Planning a Access Database

[eastfield]

I just joined the forum. I am a novice with MS Access version 9 i.e Access 2000.

I recently completed a beginner’s courseonline provided by Netg called MS Access Fundamentals. The course included topics like ,working with tables ,working with data ,and working with forms and presenting data. What I would like to do is set up a database that mental health users and carers can tap into for information about services available to them in my locality, London. I want to write a questionnaires , send them out and when the feedback arrives chase those who need to be chased for the data. I am currently unemployed so have a lot of time on my hands.

My initial thoughts are to draw up the categories as follows

Local Carers in the area
Employment agencies in the area
Day/drop in centres in the area
Support Groups in the area
Special Needs Schools
Doctors

Within the Support Groups category I would include
Community Mental Health Teams include:
Consultant psychiatrists
Social Workers
Mental health nurses
Occupational therapists
Psychologists


All these categories appear unrelated but tables will need to be prepared. I could for example prepare forms for the opening times of the Day/Drop In Centres ect…

Eventually when all database is complete I would like to transfer the database to a web page/website or CD like you have with Yellow pages diecrtory ?


What is the best plan for this mini project and what aspects of Access version 9 are most important know and use to complete this database?

Thanking you all in advance.

Eastfield

Well, the first thing you will want to do is get all the information you'll want for each topic. This way, when you layout the database tables, you don't forget anything. I usually sketch them out on a piece of paper so I can show relation if I have to, and the visual makes designing easier anyhow.

I would make each topic it's own table. The support groups table could be linked to sub tables which contain the information you want for them (relational).

Once you've got all your information inputted into the database, it's not hard to make a web front end for it using DreamWeaver or FrontPage. You will have to make sure your web host supports whatever scripting language you use though. Almost all web hosts support java and php, and most good ones support asp. You might even be able to purchase a premade data display front end for the data. We have done things like that for customers in the past who have their data and do not wish to migrate.

All you really need Access for is entering your data, but it might help to learn how to make forms for the data entry. I usually don't waste the time anymore and just enter it in through the dataview itself. Depends on if you want other people to be able enter data or not, and how easy you want the process to be for them.

I'm sure none of that helped, but if you have other questions, shoot!

-Whir

[eastfield]

Much appreciated these are a good points to consider in the diesign.As I progress I will keep you posted.

Eastfield