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Question

Data Query Software?

Mar 1, 2016 2:03AM PST

Hello world,

I am looking for a software where I could input a large amount of problems and associated solutions.

Ideally, I would like the software to only show Solutions 1, 2, and 4 when I am looking at Problem 1 as per the diagram here.

It would also only show Problems 2 and 3 when I am looking at Solution 5.

The software would ideally only use one instance of each solution.

Would you know of such a software?

Thanks in advance!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: problems and solutions
Mar 1, 2016 3:03AM PST

That looks like a relational database with 3 tables:
1. Problems
2. Solutions
3. Problem-solution
Table 3 represents a quite normal n:m-relationship.

Any database that supports large enough fields to contain the problem description and the solution (or links to files that contain those descriptions) can be used as data storage.

It's up to you to define, design and program the GUI and the logic to search for the problem and solution text based on strings or categories (or a hierarchy of categories) or keywords.

You can try to search for helpdesk software, but most won't be free.

Kees

Post was last edited on March 1, 2016 3:04 AM PST

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Answer
Yes you would have to use
Mar 10, 2016 12:36PM PST

a relational database like Access. You would need to use key fields to associate relationships between the Problems and the Solutions and Solutions and the Problems. You would probably want an application that is interactive on top of the database. Meaning you would select to be able to select the criteria (problem or solution) and then the app would create a query to run against the database.

Access is a tool you can design this visually and it will right the code. If you know coding you can modify it but it may not be needed.