You can use the steps in this topic to guide you through creating a table from start to finish. You’ll use many of these steps in creating every table. The others you’ll use when you design a table to contain a particular type of data or define how a field appears. You need to use only the steps that are relevant to the type of data or field definitions specific to the table that you’re creating. For other tasks related to creating tables, ask the Answer Wizard.
See examples of what tables are and how they work
1 Create a table
Create a table from scratch using Design view
See examples of the kinds of tools you have to work with when designing a table
2 Add fields to the table that contain data
Create a field for text or memos
Create a field for numbers or currency
Create a field for dates or times
Create a field that looks up or lists values in tables
3 Define how a field appears or handles data
Define the number of decimal places to display in a field
Create an input mask to control how data is entered in a field
Define a default value that is automatically entered in a field
See examples of default values in fields
Define validation rules to control what values can be entered into a field
See examples of field validation rules
4 Create a primary key to uniquely identify records
5 Create an index to find and sort records faster
6 Define relationships to bring data together from two or more tables
Define relationships between tables
Define the default join type for a relationship between two tables
7 Make final adjustments
Change a field name in Design view
Move a field in table Design view
Delete a field from a table in Design view