Relationships

I just found the forum and have read a number of questions and answers and hope I can get some help. I have created a database for a small repository. I currently have 6 files (and more to come). The one field that appears on all records is an accession number. Each box is assigned an accession number and each object in that box is given the accession number and a unigue catalog number.

Example: A Box is assigned an Accession number --1974.01.001 (year, collection #, box#) Each object in that box is given a Catalog number -1974.01.001.001 (year, collection #, box # catalog #)

Each accession number has many objects related to it. An object may have a record in the measurement file and condition file etc.

The accession record has the several fields that are found on all records

Acession #

Catalog #

Box #

artifact type

geographic location

What I have done is set up a "master file" or entry file that when opened you can click on different buttons and go to those files and this works. What I want to do now is relate all the files so that I can do a find across all the files.

Say I want to find all the records associated with an accession # or find all records for a specific type of artefact.

I am stumped on how to set up the relationships from the master file

what field do I use?

can a field be used more then once - (all files related by accession #)

I know how to set up a portal - I want it in the master file

not clear on global fields

I understand somewhat about caculated fields.

If you can help I would appreciate it. I have gone round and round and have looked at several examples of relational databases but cant quite get it.