Relational tables help

[BarbT]

I am fairly new to Access and although I have used it before, it was only in a simple way to create flat tables. Now I have a large job to do and honestly don't know where to begin!
I need to create a way of saving and recording a lot of data for a school - about health and lifestyle.

I have to record:
1. Personal details - name, age, address, etc
2. Height, weight, waist circumference, Shuttle tests x 4
3. Lifestyle changes i.e eating and physical activity x 4
4. Attendance at sessions x 4

I have been advised by those who are going to use the data to do the following:

The most efficient way of doing it would indeed be to use
relational tables. Your first table would be the one
with personal details, and this would be the one with a
Unique ID number (ideally generated automatically).
This number would then be used in every other table where
data was collected for a participant, which would enable us
to link the data when analysing it. The other
important thing to include on each of the table would be the
date that the measurement/recording took place.

The problem is that I don't quite know where to start! I would be grateful for any help or advice and/or tutorials that may help.



Many thanks in advance!

[Rixxe]

Morning,

Well first things first, have you created the tables?
You can just add those fields in manually, while using the generated ID that is given.

Once you are at that point, you could research how to use forms, this means someone could enter data in text boxes (for example) in a form, for each field, and then create a button that moves all that data into the relevant tables.
Or if the data is in Excel, there are processes for moving the data over into access.

Worst comes to worst (If you are really suck) you can upload the database for someone to have a look.
Remember google is your friend.

Good luck.

[BarbT]

Hi,
no, I haven't created the tables yet, as I thought that I needed to get all my design info together in my head first of all. So, do you suggest that I now create 4 tables as mentioned in my earlier post? Once that is done, I assumed that I needed to set up relationships, but you have thrown me now by talking about forms. Is that a better way to do things based on what I need? I haven't a clue about those, so would welcome any advice.

[Rixxe]

Apologies. Forget about forms for the moment, Where is your data that you want to put into the tables kept? In excel?
If so you can import it into access.
If its on paper(for example) you might as well create the tables and fields in access manually or programmatically, then start from building on that.

This site will help you, and google can also help you to create a table.

[BarbT]

OK, thanks for this. My info is on paper at the moment, so I think that I will begin to create the tables and get all the info entered in manually. Once that is done, I will need to come back for more help!

[Rixxe]

You're welcome, remember there are plenty of sites out there to help you understand the basics, and the complex.
Good luck.