How to create form with fields from multiple tables

[rtinsky]

I need to create a form that will display a list of contacts from the contact table and then allow you to enter attendance for the dates in the attendance table. Whenever I try to create this form, all I get is the heading with no content. I have linked the ID field from the contact table to the contact field of the attendance table. The attendance table has no entries as no attendance has been taken. Do I need to have a record in the attendance table for each contact in the contact table? If so, how do I get those records created? And how do I get one form that will allow me to enter attendance for all the contacts?

[CJ_London]

the rule is one form, one table. So if you have multiple related tables, use a form for the 'main' table and subforms for the other tables

[orange]

Perhaps you could tell us a little more about your Contacts and what exactly they are attending?

If you have Meetings on scheduled dates, or Events of some sort, then you might consider an additional table.

eg: Contact--->ContactAttendedMeeting<----Meeting

[rtinsky]

Perhaps you could tell us a little more about your Contacts and what exactly they are attending?

If you have Meetings on scheduled dates, or Events of some sort, then you might consider an additional table.

eg: Contact--->ContactAttendedMeeting<----Meeting

The attendance file is for recording their Sunday attendance at church. There is a field for each date of the year in the attendance table. I would like a form that allows me to enter the contacts attendance for each week or field in the attendance table.

[ssanfu]

There is a field for each date of the year in the attendance table. I would like a form that allows me to enter the contacts attendance for each week or field in the attendance table.

This sounds like you are "committing spreadsheet"! This means you have designed your Access tables like a spreadsheet. Spreadsheets are typically short and wide. Access tables are typically designed Tall and narrow.
A spreadsheet design in Access is not a normalized design.



Consider:

tblContacts
----------------
ContactID_PK (autonumber)
ContactFName (text)
ContactLName (text)


tblAttendance
---------------------
AttendanceID_PK (autonumber)
ContactID_FK (long integer) (foreign key field to tblContacts)
AttendanceDate (date/time)

[June7]

So there are 52 fields - one for each Sunday date?

If you stick with this design (not advised) then why bother with 2 tables? Just have one big 'flat file' table - like a spreadsheet.

[orange]

If you have convinced yourself of HOW you're going to do this; and that is like a spreadsheet; then use a spreadsheet (Excel).

Try to separate What you want to achieve from HOW it should/could be done.

If you want to use Access, then review some database design articles, create a sample model and test with sample data, then build the database. If you don't want to learn the basics of database, then don't try to use Access (or any DBMS).

The analogy is using a hammer to drive screws, yes it will work (once), but use the right tool for the job.

Good luck with your project.