Design a database

I am trying to design a database where I enter cases on a monthly basis.
The person who put together the manual for this had a training on the
information already. The problem I am running into is with a field called
Elements and Nature Code. There are 5 Elements with element #'s 10, 11, 12,
13, 14. Some of the nature codes #'s a 1, 2, 3, 4. Some of the elements
will have some of the same nature codes,which are worded the same (Ex: 1 -
Did not match, 2 - Did not cooperate, 4 - Other). However, some of the
nature codes #'s that are worded differently also have the same number (2 -
Did not match information on screen). When creating a report. I would like
to list the elements along with the nature code #'s and description but am
running into a problem. I am told that it is too late to change the nature
code #'s. HELP

Assuming the users select these codes from a list, then the list of codes
will either be hard-coded into the list/combo control, or resident in a
lookup table.

If they are hard-coded, you will need to create a table that maps the
existing codes to the ones you need for your processing.
If they are already in a table, then add a new column to the table to hold
your reporting codes

On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 12:23:03 -0700, Lou
wrote:

I am trying to design a database where I enter cases on a monthly basis.
The person who put together the manual for this had a training on the
information already. The problem I am running into is with a field called
Elements and Nature Code. There are 5 Elements with element #'s 10, 11, 12,
13, 14. Some of the nature codes #'s a 1, 2, 3, 4. Some of the elements
will have some of the same nature codes,which are worded the same (Ex: 1 -
Did not match, 2 - Did not cooperate, 4 - Other). However, some of the
nature codes #'s that are worded differently also have the same number (2 -
Did not match information on screen). When creating a report. I would like
to list the elements along with the nature code #'s and description but am
running into a problem. I am told that it is too late to change the nature
code #'s. HELP

I'd suggest a table with three fields: Element, Nature, and
Description. You can fill in the appropriate Description for each
combination of Element and Nature, and link this table to your query
by both fields to pick up the appropriate description.

John W. Vinson[MVP]
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