Inputting same data separate files

[Stephen K]

I have two files:

File 1: id, first name, family name, various fields about student behaviour

File 2: id, first name, family name, various fields about family

If File 1 is the master file with id being the key field, is there a way of inputting new student id (+ names)in the master file (file 1)that automatically appears in file 2 that I can later go to complete all of the other family information.

I suspect I am being complicated and should set up old file 2 as the master file (where information won't change regularly) with associated relationships to provide names etc for old file 1 where the information will be regularly added to...I know what I mean!!!

TIA

Stephen

[Stephen K]

I have two files:

File 1: id, first name, family name, various fields about student behaviour

File 2: id, first name, family name, various fields about family

If File 1 is the master file with id being the key field, is there a way of inputting new student id (+ names)in the master file (file 1)that automatically appears in file 2 that I can later go to complete all of the other family information.

I suspect I am being complicated and should set up old file 2 as the master file (where information won't change regularly) with associated relationships to provide names etc for old file 1 where the information will be regularly added to...I know what I mean!!!

TIA

Stephen

[sbg2]

Create a relationship between file1 and file2 based on ID = ID.

In file 2 go to Define Database, highlight field, select Options and on the Auto-Enter tab check the Looked-up Value box. Select File1 and the appropriate field to look-up data from. Repeat for other fields in file2.

[sbg2]

Create a relationship between file1 and file2 based on ID = ID.

In file 2 go to Define Database, highlight field, select Options and on the Auto-Enter tab check the Looked-up Value box. Select File1 and the appropriate field to look-up data from. Repeat for other fields in file2.

[NYPoke]

In theory (Fifth Normal Form for Relational Databases), you should only keep the Name, Family Name, many other fields in the first table.

Keep the id in both files. I'm sure you already have a relationship based on id.

In the File 2, when you want to display data from File 1, like name, you reference it directly. IdRelationship::First Name, IdRelationship::Last Name, Id Relationship::Zip Code, ... (Don't duplicate data.)

As far as creating a new record, you should be able to do this with scripting. From File 1, use a Script to create the new record. Your field definition for id probably already creates a Unique Number for id (if not, it should).

From File 1, call a script in File 2 to create a new record. Prior to making the call, set a global in File 2 with the id (in Version 6 & prior). In version 7, you can pass a parameter. Now set the id in File 2 in the new record.

If you don't duplicate your data between the files, you now have a record in File 2, with access to any changes made to name, address, ..., in File 1.

You can probably even put the fields from File 2 (about Family) on the File 1 layouts, since you created the record already. At that point, you shouldn't need to navigate to File 2 at all for the data entry.

[Stephen K]

Thanks folks...I'll try them out!

Stephen