Validating Field to Avoid Duplicate Record

[bugsy]

Hi,

How can I validate a field to avoid duplicates. i.e. CompanyID 1 = ABC Company

CompanyID 2 = XYZ Company

And if ABC Company is entered again, it will link to CompanyID 1, etc.

Many thanks for your help,

Andre

[Twd70]

erm 1st off i'd make companyID an auto generated number, to do the work for u (key field, so u can change the name later etc.)

then make companyName and validate it to be unique.

so Company ABC cannot be entered twice.

however Company ABC and Company ABC (double space, are 2 diff things so it wont stop this.)

in my DB i made the company name field on data entry a drop down, auto complete so if i type 'Company' and 'Company ABC' appears below i can see some1 else has entered it and abort my creation.

[bugsy]

Thanks. The extra space is just a typo.

But to be more explicit, once I created the company name (ABC Company), I have to add the contact name, etc.

Then I need to create another record for another contact name with the same company (ABC Company). If I used the unique value and serial number, then it will prompt me for duplicate. What I want to happen is to create another record (new contact name) but using existing Company ID and Company Name.

Thanks.

[mr_vodka]

You would want to have a related table for your contacts. Each contact in the table would have an associated companyID which represents each different company.

[bugsy]

Thanks John,

I just got the copy of Whitepaper. I'll definitely read it.

Andre