The first object to add to your database is a table. You use tables to store all the data in the database. Each row of a table contains one record. Records are made up of fields that contain a particular piece of data in the table. For example, when you create the census database, all the data for one household will be stored in a record. One field in the table might specify the number of people in the household or the neighborhood where the household is located.

Every table in Access 2000 must have a field that uniquely identifies each record in the table. This field is called the primary key. You can recognize the primary key in a table by the ID appended to it. The primary key ensures that you can retrieve data accurately and efficiently when you pull information from the database. Access 2000 automatically assigns a primary key to each of your records for you when you use an Access 2000 Table Wizard.

VIEWING TABLES

There are two ways to view your table: Datasheet view and Design view. When you double-click a table object from the Access 2000 database window, it opens in Datasheet view.

DATASHEET VIEW

Use Datasheet view when you want to view, add, or delete data from a table. You can also reformat your table to change the size and order of the field columns in this view.

Click The Image To Enlarge It

Click The Image To Enlarge It

DESIGN VIEW

Use Design view when you want to change the structure of a table. You can add or delete fields, change a field caption or size, or select the type of data you plan to enter into a field in Design view.

Click The Image To Enlarge It

Click The Image To Enlarge It

CREATING TABLES

When you open a database, you see three options for creating a table:

**Create table in Design view

**Create table by using wizard

**Create table by entering data

Unless you are already familiar with Access 2000, you should use the Table Wizard when you create tables.

The Table Wizard helps you to organize data by providing sample fields that you can include in a table and it assigns a primary key to each record. Later, if you need to change the design of your table, you can modify it using Design view. The Table Wizard even provides a sample student table that you may want to build after you have finished designing the census database.

CREATE A TABLE USING THE TABLE WIZARD

1. From the objects box in the Student Census database window, click Tables.

2. Double-click Create table by using wizard. The Table Wizard dialog box opens.

3. Click each of the tables in the Sample Tables list and scroll through the Sample Fields list.

4. When you see a field that you want to include in your table, click it and then click the single right arrow next to the Sample Fields list. If you want to include all of the Sample Fields in one table, simply click the double right arrow.

5. If you accidentally add a field that you don’t want or add the same field twice, click it in the Fields in my new table list and then click the single left arrow to remove it.

6. When you are satisfied with the fields in the table, click Next. If you need to later, you can modify the fields in the table using Design view.

7. The Table Wizard provides a name for the table. Replace this name by typing Census Table.

8. Make sure the option for the Table Wizard to assign a primary key is selected and then click Next.

9. Click Finish to exit the Table Wizard.

The census table appears in Datasheet view.

NAVIGATING IN THE TABLE

Before you enter data into a table, you need to know how to move around in it. Depending on what you want to do, you can use the TAB key, the navigation buttons at the bottom of the table, the arrow keys, or the HOME, END, PAGE UP, and PAGE DOWN keys.

Move Within  A Record

*To select any field, click it.

*To move one field to the right, press TAB or use the right arrow key.

*To move one field to the left, press SHIFT+TAB or use the left arrow key.

*To move to the first field of the active record, press HOME.

*To move to the last field of the active record, press END.

To Move From Record To Record

*To move to the next record, click the single right arrow next to Record.

*To move to the previous record, click the single left arrow next to Record.

*To move to the first or last record in the table, click the First Record or Last Record icon next to Record.

*To move one window down, press PAGE DOWN.

*To move one window up, press PAGE UP.