Operation Manual

Note
In Base the maximum length of each field must be specified on creation. It is not
easy to change this later, so if in doubt specify a greater length. Base uses VCHAR
as the field format for text fields. This format uses only the actual number of
characters in a field up to the limit set, so a field containing 20 characters will occupy
only 20 characters even if the limit is set at 100. Two album titles containing 25 and
32 characters respectively will use space for 25 and 32 characters and not 100
characters.
• Format: Only change the Entry Required setting: from No to Yes.
• Notes: No changes are required.
• NumberofTracks: Change the Field Type to Tiny Integer [TINYINT]. Your allowable number
of tracks will be 999. Small Integer [SMALLINT] would allow 99999 tracks if you needed
more than 999 tracks.
• Photo: Use the default settings.
When you have finished, click Next.
Note
Each field has a Field Type, which must be specified. Types include text, integer, date,
and decimal. If the field is going to have general information in it (for example, a name
or a description), use text. If the field will always contain a number (for example, a
price), the type should be decimal or another numerical field. The wizard picks the
right field type, so to get an idea of how this works, see what the wizard has chosen
for different fields.
Step 3: Set primary key.
1) Create a primary key should be checked.
2) Select option Use an existing field as a primary key.
3) In the Fieldname drop down list, select CollectionID.
4) Check Auto value if it is not already checked.
5) Click Next.
Note
A primary key uniquely identifies an item (or record) in the table. For example, you
might know two people called “Randy Herring” or three people living at the same
address and the database needs to distinguish between them.
The simplest method is to assign a unique number to each one: number the first
person 1, the second 2, and so on. Each entry has one number and every number is
different, so it is easy to say “record ID 172”. This is the option chosen here:
CollectionID is just a number assigned automatically by Base to each record of this
table.
Step 4: Create the table.
1) If desired, rename the table at this point. If you rename it, make the name meaningful to
you. For this example, make no changes.
2) Leave the option Insert data immediately checked.
3) Click Finish to complete the table wizard. Close the window created by the table wizard.
You are now back to the main window of the database with the listing of the tables, queries,
forms, and reports. Notice that a table named “CD-Collection” is now listed in the Tables
portion of the window.
Chapter 8 Getting Started with Base | 221