report in a new table and then using relationships to link the conditions to a specific patient, but now I can't link a "yes/no" box to the condition to be selected in my form.

This quote from your post leads me to believe you are trying to use Access/database terms to help describe your situation, but it's really rambling and confused.

You asked for a tip, and I'm going to suggest you work through this tutorial to understand database design and get some basic concepts clear before you work on your own database.

Good luck.

[June7]

The 'new table' does not need checkbox. You need a table of all possible conditions that would be the source of items for a combobox. You need a table of patient info.

Then you need a 'junction' table that holds records to associate conditions with patients. Then a form/subform arrangement for data entry - main form bound to patient table and subform bound to junction table with combobox to select condition.

You could have an unbound form with the 34 checkboxes but then would need a bunch of code to save records into the junction table.

I agree with Orange - you need a better understanding of relational database principles and Access functionality.