Access Form Designer

[Khanmots]

Is there a good online resource for getting up and running with Access? Particularly dealing with forms?

And yes, I realize the limitations of Access. All I'm using it for is for personal use of a small data set that just doesn't have a nice simple 2d relationship that will fit well in excel.

 

[PTNL]

The few forms I've done in Access were mostly pieced together from some Google searches, and filling in with VBA code when direct binding and simple rules were not sufficient. Is there something in particular that you're struggling with?

And this may not apply, but..... If you were planning on using an OLE data type for a field, then don't; it can be a pain to get binaries out and back to disk afterwards.

 

[Khanmots]

PTNL, basically I'm a noob when it comes to database stuff.

That said, I know enough to get my stuff into 3NF and have been drawing out EER charts and such before implementing anything. And I have confidence that I'll be able to get my queries together, especially as their efficiency isn't going to be important. I remember enough from my ages ago DB class that so far with a bit of research here and there I've been fine

However, I've got no experience at all with working in Access, no experience at all with VBA code, etc... so I was thinking of trying to find a resource that'd let me read up on it prior to trying to dive neck-deep into it. But maybe I just need to dive in and flounder around for a bit first

As for data I'm dealing with, basically I'm working on a personal financial allocation system to track my current (future tax-adjusted valuation) asset allocation against my target weighting as well as tracking my target weighting and desired delta from market weighting against current market weighting. I may eventually want to expand it to track individual share lots and cost basis, however I think there are actually other solutions for that (for example I think quicken will do that). Anyways, the point is that the data itself is all basic text, ints, floats, or currency. No OLE or BLOBS or anything strange. I'd do it in excel but the relationships I'm trying to model don't lend themselves to excel too well (or I'm overlooking something... XD )

 

[Khanmots]

hm, poking around with Access some this evening and the forms stuff seems much more straightforward than I'd thought. Was worried it was going to be more along the lines of MFC. Now I can see why you're just saying google it

 

[PTNL]

Glad things seem to be going better. Definitely not as much ramp up as MFC Access is certainly a quick-n-dirty database, but it sounds like you've got a grasp of the end result and have found enough so far by poking around the UI.

 

[Khanmots]

Access is certainly a quick-n-dirty database, but it sounds like you've got a grasp of the end result and have found enough so far by poking around the UI.

Started off toying with mysql, but when it got time to start thinking about how to actually interface with it I found myself moving to Access (especially when I started thinking that other non-technical people could find this useful if I can actually follow-through and get it done and all-in-one with Access would make sharing much easier). Unfortunately I've just convinced myself that my super/sub-type breakdown is flawed, so I get to rethink that portion now. Ah well, I suppose if it was easy it wouldn't be any fun.

 

[PTNL]

Started off toying with mysql, but when it got time to start thinking about how to actually interface with it I found myself moving to Access (especially when I started thinking that other non-technical people could find this useful if I can actually follow-through and get it done and all-in-one with Access would make sharing much easier).

I'm curious on the sharing aspect... While there are some merits to sharing physical files, I can't help but think that a web/client application that connects to a transactional database (running as a service) would be a better fit. I'm sure there's more to this project than what's been shared thus far in the thread, so at least take this as my $0.02.

 

[Khanmots]

PTNL, I'm not talking about sharing access to the data but providing other self-managed investors on the forum I'm involved with the toolset I've developed. I'm getting a lot of free advice from a lot of people that know what they're talking about and would like to give something back. Besides, while this kind of thing might be marketable it'd be to an extremely niche market that is very cost conscious. So I was thinking of distributing the mostly empty database (stuff like asset classes would be preloaded) w/ forms, etc, for them to use as they see fit. I guess I could do it up with a db server and web-based front-end (in-fact that's the path I started down at first), but that seems to push a lot of complexity of setup onto a group that's not the most technically inclined. Or would I really be better off going that route? (Keep in mind that I'm mostly an embedded coder, and know almost nothing of web-stuff either )

And at least so-far the project is about as stated (I think). Thing is that I'm new to this whole completely self-managed investing thing, so I'm sure that the more I learn, the more requirements I'll be wanting to levy on my setup. But right now it's relatively simple requirements. Got nothing against sharing what I'm working on, no great secrets in it or anything. Speaking of, I may well post up my schema for comments when I get it to the point that I'm not seeing any glaring issues with it. Maybe this weekend?

And on a side note, thinking relational warps your brain