Database structure - Microsoft Access Forum


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Database structure

Mark Skillin

3 years ago

I have been asked to design a database for a local charity I do a bit of work for. Its been around 10 years since I last did anything with Access so please be gentle with me. As first sight it looks quite straight forward a simple Customer, Case, CaseDetails type affair. The problem is that the CaseDetails table needs to be split into 6 tables (not all used all the time) I can't work out how to relate the ones that are used to the Case table. Can you point me in the right direction

	Alex Hedley @Reply 3 years ago
Have you seen Beginner 1? Have you written out your Tables on index cards? If `CaseT` is your main Table, add a `CaseID` as a Foreign Key (FK) to each of your sub tables and then link them that way.

Scott Axton @Reply

3 years ago

Sometimes the most difficult part of the whole process is the thinking ahead and determining your needs.
Not quite sure why you need 6 tables for CaseDetails - maybe yes,  maybe no.
Check out the Too Many Tables video.  It might be that you just need a different structure.
Also the Normalizing Data video is a good one to help in determining how to break out the pieces of data you need to track.

It's very difficult to speak in abstract.  If you could give us some specific examples it would help us to help you.

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