I am working on an educational database where there
is "base" course information in a table. Another table
holds semester-specific information, which can either be
pulled from the base table or can be entered manually if
the course isn't in the base table. The semester-specific
form is actually a sub-form to another form which holds
corresponding course and semester information.

So, when you open the larger course semester form and
enter your specific info, I want the database to look and
see if there is a corresponding record already existing
in the semester-specific course table and display the
course. If there isn't, I want it to look in the base
table and if there's a match, to append the record from
the base table to the semester-specific course table and
display it in the subform. If no corresponding record
exists in the semester-specific course table or in the
base table, I want the subform opened for manual entry of
a record.

My question(s):

First, is there an easier way that I'm missing to
accomplish the same thing?

Second, can anyone give me some guidance as to how to
accomplish what I'm wanting? Is a macro my best solution
and if so, some guidance would be great.

Thanks in advance!