Newbie looking for Relationship advice ( the FMP kind)

[alphanitrate]

I am building my first relationship style database ( usually go do a single table) and I am a little confused about how it all comes together.

I have 4 seperate tables that i have linked by a key field in the "Main table.

I have these set up to create new records in the "Main" table as I import new records. However The "Main" table currently has 0 records in it.

The 4 other files have (128, 584, 9668, 40,875 records

Total 51,255)

How do i make all of these records show in one layout with access to all fields from all the other table?

And how do I ensure that this will continue everytime I upload new records into these 4 tables.

I'm not familiar with portals.

[Ender]

Each table should be about a distinct type of thing. It sounds like you've got similar things in your different tables.

Maybe you can say more specifically what you're tracking. Maybe they can all just be kept in the same table.

[alphanitrate]

Thanks ender.

1 table holds inventory information.

1 Holds french product info

1 holds english product info

1 Holds other product product related info

Ideally i would like to have one "main" window to display and update this information.

Does that help?

[Ender]

"french" and "english" I understand, but what's then in the "inventory information" and "other product related info" that's different?

[alphanitrate]

Inventory has fields that detail on hand stock, buyer, Class of product, sub class, group sub group, product status, reg price sale price, discount, vendor, logo, last issue, last page, photo, among others.

French and english have title, group title, copy, shared copy etc.

warnings.

[alphanitrate]

Maybe it would be easier for you so see what i have already done thus far. I can't seem to get it smaller than 1.7 MB after zipped can i send it to you?

Edited June 13, 2007 by Guest

[alphanitrate]

How can i make this file smaller - it has no records - 2 layouts but it zips at 1.7MB?

[Ender]

Maybe removing graphics would reduce your file size.

But short of that, if you can at least post a screenshot of your relationship graph it might help.

But I think the main questions will be:

•Why not have the language details be in the same table (filtered by Language)?

•What's the relationship between Inventory and Other Product Related Information? Why aren't these together in one table?

[alphanitrate]

Languages come currently from two different sources - different import records etc.

Inventory is more with stock on hand, status, inventory etc.

and other contains info like sale event data, another set of copy ( which this will replace) pricing etc.

As to why I would not just have this in one big table? Uhm.. someone told me not to - not "good form"

Thanks for your help - i have to go and sort of my leading zeros issue at import

[alphanitrate]

Thanks for all your help ender - I've decided to just combine it all into one table for now so that I can carry on. Thanks again.