Datasheet

Try It Out Creating the ProjectTimeTracker Access Database
1.
Start Microsoft Access by clicking Start on the taskbar and then clicking Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, enter MSACCESS and then click OK.
3. Depending on which version of Microsoft Access you have, you may see the Microsoft Access
dialog box prompting you to create a new database or open an existing database. Or you may
see the New File window docked on the right-hand side of Microsoft Access. Either way, you
want to create a new blank database, so choose the Blank Database option.
4. The File New Database dialog box will appear, prompting you to choose a location to create
your database and to enter a database name. By default, a database name of db1.mdb has been
entered. Choose the location in which to create this database and enter a filename of
ProjectTimeTracker.mdb. Then click the Create button to have this database created.
5. The shortcut bar on the left side of the window contains two tabs: Objects and Groups. Under
the Objects tab, the shortcut for Tables is selected by default. In the main window three options
exist to create tables. You want to double-click the first option: Create table in Design view.
6. The table designer contains three columns: Field Name, Data Type, and Description. The
General tab at the bottom of the designer contains the data type attributes after a data type has
been chosen. Using Table 1-5, enter the field names, data types, and data type attributes to
create the Groups table.
Table 1-5: Groups Table Fields
Field Name Data Type Data Type Attributes
GroupID Number Field Size = Replication ID; Required =
Yes, Indexed = Yes (No Duplicates)
GroupName Text Field Length = 50, Required = Yes, Allow
Zero Length = No
GroupDescription Memo Required = No, Allow Zero Length = Yes
LastUpdateDate Date/Time Required = Yes
7. After you enter all the field names and data types and set their attributes, click GroupID in the
Field Name column, and then click the Edit menu and choose Primary Key or click the Primary
Key icon on the toolbar to set this field as the primary key for the table.
8. To save your table, click the File menu and choose Save or click the Save icon on the toolbar. In
the Save As dialog box, enter a name of Groups and then click OK.
9. Close the table designer by clicking on the X in the upper-right corner of the window.
10. The next table that you want to create is the Projects table. Double-click Create table in Design
view to open the table designer. Enter the field names, data type, and data type attributes as
shown in Table 1-6.
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Databases
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