|
***New
Information July 7, 2005***
If
you notice something is not working correctly in the database,
please let me know. There was a problem in the books table
with a field that was incorrectly named, this produced
an error in that field and is very easy to fix. I've fixed
it in the database here, but if you downloaded it before
and entered data into it, email me and I can tell you
how to fix it.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************
I
wanted a way to organize my 300 + books/magazines/patterns,
as my collection was growing in leaps and bounds and whenever
I wanted to find something that caught my eye, I could
never remember which book or magazine I had seen it in,
or I couldn't find the right book/magazine if by some
miracle I remembered what it appeared in. So I created
a database to record all of this information in. The first
thing I did was put all my books in a pile, all magazines
in separate piles by name, and then I alphabetized the
books, and I put the magazines in chronological order.
I put a small round sticker (any kind of numbering would
work, marker, taped on piece of paper, etc...) on each
book or magazine, and I started numbering from 1. For
magazines I put DP1 for Decorative Painters 1, TW1 for
Tole World 1 and so on. Then I entered each record into
the database. Now if I want to search for Santa's it's
easy, and by having each book/magazine numbered, I can
find them in a flash!
Please
read this entire page to understand how the database is
created and its intended purpose. I wouldn't have time
to answer every question, so I've tried to cover as much
as possible on this page, and I'm not an Access teacher,
I'm totally self-taught (remember HELP in your program
is just that!).
| This
database is Microsoft Access 2000, which WILL
work in Access 2000 and 2002 (XP), but it WILL
NOT work in Microsoft Access 97 because this database
is not backward compatible. If you have Access 97,
please choose the link below. Please
click here to download my database
in Access 2000. |
| This
database is Microsoft Access 97, which WILL
work in Access 97, 2000 and even 2002 (XP) version.
Please click here
to download my database in Access 97.
|
|
Easy
Office is a free office suite that supports
Microsoft Access databases, so if you do not have
Microsoft Access and you'd like to download Easy
Office, please
click here. (Please note this file is large,
so download could take awhile depending on your
internet connection type and speed.)
|
|
This
database is organized using the following tables
(and forms based on these tables because it is easier
to enter records into a form than a table):
|
|
Crafts
'n' Things (magazine)
Books
(for all Tole Painting Books)
Decorative
Artists (magazine)
Decorative
Painter (magazine)
Decorative
Woodcrafts (magazine)
Miscellaneous
Magazines (for all others that don't have their
own table)
Painting
(magazine)
Paintworks
(magazine)
Pattern
Packets (for all your packets)
Tole
World (magazine)
Wood
Strokes (magazine)
|
| There
are no reports/queries in this database, but feel
free to create your own! |
|
The
only field that must be unique in every table (or
using ever form) is the No field. It's the identifier
for each book/magazine/packet and therefore cannot
be a duplicate.
So
you can't have two books both number 10 (ect...).
If you try to enter a number that already exists,
you will get an error message, just give it a new
number that you haven't already used. If you number
all of your books and then add a new book that fits
in between 2 and 3, you can just call it 2A...ect....
I
used numbers for my books (1, 2, 3 etc...)
For magazines I used DP1, DP2, etc.. for Decorative
Painter, TW1, TW2 ect.. for Tole World (you get
the idea!)
If I bought another book (and who among us hasn't?)
and it fits between 1 and 2, simply add a letter
on, example 2a, and so on.
|
| I
have created a switchboard, or a Main Menu, called
Menu for Painting Database (under forms). This Menu
allows you to click on a button, which will take you
directly into that form and either enter new records
or look through existing records. |
| When
you close any of the forms you will automatically
be taken back to the main menu. |
|
To
print out a report of all your books, you can minimize
the main menu and go to reports, but so far I haven't
created any of these. I found it was easier to export
my database tables into Excel because then I could
play with the column widths and margins and get
what I wanted on a page. It's pretty easy to do,
just click on File, Export, then in the Save As
Type, click the down arrow until you find Excel,
give it a name and your records will be exported
into Excel. You would have to do that for every
table, but then printing all your records out is
easy. Of course if you are familiar with Access
and don't mind playing around, you can create your
own reports and make them as pretty as you'd like.
|
| To
enter records using the forms, go into the Form you
want and click on the arrow pointing to the right
(with a | line next to it) which will take you to
the very last (or blank) record. Enter your information.
Tab moves you from field to field. I have created
fields for favorite projects so you can enter the
ones you would like to paint and find them much easier.
I have added a style field with a drop down menu with
the most common styles to choose from, (Christmas,
Fall, Santa's, ect...) you can choose one of those
styles or type your own in this field. I have also
added a drop down field for priority (must paint,
would like to paint, low priority), again you can
choose one of those pre-defined, or type in your own. |
|
You
must have Microsoft Access 2000 or XP on your home
computer to use this database. I hope you enjoy
using this database! It was a personal project based
on my own necessity to organize my books/magazines/patterns,
it is not a commercial product and is intended only
for pseronal use.
|
This
database is an excellent tool once you enter everything,
because at any time you can flip through your list, find
a favorite project you entered, look for the number on
the corner of the book, pull the book out and flip to
the page you are looking for. Once you've entered all
your books, magazines and patterns, adding newly purchased
books is easy and you can stay organized.
I
have decided not to email it out individually by requests
received (because I wouldn't have the time!) so I've put
it on my website to let people download it. I would be
happy to modify it if you can suggest something helpful
to its design (email me at coleen@toleaway.com).
Thanks and happy painting!
|
