Article ID: 288947 - Last Review: May 9, 2005 - Revision: 5.2

How to find information about designing a database in Access 2000

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This article was previously published under Q288947
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This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and to a Microsoft Access project (.adp).

For a Microsoft Access 97 version of this article, see 288949  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288949/ ) .
For a Microsoft Access 2002 version and a Microsoft Office Access 2003 version of this article, see 289533  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289533/ ) .
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SUMMARY

If you decide to store the data for your solution in an Access database or in another relational database, designing the database structure is likely to be the most challenging part of building the solution. Although it is fairly easy to modify the data model while you are developing the solution, it is much more difficult once you have started to build other database objects. Therefore, you should put as much effort as possible into designing the data model before you begin to create any objects in the database. Developing a solution based on a well-designed data model will make it much easier for you to develop the solution.

MORE INFORMATION

If you are new to relational database design, start by using the following resources:
  • For an overview of relational database design, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    209534  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/209534/ ) Description of the database normalization basics in Access 2000
  • Download the "Understanding Relational Database Design" document. This document shows you how to plan and design a database from the ground up. To download this document, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    234208  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/234208/ ) "Understanding Relational Database Design" document available in Download Center
  • Analyze your tables by using the Table Analyzer Wizard. For more information about the Table Analyzer Wizard, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    208679  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/208679/ ) How the Table Analyzer Wizard works
  • You can download database templates that may be used for many common purposes from the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx)
  • Read one of the following books:
    • Hernandez, Michael. Database Design for Mere Mortals. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Developers Press, 1997.
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Access 2000 Standard Edition
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Keywords: 
kbdatabase kbdesign kbhowto KB288947