Hello Richard,

The first time I opened the MS database Northwind.accdb, I clicked on 'DATABASE TOOLS, then RELATIONSHIPS to view all the relationships associated with that database. (At that time in my knowledge it was just a bewildering collection of tables with interconnecting lines.)

As of this week, I have worked through your Access Beginner 1-7 for 2010, plus Beginner 104 for Access 2003 as well as Intermediate 201,202 & 203 for Access 2003. Through your lessons I have created all the tables, forms queries and the associated relationships for the PCresale database to that point.

However, I am not able to view that same 'big picture' relationship screen with the PCresale database as I am with the Northwind database.

Can you offer any tips as to why that is?

Thanks!
Bob

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Reply from Richard Rost:

Robert, that screen shows GLOBAL table relationships which you don't HAVE to use. In fact, I almost never use them unless I want to set up something called referential integrity and cascade deletes. I generally set up the relationships between the tables in my database "ad hoc" in the query designer, as I need them.

I cover these topics in the next couple of lessons you haven't gotten to yet: Access 220-223. I'll be covering them in detail in the Access Expert series too. I'll probably, in fact, get to them sooner in 2010 than I did in 2003.

This tip video explains more about cascade deletes, to give you an idea of how they're useful