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Thread ID: 14144	2001-12-30 19:45:00	Database	Guest (0)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
29210	2001-12-30 19:45:00	I have a client who wants to set up a small, simple, single purpose database to record basic details of WoF customers that will either throw up notice one month before the due date, or enable him to scan the list by date. Must be simple, easy data entry, and possibly the capability to sort and generate reports. No programming! Any suggestions greatly appreciated.	Guest (0)
29211	2001-12-30 22:11:00	MS Access? One table for Client Details, one table for Car Details, one table for WOF details.	Guest (0)
29212	2001-12-30 23:03:00	Something I should have asked.... Why? Before disappearing in the direction of an Access manual it would pay to have a good look at his existing system. If he's running a workshop then he probably already has an accounts program and one for maintainance. Can his existing program be modified? If the answer is yes but it will cost an arm and a leg it may still be worth it in the long run. It's easy to create customised solutions but dual databases are a pain in the neck.	Guest (0)
29213	2001-12-31 04:49:00	Do you need someone to build a database specific to your needs for close to nothing? I am a student specialising in dbases and would be willing to design one for you for the practice. Post an email address that I can contact you at if you are interested. It won't cost anything if it doesn't suit your needs or you don't like it. Cheers.	Guest (0)
29214	2001-12-31 09:20:00	Billy Student - have you done classes on System Analysis yet? Having worked with databases I'd thoroughly recommend studying the existing data storage before creating a new system. At our local high school 10% of the kids moved every 6 months. Enough problems keeping one database up-to-date with addresses. Thinking on the stated problem I'd be looking at modifying existing databases if possible to avoid duplication.	Guest (0)
29215	2001-12-31 22:53:00	Hi Heather & Billy Many thanks for your advice, offers and the discussion. I should explain. My involvement came about this way. My local service station was obliged by LTSA to acquire a computer and go online in order to continue to offer a Warrant of Fitness Service. LTSA did a bulk purchase deal with PC Direct and the computer arrived. Knowing my interest, the proprietor rang with a cry for help. He was au fait with shocks, pistons, big ends and so on, but totally lost with the comp - and really wasn?t too keen to learn. I responded, unpacked the machine, hooked it up, got him online and working. Then one day he inadvertently sent me a virus (my address being in his address book) and I was able to convince him to acquire NAV. I then taught his wife how to regularly update definitions. Since then I have been helping by designing circular letters, forms and notices in Word or Publisher. Then the other day he asked me about a database. He has Office Small Business Edition, but that version does not include Access, just Word and Excel. He is still doing accounts and other records manually, although he does now concede that he will eventually have to computerise ? I suggested that he talk with his accountant about that. Otherwise the computer is standalone and not integrated into accounts or the till. So, what I was looking for was something very simple that would enable him to run a WoF database with prompts when a customer?s warrant is about due, say one month before. Possibly to be able to sort by date would be ample. He needs something simple that makes no more demands than entering or deleting customers. He wants fields for Name, address, phone, make & model of car, and WoF date. It might also help to be able to generate form letters fron that data ? but not essential ? there are only about 500 customers. I have Access, but he does not, and I must admit that whenever I have looked at Access I have never been able to make it function as I feel that it ought. I have frequently used mail merge in Word for letters, envelopes and labels, and had envisaged something along the lines of that ? where in addition to the tables with headers, there is also a simple window for data entry. I?ll not go on, but if, on the basis of the additional info above, you have any suggestions, I ?d appreciate hearing from you. To make it simple, my email is: abdi@clear.net.nz. I have searched Tucows, but have not been able to find anything suitable. Very many thanks?	Guest (0)
29216	2002-01-01 23:07:00	Bill, nice to hear that you've found a solution in Billy. Just a quick suggestion for Billy. Don't forget one owner can own more than one car and one car will get more than one warrant (or else you'll lose the history). So keep the WOF table seperate from the car. Heather	Guest (0)
29217	2002-01-03 05:26:00	'One ring to rule them all, One ring to find them, One ring to bring them all, And in the darkness bind them'. See Sauron@mordor	Guest (0)
29218	2002-01-03 07:51:00	Graham Lees, Thank you for your valuable contribution on this topic. I have a feeling that perhaps we are now going around in circles? Bill	Guest (0)
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