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#1
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Key field in book library
I designed a database for my church and used the 13 character ISBN (978
prefix plus the classic 10 character) as the key field for each book. We're using a 39 scanner code for the books and patrons. I'm stumped at how to track multiple copies of the same book title. I can add a character to the ISBN and print my own bar codes that are unique, but that would waste a lot of time since the 13 character codes are already on the back of the books. If I only use the ISBN numbers as the unique keys (as I'm doing now) it won't permit duplicates. Do you use a composite key? Like ISBN and copyNum? I'm probably missing something simple. Any clues? Thanks. --Jim |
#2
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Jim, use a separate field called BookID (set to autonumber) to be your
primary key. The key should serve the primary purpose of keeping your records unique, and not as an additional data field for the user to store other data. Does that address the question? Destin Richter "Jim" wrote: I designed a database for my church and used the 13 character ISBN (978 prefix plus the classic 10 character) as the key field for each book. We're using a 39 scanner code for the books and patrons. I'm stumped at how to track multiple copies of the same book title. I can add a character to the ISBN and print my own bar codes that are unique, but that would waste a lot of time since the 13 character codes are already on the back of the books. If I only use the ISBN numbers as the unique keys (as I'm doing now) it won't permit duplicates. Do you use a composite key? Like ISBN and copyNum? I'm probably missing something simple. Any clues? Thanks. --Jim |
#3
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Dear Jim:
As Destin has suggested an autonumber primary key would be the reasonable solution. This will require however, that you use the autonumber primary key as your book code, and print barcode labels using the primary key number. This does, unfortunately, mean you can't just use the ISBN for your barcode label. In addition, you might want to consider the use of a "custom" autonumber as a primary key, since an Autonumber field can develop gaps, become large, and even possibly become negative numbers. HTH Fred Boer "Jim" wrote in message ... I designed a database for my church and used the 13 character ISBN (978 prefix plus the classic 10 character) as the key field for each book. We're using a 39 scanner code for the books and patrons. I'm stumped at how to track multiple copies of the same book title. I can add a character to the ISBN and print my own bar codes that are unique, but that would waste a lot of time since the 13 character codes are already on the back of the books. If I only use the ISBN numbers as the unique keys (as I'm doing now) it won't permit duplicates. Do you use a composite key? Like ISBN and copyNum? I'm probably missing something simple. Any clues? Thanks. --Jim |
#4
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Destin,
Thanks! I think I understand the purpose of a key field for in keeping records unique. But if I use a unique bookID and want to use barcodes for check-in and check-out, won't that force me to create barcodes on the bookID field for every book? I did that at first, but then wondered that since each book comes with a barcode, there might be a way to avoid re-barcoding all the books for the 1% of cases where I have multiple copies. My guess is probably not. --Jim Destin Richter wrote: Jim, use a separate field called BookID (set to autonumber) to be your primary key. The key should serve the primary purpose of keeping your records unique, and not as an additional data field for the user to store other data. Does that address the question? Destin Richter "Jim" wrote: I designed a database for my church and used the 13 character ISBN (978 prefix plus the classic 10 character) as the key field for each book. We're using a 39 scanner code for the books and patrons. I'm stumped at how to track multiple copies of the same book title. I can add a character to the ISBN and print my own bar codes that are unique, but that would waste a lot of time since the 13 character codes are already on the back of the books. If I only use the ISBN numbers as the unique keys (as I'm doing now) it won't permit duplicates. Do you use a composite key? Like ISBN and copyNum? I'm probably missing something simple. Any clues? Thanks. --Jim |
#5
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Fred,
Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate your insights, Fred. I suspect my choice is between doing this right--using a BookID field for key and printing out bar codes--and making it complicated by trying to save time by not re-printing barcodes. Where can I find guidance in designing a 'custom' autonumber field? Thanks again! --Jim Levitt Fred Boer wrote: Dear Jim: As Destin has suggested an autonumber primary key would be the reasonable solution. This will require however, that you use the autonumber primary key as your book code, and print barcode labels using the primary key number. This does, unfortunately, mean you can't just use the ISBN for your barcode label. In addition, you might want to consider the use of a "custom" autonumber as a primary key, since an Autonumber field can develop gaps, become large, and even possibly become negative numbers. HTH Fred Boer "Jim" wrote in message ... I designed a database for my church and used the 13 character ISBN (978 prefix plus the classic 10 character) as the key field for each book. We're using a 39 scanner code for the books and patrons. I'm stumped at how to track multiple copies of the same book title. I can add a character to the ISBN and print my own bar codes that are unique, but that would waste a lot of time since the 13 character codes are already on the back of the books. If I only use the ISBN numbers as the unique keys (as I'm doing now) it won't permit duplicates. Do you use a composite key? Like ISBN and copyNum? I'm probably missing something simple. Any clues? Thanks. --Jim |
#6
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Hi Jim:
There is a sample database he http://rogersaccesslibrary.com/downl...berProblem.mdb That should help you. Just as an aside, I have used Access to create a library application for a small school library. How far along are you in creating your own application? Have you considered a professional/shareware/freeware application? I was just looking at one yesterday, and it seemed reasonably fully featured, and cost only $59.95! I enjoyed creating my own application, but, given that a professionally created application might be available for the cost of a few books.. well, that is certainly worth considering! Cheers! Fred "Jim" wrote in message ... Fred, Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate your insights, Fred. I suspect my choice is between doing this right--using a BookID field for key and printing out bar codes--and making it complicated by trying to save time by not re-printing barcodes. Where can I find guidance in designing a 'custom' autonumber field? Thanks again! --Jim Levitt Fred Boer wrote: Dear Jim: As Destin has suggested an autonumber primary key would be the reasonable solution. This will require however, that you use the autonumber primary key as your book code, and print barcode labels using the primary key number. This does, unfortunately, mean you can't just use the ISBN for your barcode label. In addition, you might want to consider the use of a "custom" autonumber as a primary key, since an Autonumber field can develop gaps, become large, and even possibly become negative numbers. HTH Fred Boer "Jim" wrote in message ... I designed a database for my church and used the 13 character ISBN (978 prefix plus the classic 10 character) as the key field for each book. We're using a 39 scanner code for the books and patrons. I'm stumped at how to track multiple copies of the same book title. I can add a character to the ISBN and print my own bar codes that are unique, but that would waste a lot of time since the 13 character codes are already on the back of the books. If I only use the ISBN numbers as the unique keys (as I'm doing now) it won't permit duplicates. Do you use a composite key? Like ISBN and copyNum? I'm probably missing something simple. Any clues? Thanks. --Jim |
#7
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Jim wrote:
I designed a database for my church and used the 13 character ISBN (978 prefix plus the classic 10 character) as the key field for each book. We're using a 39 scanner code for the books and patrons. I'm stumped at how to track multiple copies of the same book title. I can add a character to the ISBN and print my own bar codes that are unique, but that would waste a lot of time since the 13 character codes are already on the back of the books. If I only use the ISBN numbers as the unique keys (as I'm doing now) it won't permit duplicates. Do you use a composite key? Like ISBN and copyNum? I'm probably missing something simple. Any clues? Thanks. --Jim Maybe all you need is a couple of quantity fields. Something to track the number of copies in house and checked out. When you check a book out it subtracts from one field and adds to the other so you always know what you have on hand. gls858 |
#8
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On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 08:27:45 -0500, Jim wrote:
I did that at first, but then wondered that since each book comes with a barcode, there might be a way to avoid re-barcoding all the books for the 1% of cases where I have multiple copies. My guess is probably not. Well... since duplicate copies will have identical preprinted bar codes, you're stuck. If you want the bar code reader to distinguish which copy is which, you have no choice but to put the copy number on the bar code somehow. I'd suggest using a joint two-field primary key, ISBN and CopyNo (default value 1); concatenate them to create the bar code. John W. Vinson[MVP] |
#9
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Fred,
Thanks for your insight. I appreciate the spirit in which you write. It's thoughtful and encouraging, Fred. My library database is 95% finished, I have 1,200 volumes what we call a resource center. It's all non-fiction. If I have time and the volunteers, I'll re-barcode the books. Like yourself, I enjoy doing projects like this, so it's not a factor of what is most cost effective. It gives me the chance to improve my skills with Access. I'm redesigning a similar database for another location (our children's and youth library) so I will use a bookID (not ISBN) as key field for that project. Thanks again, Fred. --Jim Levitt |
#10
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John,
Thanks for the tip. If I have enough volunteers this summer, I may go back and reprint the bar codes for the 1,200 books I have in the database using a unique bookID field. If I were to use a two-field primary key, how do I place that two-field key in a one-to-many relationship with my book checkout table? Would that dual field link to one field or two in the secondary table? I haven't seen an example of how that is done. Thanks John! --Jim Levitt John Vinson wrote: Well... since duplicate copies will have identical preprinted bar codes, you're stuck. If you want the bar code reader to distinguish which copy is which, you have no choice but to put the copy number on the bar code somehow. I'd suggest using a joint two-field primary key, ISBN and CopyNo (default value 1); concatenate them to create the bar code. John W. Vinson[MVP] |
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