Database Discussion - DB Newbie Design Help

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DB Newbie Design Help

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Category: General Discussion
Forum Name: Database Discussion
Forum Description: Discussion and chat on database related topics.
URL: https://forums.webwiz.net/forum_posts.asp?TID=367
Printed Date: 28 March 2026 at 9:10am
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Topic: DB Newbie Design Help

Posted By: jdumayas
Subject: DB Newbie Design Help
Date Posted: 20 February 2003 at 3:07pm

Thanks to this website, and the help I've received in the forums, databases with web interoperablity is looking much clearer. I do have a design question that I can't seem to find the answer on, or the answers are not clear to me.

The background for my DB is this; I'm developing a training database for video, audio and documents. The application is Access with an ASP front end.

The issue with design is that I have a one to multiple relationship between offerings (video, audio and documents),to technologies (subject classifications), and objectives (planning, operating..etc). For example I have a document that covers operating and troubleshooting multiple pieces of equipment.

Here is an example of my table layout

tblofferings
offeringID, title, location

tbltechonlogies
technologyID, technology

tblobjectives
objectiveID, objectives

The issue is being able to relate multiple technologies and objectives to one offering. There is no maximum number of how many technologies and objectives that I can relate to each offering. I've tried creating an offering table with a yes/no for each technology, the issue with this is that it would become a huge table, which doesn't even bring the objectives into account. Another way would be to duplicate offerings with each one mapped to a the technologies that it requires. That option doesn't seem to be a good design.

Currently my offerings are at 300, technologies are approx 150, and the objectives are at 4.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jeremy

Replies:

Posted By: MorningZ
Date Posted: 20 February 2003 at 3:43pm

i'd make some "lookup tables" in between the Offering and Technology tables and also between the Offering and Objectives

So you would have:
tblTechnologyLookup
offeringID, technologyID

and

tblObjectiveLookup
offeringID, objectiveID

i use a DB schema like this all over the place across many websites i have done, it works beatifully

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Posted By: jdumayas
Date Posted: 20 February 2003 at 4:17pm

Hey Morning,

Thanks for your help!!! That is what I was looking for. It may be a bit tricky to do for set up, but when I get my front end for adding set up it will work like a charm. I get to let my hair grow back. Thanks again, Jeremy