refresh my memory on relationships

[ibiubu]

Years ago I built a database using relationships...As I recall it was between 4 database files.

I have not had a use to do this for quite a while.

Currently I have a database file I am using.

I have built a new database lfie with a layout for custom reporting purposes. It wll get the data from my existing database.

From what I remembered I have to have 2 similiar fields in eash database. In this case I have went with a ID Number field. In the databases. These fields are set to do an auto number+1 entry each time a record is created.

All I really want the new Report database to do is flow along with the Maste databaser. In other words, if I create a new record in the Master, a new one is created in the Reporting database. If I delete a record in the Master database, it is deleted in the Report database.

When I first set up the Relationship;

1) from which database do I do this. Do I set up the relationship from the Report database linking to the Master database, or vice versa.

2) I thought that when I first set up the relationship that if I picked the ID Number field from the 2 databases, select the create and delete options, this would do it. But when I create a new record in the Master database, no new record is created in the Report database. If I delete one from the Master, of coursse there is nothing to delete from the the Report database.

What is it that I am missing?

[michele]

You can't expect database 'B' to follow database 'A' by itself (unless you do some scripting)

But you can add a record to database 'B' related to database 'A' a through a portal.

Create a field in database 'B' which is called "fk_A" (=foreign key of database A).

Create a relationship with your key field in database "A":

Keyfield A = fk_A

Put a portal in your database A based on this relationship and check: "allow the creation of related records" for this portal.

Now everytime you enter data in the portal the key field of 'A' will automatically be entered in the field 'fk_A' in database 'B'. A related record is created.

If you check: 'when deleting a record in this file also delete related records' in the 'define relationships' window. Related records in database 'B' will automatically be deleted if you remove a record from database 'A'.

I hope this makes some sense to you...