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Count the number of times a value appears in a column using Ms Access

Gilberto Sanches
Gilberto Sanches asked
on
Hi experts,

How can we accomplish the following in Access.

Situation:
We have a column with an internal codes to identify trees. This internal code is unique for each tree.
But in cases where that tree is divided in 2 or 3 pieces, that internal code gets repeated in that column.

Now for reporting it is needed that we know how many trees there are and how many pieces.

How can we count each unique internal tree code?
I would like to see a column that shows for each record one of the following values: 1 or 0.5 or 0.33.

The values are determined by the counting of the internal tree code.
So if the counting result is
1, show value"1"
2, show value "0.5"
3, show value "0.33"


Am looking forward to a solution.
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Shaun KlineLead Software Engineer

Commented:
An example would be helpful.

However, you may be able to use the replace function to "remove" the code from the string, then compare the length of the unaltered string against the length of the altered string to determine occurrences.

If your string where "alphabet", and you wanted to count the "a" letters in the string, you could do: Length("alphabet") - Length(Replace("alphabet", "a", "")).

For codes that are multiple letters, you would just need to divide the result of the above with the length of your code.
Jonathan Kelly

Commented: 
SELECT Count(Table1.tree) AS CountOftree, 10/([table1].[tree code]*10) AS Expr1
FROM Table1
GROUP BY 10/([table1].[tree code]*10);
Jonathan Kelly

Commented:

Assuming Simple Table


Table1


Table1
tree code tree
1 one
2 two
3 three
4 four
2 two again


Gilberto SanchesFreelance ICT Consultant

Author

Commented:

Alright, the field "BoomCode" is the field with the unique internal tree code.


Shaun KlineLead Software Engineer

Commented:
With your example, you can do a grouping on the BoomCode, and divide 1 by the count of occurrences.
Gilberto SanchesFreelance ICT Consultant

Author

Commented:

Hey Shaun, yeah, I did the grouping of BoomCodes before I posted the question but was stuck there. 

How do I do this " divide 1 by the count of occurrences."

Lead Software Engineer
Commented:
If you are using the query designer, I believe you can enter into a blank column 1/COUNT(*) or 1/COUNT('BoomCode'). I do not have access to MS Access at the moment so I'm not able to verify the syntax.
Gilberto SanchesFreelance ICT Consultant

Author

Commented:

Hey Shaun, awesome. Your suggestion works,

 we are making progress. But not yet solved.

Gilberto SanchesFreelance ICT Consultant

Author

Commented:

In the 1st field of the Query Designer I have the boomcode grouped, and in the second field I have code   1/COUNT(*). This gives the 3 values as wanted. But in that query it only shows the value per unique record.


Solution: Create another query with tables "original data" & the previous query. Match those 2 tables based field on BoomCode. Viola.


Thank you very much Shaun.