One table or two for database?

[CADGUY]

As the name implies I am a CAD designer and new to access. I'm finishing up a very basic database to store house descriptions so I can find "similar" houses to steal parts like roofs or garages from other plans already drawn. I plan to just filter by form to narrow my searches to a handfull of houses in the database. And then just opening them with my CAD program. In designing the database we have been very carfull not to exceed the 255 feild limit on the table and querries. I've got 213 now and very worried that it could grow to more. I think I could fumble my way thu making two tables to "split" up the data by using sub forms. But if I exceed the 255 limit how could I search for more than 255 items? I tried downloading a query by form tool qbf2k but it was a little over my head had it working then it gave me an error and died. Not sure it would have helped anyway. So should I keep to one table or is there an easy way of "searching for more than 255 feilds? Thanks for any advice for a newbe and go ahead and be honest.
Mike

[nico5038]

In general I would use a tblMain holding the specifics that are general to every house.
Next I would design additional tables like tblRoof, tblFoundation, tblFloor, tblElectricity, etc. to get the data grouped in logical units.
Finally I would construct a mainform based on tblMain and have a tabcontrol with the tabs Roof, Floor, etc. that will hold the linked subforms.

Nic;o)

[PEB]

No worries man!

Simply create new table! Use the same Primary key in the first table in the secon one!

In relationships join the both tables using one to one relationship!

So for one thing u can manage to have a lot of fields more than 255!

As the name implies I am a CAD designer and new to access. I'm finishing up a very basic database to store house descriptions so I can find "similar" houses to steal parts like roofs or garages from other plans already drawn. I plan to just filter by form to narrow my searches to a handfull of houses in the database. And then just opening them with my CAD program. In designing the database we have been very carfull not to exceed the 255 feild limit on the table and querries. I've got 213 now and very worried that it could grow to more. I think I could fumble my way thu making two tables to "split" up the data by using sub forms. But if I exceed the 255 limit how could I search for more than 255 items? I tried downloading a query by form tool qbf2k but it was a little over my head had it working then it gave me an error and died. Not sure it would have helped anyway. So should I keep to one table or is there an easy way of "searching for more than 255 feilds? Thanks for any advice for a newbe and go ahead and be honest.
Mike

[CADGUY]

Thank you both for the advice. We've decided to give the single table one month to input data and see how many more fields or users come up with. This is isn't that much data really, but we think it will be enough to test the waters. We did have the form with subforms and fancy dropdowns with radio buttons controling the row source, but the query by form was our stumbling block. Time has played a factor in the decision to use the filter by form method with a simple form for now and regroup after the trial period. My guess is you'll be hearing from me soon asking about the query by form again. This site has given me much information on getting this far, your input is appreciated.
thanks again,
mike

[nico5038]

Personally I prefer to use the right-click pop-up menu for filtering data in tables and/or forms.

The QBF is only necessary when you need an OR relation,but the right-click will cover all filterings with an automatic AND relation.

Nic;o)