How to Design an Access Database

Designing an Access Database starts with planning your tables.

Each field in a table can have a specific datatype that formats the data in the field as needed for that type of data. The most commonly used datatypes are Text for alpha numeric (character/string) based data such as names or addresses. Number for numeric mathematical calculations except for currency. Currency for currency calculations and entry. Date/Time for date and time entry and calculations. Finally, Auto-number which is a sequential or random number normally used by the Access system for indexing. Learn more about the different datatypes available.

A properly designed Access database will have tables that are Normalized to at least third normal form. What is database normalization?

Once your tables are correctly designed then you can begin to develop your queries that can combine the fields from the different tables to create the forms and reports that will come next.

To be continued...