Amending northwind template

[Julie Bright]

I am trying to create my own db from the northwind template. Generally it has all the elements I need, but also several I don't, such as 'shipping'. How can I remove these without causing there deletion to provoke error messages?


Hope this make sense, any ideas appreciated.

[NeoPa]

By considering the error messages and avoiding them.

I did warn you that we couldn't help much unless you wrote a meaningful question Julie. Without any details we're just left guessing at what you're having trouble with. My response perfectly answers your question, but is almost useless nevertheless, because the question is.

[JayF]

I feel your pain. I was in your situation not long ago, that is; a complete newbie to Access. It's taken me the best part of three months' work to build from scratch a customised database somewhat more complex than Northwind, and it's still not completely finished.

Learning Access and DB Administration is a long, hard task. Even with a number of years experience in Excel, it's not something you can just pick up and crack on with. Expect frustration and learn patience.


In answer to your question, one solution could be to simply hide all the controls (i.e. text boxes, sub-forms, buttons) that you don't need. You can do this by right clicking on a control in design view, clicking properties and then setting the Visible property in the Format tab of the properties panel to No.

This workaround relies on the forms not having underlying programming code (VBA) that resets the properties each time the windows open, which some databases have. If you find them reappearing, that would be why.


I also feel NeoPa's pain. The wizards on this site are extremely patient and helpful, but their magic is limited by our (newbie's) skills and understanding, there's only so much they can do.

Research, research, research. Google is your friend. Good luck.

[NeoPa]

Hiding items is one approach, but frankly, as it has little effect on the database except to simplify the items displayed for a confused developer perhaps, it might not suit your purpose.

My earlier post was less unhelpful than it may have appeared ;-) Typically, such errors reflect some form of interlinking between objects. Dependencies of one sort or another. The error message generally gives an idea of what and where the dependency is to be found, so that it can be removed, and hence the dependent object may also be deleted.

If you find that inadequate information for you, then more precise details in your question can help us to help you more directly.

[Julie Bright]

Thank you for the additional info, unfortunately while i am a competant 'exceller' i dont seem to have Access terminology to hand -I shall press on and when I get to the hitch I will try to word my problem better

[JayF]

One more piece of advice, if I may, just in case you aren't already doing it: Make regular copies of the template to play around with as well as very regular copies of your master version and name them all appropriately (e.g. Hotel Management v1.0.001, ...2, etc.) If you break something and can't figure out how to fix it, you can just skip back to a previous version and not lose too much work.

Also, there are loads of handy videos on YouTube that might help.

I take it you have searched for a template or even solution that more closely suits your requirements? A business model I can think of that might fit your needs would be Car Rental (or any other rentals).

[Julie Bright]

Thank you,yes, I am making regularly copies, very early on I discovered there was no way of undoing things that seemed not to work. I think with the ideas/thought processes you and neopa have prompted I'm very close ... (famous last words). Tx (ps I had hope there was an undiscovered global ''search and replace/delete', but my hopes were too high. I have searched for something closer to my requirements, but the Northwind template does seem to be closest. I shall worry about removing the parts I don't need (shipping is the main part) when I've got the rest working.

[JayF]

Am I right in thinking that you want to remove the block on creating an invoice without completing the shipping details?

If so, try this.

- Click Database Tools > Visual Basic. Microsoft Visual Basic will open.
- On the navigation panel on the left find "Form_Order Details", double click it. The VBA code for that form will appear.
- About 2/3 of the way down you will find the following:

Function ValidateShipping() As Boolean
    If IsNull(Me![Shipper ID]) Then Exit Function
    If Nz(Me![Ship Name]) = "" Then Exit Function
    If Nz(Me![Ship Address]) = "" Then Exit Function
    If Nz(Me![Ship City]) = "" Then Exit Function
    If Nz(Me![Ship State/Province]) = "" Then Exit Function
    If Nz(Me![Ship ZIP/Postal Code]) = "" Then Exit Function
 
    ValidateShipping = True
End Function

- Delete the 6 If statements from the middle so it looks like:

Function ValidateShipping() As Boolean
 
    ValidateShipping = True
End Function

Those if statements are triggered when you click "Create Invoice" on the Order Details form and check to see whether the Shipping details have been completed.

- Now go back to Access and right click on the Order Details form in the Navigation Panel and click Design View.
- Click the Shipping Information tab so that an orange box appears around all the shipping fields. Ensure that the drop down box at the top of the Property Sheet reads "Shipping Information_Page"
- Click the Format tab and set the Visible property to No.

This eliminates the need to enter shipping information before completing an order, but you will still need to click the "Ship Order" button before you are able to close an order. It's not perfect, but it's a step in the right direction.

Test it thoroughly. My understanding of VBA and that database are far from perfect, or even good, but I've added a few orders and it seems to work ok.

[Julie Bright]

Wow thank you I shall give it a go (when I've read it a dozen times to take it in)