MS Access 2003 Step By Step - Asim Abbasi
CH1: Overview | CH2: MS Access Local & Linked Tables | CH3: MS Access Queries | CH4: MS Access Reports & Forms | CH5: MS Access Modules & Macros | CH6: MS Access Data Import/Export Feature | CH7: MS Access Built-In Functions
Chapter 2: MS Access Local & Linked Tables
Creating Local Tables
Whether you want to create new linked table or local table, the first
step would be to click on the Tables object and then click ‘New’ as
shown in the screenshot. On the popped up window you will see all
different options of creating new table. Let’s look at how to create a
local table in MS Access. Usually whenever you want to create a brand
new local table in MS Access, the proper or more flexible way of
achieving this goal is to create the table using the Design View. You
can also create local tables in MS Access using Datasheet view but our
recommendation would be to always go with ‘Design View’ whenever you
want to create a Local Table.
1. Click on the Tables object under the Objects group. This is
shown as label 1 on the screenshot above.
2. Next step would be to click ‘New’ as we are going to create
new table or more precisely new Local Table.
3. The ‘New Table’ window will popup after performing step 2.
Select the ‘Design View’ option. You can create new tables in MS Access
in Datasheet View too but Design View is more professional way of doing
this plus it has more flexibility.
4. Finally press the <OK> button.
1. The label 1 points to the data type of any particular field
inside a table. Data type pertaining to any column or field inside a
table lets MS Access know in advance what type of data that it maybe
expecting in this field e.g. whether it would be Currency, Date or Text.
2. A table is composed of vertical columns called fields. The
field names you want for your table, write under this Field Name column
as depicted in the screenshot above. Then select the appropriate data
type.
Whenever you want to create local tables you need to tell MS Access the
field names you want inside the table and the corresponding data types.
Each data type has attributes, visible to you under the Field Properties
area in the above. For example if you have selected ‘name’ field with
data type as ‘Text’ from the drop down menu, you can adjust the
properties relating to this data type e.g. if you want the name field
not to be more than 60 characters, the way to do this is to write the
Field Size value as 60 mentioned under same Field Properties area.
Different data types available for building Local Tables in MS Access
are given below.
That’s the only two important things you need to know
for building a local table. The first one being table fields name and
other one being the corresponding data types. After you have done so,
press the save button. MS Access will ask what name you would like to
give to this table. Give your table a name and finally click the <OK>
button.
The most common field properties pertaining to some of the most
important data types are provided below. Just go through it. You will
feel more comfortable with the list once you actually implement yourself
while designing the table.
Once all your table structure is complete save the table by clicking File and then Save from the menu bar or clicking on the save button icon on the tool bar as shown in the picture below.
Let’s summarize whatever we have said for the design of local tables.
Write down the field name and then select the data type then move to the
next line, write the field name and then select the data type then move
to the next line and so on. Repeat the process unless you would end up
having all the fields and corresponding data types required by your
table in the systems. Finally click the save icon on the tool bar. MS
Access asks for the name of the table you would like to save. Write down
whatever name you want to give to that table and finally click <OK>
button.
Chapter 2: MS Access Local & Linked Tables
CH1: Overview | CH2: MS Access Local & Linked Tables | CH3: MS Access Queries | CH4: MS Access Reports & Forms | CH5: MS Access Modules & Macros | CH6: MS Access Data Import/Export Feature | CH7: MS Access Built-In Functions
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