Concepts & terms
A relational database divides data into tables, each with one subject—just customer names in one table, just phone numbers in another.
Each table captures all the data needed for each subject, and each field (column) hold the smallest possible unit of data.
Each table has a primary key, a value that makes each record (row) unique.
Data usually has a parent-child relationship; a single name can be related to multiple orders. Parent tables have primary keys, child tables have foreign keys—values from the primary key shared as needed to link records in the child table to records in the parent table. Keys are linked by a relationship.
Create a new database
Start Access, select the type of database you want (desktop or App, blank or a template), enter a name, browse for a location, select Create.
Build tables
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Select Create > Table or Create > Table Design.
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Set data type, enter field names, set a primary key, and save the table.
Lookup list
When adding a field to a table, select Lookup & Relationship> I will type the values I want, and follow the wizard.
Calculated field
When adding a field to a table, select Calculated Field, then an option such as Text. Use the Expression Builder to create your expression.
