An Access database consists of four types of objects: tables, queries, forms and reports. In this unit you will learn about tables.
Tables
Are the base object of the database. They contain all of the data about the subjects in the database. Tables resemble spreadsheets.
The column headers are attributes which describe the subject. So, for example, column headers in the Student table might be
First Name, Last Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Home Phone, Cell Phone, Data of Birth, Etc. Also, tables are the objects on which the queries,
forms and reports are based.
In order to have an effective and efficient database it is necessary to learn how to create tables in which the data is stored with integrity
and no redundancy. Data with high integrity is trustworthy, meaning it is up-to-date and accurate. Data with no redundancy means that data
is not repeated unnecessarily. The following topics will be covered to assist you in learning to create high quality data storage spaces within an Access database:
Tables
Data types
Relationships between Tables
Primary Keys
Foreign Keys
The Menagerie Kennel:
For this tutorial we will assist the Menagerie Kennel, a business that is in need of a database.
The business has been storing data in Excel spreadsheets, but the program just isn’t providing the functionality needed to make the most of the data.
You have been tasked with creating a Microsoft Access database for the kennel. Step-by-step instructions are provided in the following units.
If you work through all of the steps you will create a basic Microsoft Access database in a few short weeks. Click here to watch a video that provides
an overview of the Menagerie Database you can create.
