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Setting up a comic database

  1. #1
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    Setting up a comic database

    Ok, I am familiar with most of excel and word, but Ive always found ways around using access cause honestly its always scared me a lil... not sure why just is more intimidating to me then excel.

    Anyway, I in addition to many things am a comic book collector, everyone needs a hobby, but Im approaching a point that remembering what I have and where is becoming a hassle so I am going to attempt my first real database. I figure I want to set it up so I have the following fields... Publisher,series, storage location, volume, issue#, Condition, if its a varient or not, notes, current value, story arc, and title. I would also like to maintain a history of current values so this years value is stored so next year I can see the change, and the year afte rthat I could see trends etc.

    Sadly, as Im really bad in access I figure I need to ask how you would set up the general database... would you do 1 main table with all the data and then just run queires etc or would you set up multiple tables by say publisher or series etc... I also have no idea how to do the value and history of values... Im guessing Ill need to use excel there a little but not positive

    any general advice would be appreciated, and in all honesty if this is a bad place to use access let me know, and Ill do it in excel.

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Forum Moderator alansidman's Avatar
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    Re: Setting up a comic database

    Here are two links that will help you to understand RDBMS and how you should set up your tables.

    Firstly, http://sbuweb.tcu.edu/bjones/20263/A...sDB_Design.pdf

    Then after reading that you will want to read this tutorial on the basics of Access. It is a step by step guide.

    http://www.accessmvp.com/strive4peace/

    If you have specific questions as you begin to set up your db then post back.

    You will need multiple tables or you will end up with a flat db and that is not efficient. Be patient. Access has a very steep learning curve. But it will be very rewarding once you achieve success.
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  3. #3
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    Re: Setting up a comic database

    Thanks for posting those pages! a ton ** info to learn and its information I need to know...

    As for my comic database, heres what Im thinking:

    table 1 for each individual comic, itll contain things like comic name, publisher, issue number, volume number, and ** course will have a comic ID as my primary key..basically thsi will have all the nonchanging info ** a comic.
    table 2 will be for storage location which will link the comic id with a storage location... this could potentially change semi regularly
    table 3 will be for the value ** the comic... Im still not sure how Ill have this set up to include current value as well as previous values that came before the current value....but when I get to that hopefully Ill ** read enough to figure that one out
    table 4... Im not sure on yet I need to add a condition ** each comic, it could potentially change over time if say a comic gets bent or forms a crease etc... Im not sure if this should be in table 1 or have its own table

    But anyway, how does that basic format look? honestly Im starting to think I picked a bad choice in what to use to make my first database... Im starting to wonder if a plain spreadsheet is what I would want for this.... seems to me from what Im reading a better use for a database would be something where I have more then one unique item interacting... like if I was keeping track ** an address book as well as order forms... with comics Im keeping track ** 1 thing.. comics everything else is related to said comics.

    Not sure why (o f) is a bad word but it keeps ** it out so thats what ** is lol
    Last edited by Trachr; 03-08-2014 at 05:59 PM.

  4. #4
    Forum Moderator alansidman's Avatar
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    Re: Setting up a comic database

    Firstly, the ** of the letters "of" has been fixed.
    Secondly, sounds like your tables make sense. Post back as you venture down this road with specific questions.

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