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Posted: 3/12/2011 4:55:34 PM EDT
[#1]
Access for Dummies.
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Posted: 3/12/2011 4:57:03 PM EDT
[#2]
tables first
then queries then forms to present the info in the queries |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 4:57:46 PM EDT
[#3]
First response nails it.
The Dummies series is actually pretty good stuff. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 4:58:18 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
... How would you best organize the data tables? (For instance, would there be one table for guns, one for Manufacturers, one for Sellers, etc.?).... Me? I would normalize my tables like that. You? You should create one table with a column for manufacturer, another column for serial number, another column for seller, etc. when you want to get a list of all manufacturers, you can write a query using "distinct." eta: A lot of "how to design a database" stuff that you read is designed for databases with thousands of rows with lots of selects and updates from multiple users. You won't need optimization for < 1,000 guns. I have tables at work with many millions of rows (one table has every street address in America). On stuff like this, I have to work about data models, the architecture, etc. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:02:46 PM EDT
[#5]
Access is for a collection of spreadsheets as the base of the actual database. If you have so many guns that you can't track them in one spreadsheet, well more power to ya.
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:03:39 PM EDT
[#6]
If you really, really need access over excel to keep track of you guns, can you adopt me?
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:04:03 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Access for Dummies. I'm worse than a dummy, because I didn't get it. 
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:04:03 PM EDT
[#8]
Why use access when you can just use excel?
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:04:38 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Access for Dummies. I'm worse than a dummy, because I didn't get it. Didn't get what? The post or the book? |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:04:42 PM EDT
[#10]
Unless you have a lot of data, save some time and just use excel or something off the shelf.
However, if you want to do it as an exercise to learn databases, save yourself some time and use excel 
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:04:57 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Why use access when you can just use excel? Excel is a great spreadsheet that is misused. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:10:32 PM EDT
[#12]
Access for Dummies is a book.
Understanding Relationships. Optimizing a database. Tables Forms Queries Reports Complex Queries database maintenance That's the way I'd teach it to a noob. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:16:12 PM EDT
[#13]
I'd use MYSQL if it was me and I needed a database to store information. But I don't have enough guns to go through the process of creating a database. But I usually create databases and tables manually, then populate it using the MySQL command line and a text file with all the data that needs to be inserted into the tables. I can then whip up a few PHP pages to handle queries and input, modify, delete data.
I have never used access other then the training databases they use at work. Personally I'm a Linux guy. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:19:17 PM EDT
[#14]
Look in templates there are a bunch that can be used to track collections. It is much easier to modify an existing data base then it is to create one from scratch.
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:34:12 PM EDT
[#15]
I do Oracle database software development for a living.
If I simply wanted to track information about my personal guns in an electronic log, I'd throw it all into an XL SS. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:36:39 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Why use access when you can just use excel? Excel is a great spreadsheet that is misused. Okay, and it seems like it would be perfect for assembling an inventory of your collection. It's what I used. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:38:17 PM EDT
[#17]
OP, What do you really want to do?
Why the need for a "database" versus a list of your guns with all their info that you can sort, display in a pivot table, etc? Unless there are multiple users or multiple lists, I wouldn't mess with a database. Just to think of it easier: Spreadsheet = a list Database = a bunch of lists tied together in a box. Sounds like you really only have one entity to cover. Serial numbers. Everything else is just fields to describe each SN. Use Excel. You'll be happier in the long run. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:38:55 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why use access when you can just use excel? Excel is a great spreadsheet that is misused. Okay, and it seems like it would be perfect for assembling an inventory of your collection. It's what I used. If you REALLY want to go over the 20,000,000,000 cell limit in excel , you could always connect it to a database and expand it. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:41:21 PM EDT
[#19]
I recommend that you try out Open Office. It has a database application.
You can even get a Portable version that runs on a thumbdrive. Oh, yeah - it's FREE! |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:41:45 PM EDT
[#20]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why use access when you can just use excel? Excel is a great spreadsheet that is misused. Okay, and it seems like it would be perfect for assembling an inventory of your collection. It's what I used. If you REALLY want to go over the 20,000,000,000 cell limit in excel , you could always connect it to a database and expand it. for excel 2010 microsoft created an add-in called powerpivot that basically ads very slick olap cube capabilities to excel. there's a table viewing window that pops up in which you can view a number of rows limited only by your machines memory. it's quite amazing. there are demo videos out on the web where dudes load 100 million record databases. the data is entirely contained in teh spreadsheet. www.powerpivot.com |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:42:49 PM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
If you really, really need access over excel to keep track of you guns, can you adopt me? This. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:44:19 PM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
I recommend that you try out Open Office. It has a database application. You can even get a Portable version that runs on a thumbdrive. Oh, yeah - it's FREE! except that he already has office, and is trying to use access.. but thanks for the help. I also need to learn access. so i think i'll check out the dummies book. |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:48:15 PM EDT
[#23]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Why use access when you can just use excel? Excel is a great spreadsheet that is misused. Okay, and it seems like it would be perfect for assembling an inventory of your collection. It's what I used. If you REALLY want to go over the 20,000,000,000 cell limit in excel , you could always connect it to a database and expand it. for excel 2010 microsoft created an add-in called powerpivot that basically ads very slick olap cube capabilities to excel. there's a table viewing window that pops up in which you can view a number of rows limited only by your machines memory. it's quite amazing. there are demo videos out on the web where dudes load 100 million record databases. the data is entirely contained in teh spreadsheet. www.powerpivot.com I'm sitting here reading : 
right now Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 3/12/2011 5:51:41 PM EDT
[#24]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why use access when you can just use excel? Excel is a great spreadsheet that is misused. Okay, and it seems like it would be perfect for assembling an inventory of your collection. It's what I used. If you REALLY want to go over the 20,000,000,000 cell limit in excel , you could always connect it to a database and expand it. for excel 2010 microsoft created an add-in called powerpivot that basically ads very slick olap cube capabilities to excel. there's a table viewing window that pops up in which you can view a number of rows limited only by your machines memory. it's quite amazing. there are demo videos out on the web where dudes load 100 million record databases. the data is entirely contained in teh spreadsheet. www.powerpivot.com I'm sitting here reading : http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d157/Gatordonald/9553622d.jpg right now Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I have the same book on my desk. I've been playing with the add in for a few weeks now. It's fucking amazing. I get a boner just thinking about it. |
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Posted: 3/13/2011 3:57:20 AM EDT
[#25]
Sorry for the confusion.
I tried Access for Dummies way back when. I reckon I'm worse than a dummy.
That said, I could always try it again. 
Interesting Excel add-on. Might be very useful for work. As for the collection, it's not that it's huge; it's just that, as a Quality Assurance professional, I am very anal about how I keep records about some things. My collection is one of them. |
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Posted: 3/13/2011 4:13:49 AM EDT
[#26]
Why do work that has already been done? Call the ATF and request an electronic version of your inventory.
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Posted: 3/13/2011 4:28:16 AM EDT
[#27]
nm
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Posted: 3/13/2011 8:31:29 AM EDT
[#28]
OP, Judging from the responses I see, I bet your original question didn't get answered.
Access is a very powerful and difficult-to-learn database management tool. My first question to you is just how big is the collection of data you want to manage? If it's not too big (less than 1,000 cells), then maybe Excel would work ok. If you have a LOT of data to manage, Access is the way to go. Do you have a community college nearby which teaches this? Tables - how the data is stored; as text, numbers, etc. think of it as how many rows and columns as if it were a spreadsheet. Query - what information do you want to get out of the table like how many people under age 35 in your city. form - a tool for inputting data into the table Report - once you have your query complete, the report arranges that data on a page to print. |
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Posted: 3/13/2011 8:35:49 AM EDT
[#29]
the only reason that Access would be "needed" is if you need to query across multiple tables and join the results of those queries.
but even then, you could easily do this Excel with some basic formulas |
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Posted: 3/13/2011 8:54:43 AM EDT
[#30]
imho, unless you're doing stuff like this:
INSERT INTO `jos_session` (`session_id`, `client_id`, `time`) VALUES ('den4a9bl9qmcs3ac4ovvrd4ik2', 0, 1300015920)
There is no need to jump into databases. Stick with a spreadsheet. If at some point you want to move into a database, you can export the Excel/Spreadsheet as .csv, set your delimination and import into SQL with very little work. |
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Posted: 3/13/2011 3:46:48 PM EDT
[#31]
There is off the shelf C&R database software, but I have forgotten the name of the program.
I'd use Excel and then import it to Access strictly to run queries if data sorts in Excel don't do it for you. |
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Posted: 3/14/2011 6:46:58 AM EDT
[#32]
I went and snagged a copy of "Access 2007 for Dummies". I was a bit embarrassed to realize that no, I had NOT looked at this book before. What I once had was the Access Bible or some such.
So far, it has been a great read, and while I don't anticipate using Access for my project, it will definitely help me understand how it all works. If I ever choose to move over to Access, then I guess I'll have a reference for that, too. I got the 2007 version simply because it had the "basics" information that the other available books for 2010 didn't have. Thanks for the recommendation. 
As for using such a tool for a collection database, I have ambitions that go beyond mere collection. Who knows? I may even be able to sell this thing when I'm done developing it.... Time to hopefully give something back to this community. 
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