Merging Reports

[Chetgeo]

On my cost form I have 50 fields to place an item. If I wanted to I could put the same item or any of a 1000+. Having said that, I have now been asked to generate a report counting the individual items and total cost for those and a grand total of the total costs..

If this doesn't make sense let me know and ill try and clarify.

[Fitch]

Are you saying that for example, you put "hammer" in field A, and "hammer" in field B, then "stapler" in fields C, D, E, and F etc. all on a single record? Please clarify, maybe give one or two examples.

[Vaughan]

It makes sense to me.... the solution has used a flat-file data model when it should have been relational.

Sadly there is no way to work around the problem, except to start work on doing the job properly!

[Chetgeo]

You are on the right track. Hammer in field A, Hammer in field B, Nails in field C.

-Where there is the will, there IS a way!

[Chetgeo]

I've got it all figured out! I created a new DB and in my original DB i wrote a script (after i made the relationship) that looks at each line to c if there is anything there. If there is, it creates a new record in the New DB, copies all the needed info, then proceeds to the next line repeating the process. Now in my New DB I can create the reports I need! And to keep that New DB small, it asks if your done w/your report and informs you that all info will be deleted after the print is done.

"Work outside the Box"

[Vaughan]

If you can do that then you can make the system relational...

Do it!