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Article ID: 289533 - Last Review: November 8, 2006 - Revision: 14.2
Where to find information about designing a database in Microsoft Access
This article was previously published under Q289533
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user
computers.
This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and to a
Microsoft Access project (.adp).
For a Microsoft Access 2000 version of this article,
see
288947Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=288947/
)
.
For a Microsoft Access 97 version of this article,
see
288949Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=288949/
)
.
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 after 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 that is based on a well-designed data model
will make it much easier for you to develop the solution.
If you are new to relational database design, start by
using the following resources:
- For an overview of relational database design, see the
following Knowledge Base article:
283878Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=283878/
)
Description of the database normalization basics
- View the
Database
Normalization Basics
(http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=http%3a%2f%2fsupport.microsoft.com%2fservicedesks%2fwebcasts%2fwc060600%2fwc060600.asp%3ffr%3d1)
WebCast.
- 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, see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
283698Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=283698/
)
"Understanding Relational Database Design" document is available in Download Center
- Analyze your tables by using the Table Analyzer Wizard. For
more information about the Table Analyzer Wizard, see the following Knowledge
Base article:
292799Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=292799/
)
How the Table Analyzer Wizard works
- Visit the Access Database Table Design
(microsoft.public.access.tablesdbdesign) peer-to-peer
newsgroup
(http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx)
. You can
interact with other users of Access, including Microsoft Most Valuable
Professionals (MVPs). You can use any newsreader software to access these
newsgroups.
- You can download database templates that may be used for
many purposes from the following Microsoft Web site:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/results.aspx?qu=Access+database&av=TPL000
(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/results.aspx?qu=Access+database&av=TPL000)
- Read the following book: Hernandez, Michael. Database
Design for Mere Mortals. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Developers Press,
1997.
- For more information about free on-line training that is
available for Office 2003 products, including Access 2003, visit the following
Microsoft Web site:
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Office Access 2003
- Microsoft Access 2002 Standard Edition
| kbdownload kbdatabase kbhowto KB289533 |
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