using queries for the first time, need some help

I''ve been through a few different online training courses and I'm still not
able to make queries.

I have 4 tables that inventory our woodshop tools. Within each table is a
column with a drop-down box list of categories that is listed in another
table- machinery, manual tools, power tools, etc.

As an example, I wanted to make a query that groups together all the tools
in the "manual tool" section of the category drop down.

How do I do this?

Thank you!

I don't think I understand what your trying to do here.
Some more table information, and sample data in each table would be useful.

But... I would initially suspect a table design problem.

Why isn't all your shop's equipment in one table, like...
ToolID Category Description SerNo... etc....
142 Manual Awl None
612 Manual Screwdriver None
701 Machine Drill Press A15243
39 Power Hand Grinder K41-J12
432 Machine Lathe XF-342-3

Then it would be a simple matter to filter the query with a criteria against Category like
= "Manual"

--
hth
Al Campagna
Candia Computer Consulting - Candia NH
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions

"toolinventory" wrote in message
...
I''ve been through a few different online training courses and I'm still not
able to make queries.

I have 4 tables that inventory our woodshop tools. Within each table is a
column with a drop-down box list of categories that is listed in another
table- machinery, manual tools, power tools, etc.

As an example, I wanted to make a query that groups together all the tools
in the "manual tool" section of the category drop down.

How do I do this?

Thank you!

Al
the table you drew up is actually very close to what I am doing, but I have
four different ones. and where it says "category" on yours, there would be a
drop down box. I only did 4 different tables because I need to divide up the
tools into different employee's workbenches and other stuff-- i.e., a table
titled "Jim's Workbench", one titled "Mike's Workbench", "Office and
Computer", "Main tool list", etc (there's actually like 7, not 4.

If it would make it easier, I could put it all into one big table, but then
I don't know how to keep stuff seperate.

But what I was initially trying to do is make a query that answers the
question, "how many manual tools does the entire shop (within all the
employee's workbenches) have"?

"Al Campagna" wrote:

I don't think I understand what your trying to do here.
Some more table information, and sample data in each table would be useful.

But... I would initially suspect a table design problem.

Why isn't all your shop's equipment in one table, like...
ToolID Category Description SerNo... etc....
142 Manual Awl None
612 Manual Screwdriver None
701 Machine Drill Press A15243
39 Power Hand Grinder K41-J12
432 Machine Lathe XF-342-3

Then it would be a simple matter to filter the query with a criteria against Category like
= "Manual"

--
hth
Al Campagna
Candia Computer Consulting - Candia NH
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions

"toolinventory" wrote in message
...
I''ve been through a few different online training courses and I'm still not
able to make queries.

I have 4 tables that inventory our woodshop tools. Within each table is a
column with a drop-down box list of categories that is listed in another
table- machinery, manual tools, power tools, etc.

As an example, I wanted to make a query that groups together all the tools
in the "manual tool" section of the category drop down.

How do I do this?

Thank you!

From what you've indicated so far... all these items should be in one table.
Breaking it up into 7 tables is not using the "relational" power of your database.
(hope the email format doesn't scramble/misalign the text too much)

tblToolInventory...
ToolID Category Desc SerNo... OwnerID
-------------------------------------------------------------------
142 Manual Awl None 23
612 Manual Saw None 15
701 Machine Lathe1 A152 12
39 Power Grinder K41-J1 23
432 Machine Lathe2 XF-342 19
From this data, queries can be created that show any possible combination
of tool vs location vs category vs etc.. etc.. just by simple filtering criteria
and/or conditions.

AND... adding another table...
tblOwners
OwnerID Owner LocationID
----------------------------
23 Bob Workbench1
15 Jim WorkBench3
31 Mary Off & Comp1 etc... etc...
On form ToolInventory...
You select a OwnerID from a combobox (fed by tblOwners) on your ToolInventory form.
Using the relational power of the database, the system knows
(via tblOwners) that the Owner = Bob at Location = WorkBench1.

Why do it this way?
If Bob should quit, replace the OwnerID name in tblOwners to the new
employee's name (say Henry), and all Bob's tools are reassigned to Henry instantly.
Maybe Bob (WB1) and Jim (WB3) switch places... just switch the their Locations in
tblOwners... and your done!

Now this example may not be "exactly" what you want, and there may be other issues to
consider, but it does show the use of the power of a relational database.

--
hth
Al Campagna
Candia Computer Consulting - Candia NH
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions

"toolinventory" wrote in message
...
Al
the table you drew up is actually very close to what I am doing, but I have
four different ones. and where it says "category" on yours, there would be a
drop down box. I only did 4 different tables because I need to divide up the
tools into different employee's workbenches and other stuff-- i.e., a table
titled "Jim's Workbench", one titled "Mike's Workbench", "Office and
Computer", "Main tool list", etc (there's actually like 7, not 4.

If it would make it easier, I could put it all into one big table, but then
I don't know how to keep stuff seperate.

But what I was initially trying to do is make a query that answers the
question, "how many manual tools does the entire shop (within all the
employee's workbenches) have"?

"Al Campagna" wrote:

I don't think I understand what your trying to do here.
Some more table information, and sample data in each table would be useful.

But... I would initially suspect a table design problem.

Why isn't all your shop's equipment in one table, like...
ToolID Category Description SerNo... etc....
142 Manual Awl None
612 Manual Screwdriver None
701 Machine Drill Press A15243
39 Power Hand Grinder K41-J12
432 Machine Lathe XF-342-3

Then it would be a simple matter to filter the query with a criteria against Category
like
= "Manual"

--
hth
Al Campagna
Candia Computer Consulting - Candia NH
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions

"toolinventory" wrote in message
...
I''ve been through a few different online training courses and I'm still not
able to make queries.

I have 4 tables that inventory our woodshop tools. Within each table is a
column with a drop-down box list of categories that is listed in another
table- machinery, manual tools, power tools, etc.

As an example, I wanted to make a query that groups together all the tools
in the "manual tool" section of the category drop down.

How do I do this?

Thank you!

thanks Al I'll post back after I re-arrange a bit!

"Al Campagna" wrote:

From what you've indicated so far... all these items should be in one table.
Breaking it up into 7 tables is not using the "relational" power of your database.
(hope the email format doesn't scramble/misalign the text too much)

tblToolInventory...
ToolID Category Desc SerNo... OwnerID
-------------------------------------------------------------------
142 Manual Awl None 23
612 Manual Saw None 15
701 Machine Lathe1 A152 12
39 Power Grinder K41-J1 23
432 Machine Lathe2 XF-342 19
From this data, queries can be created that show any possible combination
of tool vs location vs category vs etc.. etc.. just by simple filtering criteria
and/or conditions.

AND... adding another table...
tblOwners
OwnerID Owner LocationID
----------------------------
23 Bob Workbench1
15 Jim WorkBench3
31 Mary Off & Comp1 etc... etc...
On form ToolInventory...
You select a OwnerID from a combobox (fed by tblOwners) on your ToolInventory form.
Using the relational power of the database, the system knows
(via tblOwners) that the Owner = Bob at Location = WorkBench1.

Why do it this way?
If Bob should quit, replace the OwnerID name in tblOwners to the new
employee's name (say Henry), and all Bob's tools are reassigned to Henry instantly.
Maybe Bob (WB1) and Jim (WB3) switch places... just switch the their Locations in
tblOwners... and your done!

Now this example may not be "exactly" what you want, and there may be other issues to
consider, but it does show the use of the power of a relational database.

--
hth
Al Campagna
Candia Computer Consulting - Candia NH
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions

"toolinventory" wrote in message
...
Al
the table you drew up is actually very close to what I am doing, but I have
four different ones. and where it says "category" on yours, there would be a
drop down box. I only did 4 different tables because I need to divide up the
tools into different employee's workbenches and other stuff-- i.e., a table
titled "Jim's Workbench", one titled "Mike's Workbench", "Office and
Computer", "Main tool list", etc (there's actually like 7, not 4.

If it would make it easier, I could put it all into one big table, but then
I don't know how to keep stuff seperate.

But what I was initially trying to do is make a query that answers the
question, "how many manual tools does the entire shop (within all the
employee's workbenches) have"?

"Al Campagna" wrote:

I don't think I understand what your trying to do here.
Some more table information, and sample data in each table would be useful.

But... I would initially suspect a table design problem.

Why isn't all your shop's equipment in one table, like...
ToolID Category Description SerNo... etc....
142 Manual Awl None
612 Manual Screwdriver None
701 Machine Drill Press A15243
39 Power Hand Grinder K41-J12
432 Machine Lathe XF-342-3

Then it would be a simple matter to filter the query with a criteria against Category
like
= "Manual"

--
hth
Al Campagna
Candia Computer Consulting - Candia NH
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions

"toolinventory" wrote in message
...
I''ve been through a few different online training courses and I'm still not
able to make queries.

I have 4 tables that inventory our woodshop tools. Within each table is a
column with a drop-down box list of categories that is listed in another
table- machinery, manual tools, power tools, etc.

As an example, I wanted to make a query that groups together all the tools
in the "manual tool" section of the category drop down.

How do I do this?

Thank you!