Datasheet

Memo
If you need to store text data that exceeds the 255-character limit of the Text
field, you should use the Memo field. Long descriptions or notes about the
record can be stored in fields of this type.
Number
The Number type is used for all numerical data that will be used in calcula-
tions, except money or currency (which has its own data type). Actually, Num-
ber is several data types under one heading. When Number has been selected
as a data type in the Design view of the table, go to the Field Size field at the
top of the General tab. When you select the down arrow, you get the following
options: Byte, Integer, Long Integer, Single, Double, Replication ID, and Deci-
mal. Probably the most common field sizes of the Number data type are Long
Integer and Double. Long Integer should be selected if the numbers are whole
numbers that do not have any non-zeros to the right of the decimal point. Dou-
ble should be selected if decimal numbers need to be stored in that field.
Date/Time
Another data type often used in calculations is Date/Time. Recording the time
that certain events occurred is among the more important uses of this data
type. Recording dates and times allows you to compare data by time dura-
tions, be it months, years, or whatever. In the business world, the Date field
can be crucial to analysis, especially when identifying seasonal trends or mak-
ing year over year comparisons.
Currency
Currency is a special calculation data type, ideal for storing all data that repre-
sents amounts of money.
AutoNumber
This data type is actually a Long Integer that is automatically and sequentially
created for each new record added to a table. The AutoNumber can be one
mechanism by which you can uniquely identify each individual record in a
table. You will not enter data into this field.
Yes/No
In some situations, the data that needs to be represented is in a simple Yes/No
format. Although you could use the Text data type for creating a True/False
field, it is much more intuitive to use Access’s native data type for this purpose.
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