there is a joke in there somewhere. But brain not engaged.

Access question, probably simple:

I'm trying to set up a database for our dean of students so that she can easily keep track or student referrals. I've made a table and a justified form for entering the data, and it works great. She is entering data as we speak.

For reports, though, I'm still confused. What I'd like is for her to be able to click something that pulls up a "Which student?" form. She chooses a student, clicks a button, and a nice, printable report with all of that student's referrals ONLY appear. Is that possible?

Yes.

If I understand correctly, ideally you'd want a table of students and another table of referrals cross-referenced to the table of students. You just have a single table? You can still do it that way.

What uniquely identifies each student? The name? What is that field named?

(If I have time I'll poke back here periodically to help you along.)

Okay, so let me 'splain a bit more.

We have two tables: "Student Names" and "Referrals"

"Student Names" only has one field, and it simply lists all of the student names, in alphabetical order.

"Referrals" has several fields, including one called "Student Name" that uses a combo box populated by the "Student Names" table.

What I'd like is to be able to get a report of all tables in the "Referral" table that have a particular student in the "Student Name" field (ideally, I'd like to be able to set up reports that draw from other lists too, but I expect if you can show me where to find this, I could figure out other reports).

Ok, you'd need some form that you'd use to open the report. I'll assume it's called "frmStudentReport". On that form you'd need a combo box with the student names. Assume that's called "cboStudents".

Construct a new query. Add the table "Referrals" to it and drag all the table's fields into the query grid. On the criteria for the "Student Name" field, put "forms!frmStudentReport!cboStudents".

Save the query and construct your new report with the query as the recordsource. Then put a button on the form you're using to open the report. Right-click on the button and select "build event". Select "Macro Builder" and save the macro. In the Macro "action" field select "open Report" and enter the report name on the bottom. (I'd use code myself instead of a macro, but a macro is easier.)

Does that make sense?

eta: It doesn't matter what you call the form and the combo box, but if those names have a space in them, enclose the name in square brackets in the query. eg: "forms![Student Report]!cboStudents" Also, don't include the quotes.

So today is the first really cold day of the season, and as a result the heat is on and the air is really dry. I went to the bathroom, and when I came back (and before I sat down) I pressed the space bar on my MacBook so iTunes would resume playing. As I did I got a nasty static electricity shock (I had just been walking on carpet) and as a result the trackpad and keyboard of my MacBook were completely locked up.

After rebooting, all was fine. But I was scared there for a bit....

I couldn't help being reminded of this xkcd.

Ha! My database inputs are suitably sanitised.

How is it we're not talking about the Google phone here? I mean, dude! Google Phone!

(Okay, technically Google Mobile Platform. But still! Google Mobile Platform!)

How is it we're not talking about the Google phone here?

It doesn't come out until the second half of '08?

Anyway, I'm tempted to download the development thingie for it....