Finding Coordinates

[QuickJeff]

So I started with Excel, but I want to take the leap to access.
I think in the long haul it would be easier to manipulate. I do understand that I am still in "excel mode", this is the only factor I am stumped by making the switch.



What would be the best way to query the above with access?

[ranman256]

You are still in Excel mode, so this layout is wrong , In access it would be 3 columns:

row,col,result
73,32,156

you query row = 73, col=32 and get 156

[ssanfu]

Be aware that "row" and "result" are reserved words in Access.

So if you have a table with fields "iRow", "iCol" and "iResult", to retrieve a value, use a query:

SELECT iResult FROM MyTable WHERE iRow = 73 AND iCol = 32;

[QuickJeff]

So to "normalize the data I could fill in the blanks from A4 to A5 with the missing lengths. Ex 30,31,32,33,34,35,36.

I didn't mention that I deal with eights (1/8,1/4, etc.) Would it be best to normalize the data with fractions or decimals?

Ex: 30 1/8, 30 1/4, - OR - 30.125, 30.250

[CJ_London]

So to "normalize the data I could fill in the blanks from A4 to A5 with the missing lengths. Ex 30,31,32,33,34,35,36.

No - you have not provided any heading so no idea what your data is, so responders have been using the excel row/columns as references.

So assuming the values in col A are thicknesses and in row 2 are widths then your query would be

SELECT iResult FROM MyTable WHERE thickness= 73 AND width = 32;

However it is quite possible that you don't need a table as 'complete' as you have. If it is based on some sort of calculation it is possible that you only need to store the 'step changes'. Despite my suggested field names, it doesn't look like this relates to material sizes, but if it did, you would only need to store the sizes actually available then can determine what is the smallest efficient size to supply the required width and thickness.

[CJ_London]

I didn't mention that I deal with eights (1/8,1/4, etc.) Would it be best to normalize the data with fractions or decimals?

Up to you. if you always deal in eigths and that is your unit of measure, stick with it. If you have other units such as metric (and again making assumptions since you have not told us enough) 3mm approximates to 1/8" (it is 0.118 inches against 0.125) - would that be good enough or not? Maybe you need two fields, a value and a unit of measure so you can easily convert from one to the other.

[ssanfu]

You could post your dB for analysis......