Takeoff/Landing Data Cards - Database Question

[RamAirTurbine]

Hi, I am trying to modernise my takeoff data card/departure card/arrival card for various aiports. Currently it is quite a complicated MS Word document with multiple tables lines colums etc (to hard for me to make in Excel). Unfortunately this requires a seperate document for each airport I go to -(it has things like ATIS freq/Elevation/Special procedures etc)

What I want to do is semi automate it - presumably using a database program (such as MS access - the only one i have). I am not sure if this is the right prog for the job or in fact how to make it work.

What I want to have is essentially my table/ layout, and then from a pulldown menu I can select (for example) Melbourne - all the relevant melbourne information the fills in the table, leaving appropriate gaps for manual speed/clearances ATIS info & data entry.

(This way i can have a database with the relevant info in it, which is then easier to update)

Does anyone have any suggestions how to get started or if this is even the right program.

[Agent86]

RAT,

Access will do what you are after. However the learning curve is fairly steep when you want to get past the wizards and basic stuff.

As a basic start you will need.

1 table ...later you may decide to use 2 or 3 linked (or related ) This table will have all the data for each port..ie Stuff that is specific to that port.

Then comes the fun of making the report.

You can draw lines, add text and, importantly, add the place holders for the data that changes.

You can then get fancy and make a form from which to select the required port and display the TOLD report ready for printing.

Next you may want to make a form that looks like the TOLD card but allows you to select a port and then edit the data.

Add bells, whistles etc etc as you get hooked on how powerful this program is.

Have fun :rolleyes:

[RamAirTurbine]

Thanks for the info - i have had a bit of a look at access - and it seems a tad confusing.

So far just to play round with it i have created a s place database in the one table.

APT ELEV ATIS SPEED CRT NOTES
MEL 434' XXX XXX XXX
BNE YYY' YYY YYY YYY
SYD ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ


What I would like is to have an output sheet such that what i see on screen is not a table or database, but my takeoff Card, where i just select the Departure Aerodrom and the Destination Aerodrome.

-------------------------------------------------------
|dep APT | |Elev | |Speed|
-----------------------------------------------------
|
-----------------------------------------------------
|Arrival APT|

So that where dep APT is written it is a drop/pull down menu - which fills in the dep Elev and Speed automatically (plus other data), then on same Card you can select Arrival APT and it does that for you too:




Drop down indicated by +

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|dep APT +| |Elev | |Speed|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Arri APT + |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Fuel | ........| V1 ..|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Weight| .............| Vr...|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|MSA |.......| V2 |


(bah that second one is an example of card - but its just too hard to draw here so i gave up....)

[126.9]

Wow! Flying sure is getting confusing!

:}

[RamAirTurbine]

:) True (that was probably more my explaination and diagrams than anything else!)


I just wanted to try making this thing for the hell of it anyway.

[Atlas Shrugged]

It can be done in Excel using the VLOOKUP function. I started a basic approach & landing card about 12 months ago but haven't got around to finishing it. Not sure taht I can attach it here but if you send me a PM with your email address I'll send a copy you can play around with.

AS

[Agent86]

RAT,

Send me one of your Word cards and I will whip up a quick and dirty Access database for you to get started on.

Include everything you want to change for each airport

MAx

[RamAirTurbine]

Thanks very much, I am away for a bit over a week and dont have the word file with me (i am using an ipaq to do this). when i get back i will send you one.


cheers