18 min read
Creating a Table
Two ways to build a table: the quick way in Datasheet View, and the careful way in Design View.
You will learn: how to open Table Design. how to add field names and save a table. You will do: create the Members table in RiversideLibrary.accdb.
Design View
A table stores one type of thing. Members stores people who joined the library.
Design View is where you plan columns before you type rows. You see a grid with Field Name, Data Type, and Description.
Field list
| Field Name | Data Type |
|---|---|
| MemberID | Short Text |
| FullName | Short Text |
| City | Short Text |
| Phone | Short Text |
Field Properties — MemberID
- Field Name
- MemberID
- Data Type
- Short Text
- Primary Key
- No
Click a row in the field list. In Access, the properties pane below updates for that field only.
Create Members
Goal
Create the Members table in Design View.
The library needs one table to store member names, cities, and phone numbers.
Open the database file
Where
Do this
Verification
Check your work
You are correct if all of these are true:
- The document tab reads Members.
- Members appears under Tables in the Navigation Pane.
- The design grid shows four field rows.
If something looks wrong
Fix
Practice
Field Notes: Two Ways to Build a Table
The quick way — Datasheet View. Go to Create, then Table. A blank table opens straight into Datasheet View. Click "Click to Add" at the top of the second column, choose a data type, and type a field name; repeat for every field, then start typing data directly into the rows below.
Goal
Build a table using Design View — the careful way, recommended for real projects.
Design View gives full control over every field's type and properties from the start, which is why most experienced Access users build tables this way rather than starting in Datasheet View.
Open Table Design
Do this
More lessons in Microsoft Access · Next: Choosing the Right Data Type for Each Field · Previous: Understanding Tables, Fields, and Records