Duplicating records between files

[Beckyjrl]

I have 4 databases - Program 1, Program 2, Program 3 and Materials. In databases 1, 2 and 3, I have a field (Status) with 4 checkboxes - A, B, C, D. If A, B or C is checked, I would like that record to appear in the Materials database. How can I do this?

[AHunter3]

I don't have a very clear sense of what you're trying to do, but I'll tell you one thing: if your database design involves constantly moving entire records from one table to another (let alone one FILE to another), you should rethink your design.

 

Data should seldom be redundant. You don't want it to exist in two separate places. There are exceptional cases but based on the little info provided this doesn't sound like it has a good reason to be one of them.

[Beckyjrl]

Hello - thank you for your response. I'll try to give you a little more info to see if it changes your answer. I have 3 different databases. Each is for a separate program and tracks data on presentations speakers give for that program.

 

Various materials are used for each program. There is a Materials Request layout in each of the 3 databases and one person gathers these requests and processes them, sending materials to the appropriate presentation.

 

I would like a central location where this person can go to collect all Materials Requests, instead of having to go to each of the 3 databases. I would also like to have a central location where I can track inventory - again with data from each of the 3 databases that shows the # of items used.

 

So should I use a separate database as a central place to serve these purposes?

 

Thank you,

Becky

[AHunter3]

Hello - thank you for your response. I'll try to give you a little more info to see if it changes your answer. I have 3 different databases. Each is for a separate program and tracks data on presentations speakers give for that program.

 

Bad design. You should have one and only one database, which has a new text field into which you enter the program name.

 

 

I would like a central location where this person can go to collect all Materials Requests, instead of having to go to each of the 3 databases.

 

 

Reasonable. Which is why you want it all in one db and not 3 to begin with. Your person can do do a search for unfulfilled requests in one place without having to be concerned about which program they are associated with, except when she wants to be concerned with that.

[Beckyjrl]

Thank you for your help!