Scanner Frequency Groups

[SCPD]

HI all,
I am in the process of creating an Access database to store my frequency information, below are the groups I can assign each frequency too. I am looking for feedback on any I am missing or a better way to do it.

Paul


000/Ambulance
000/Fire
000/SES
27MHz CB
Airband
Amateur
Buses
Business/General
Communications
Councils
Couriers
Forestry
Manufacturing
Marine
Media/Broadcast
Mining
Security/Grounds
Shared (Rental)
StateGovement
Taxis
Transport/Works
UHF CB

 

[w2xq]

Just a thought or two. Have you correlated your choice of user groups/categories with the classifications used by the Australian agency/agencies responsible for licensing frequencies? It might be useful later in life when you cross-check your database against federal updates or exchange information with others. The agency/agencies' database fields might also offer ideas for your database structure.

Another idea might to be bag the use of multiple fields for many user groups and try a different way. Just use one user group abbreviation field in the main table. Construct a separate table of user groups/categories. Two fields: abbreviation and the spelled out name. Populate it with the agency/agencies coding/abbreviation and the agency/agencies' descriptive names. In your main table, create a drop-down listbox to place the abbreviation in the main table. When constructing reports/listings the "group" table can be linked/included in the layout of the screen/page. Advantages? Makes data entry easier and less prone to typing errors; once a lookup table is created, you only have to validate/check the contents of the lookup table. The listbox on the main table form won't let one enter anything but a value from the abbreviation field in the lookup table.

You could also carry the idea of additional lookup tables for state abbreviations, city/town/district names and probably other fields for your main table.

As a longtime dBase and Access programmer back when, it was always beneficial for me to minimize/simplify data entry (and reducing typos) for the users inputting information. Sketch out the relationships on a paper, sleep on it, and try some different approaches. In the long run, I spent a longer time determining the database, tables, relationships and fields than I did in actual programming. I hate doing work twice... <grin>.

Hope this helps.

 

[w2xq]

Another thought. Rather than paper-and-pencil, have you used any mindmapping software? I like Java-based FreeMind (available from SourceForge) that enables free-thinking and outputs to a 1/2-dozen formats. There are other versons of mindmap software out there too. Makes it fun in doing skull work on database, table and field definitions. HTH.

 

[SCPD]

Thanks for the advice, I will check that out.

Paul