Creating Databases and Tables Manually 799
For some kinds of tables, Access provides Quick Start fields that you can use to add
common sets of fields or kinds of fields to a table. The Quick Start options take the
work out of defining these fields and can be very useful when you know exactly what
type of field you need.
In this exercise, you’ll create a blank database, enter information into the first record of
its default table, assign field names, add another record, and save and close the table.
Then you’ll copy that table to create a second one. Finally, you’ll create a new table and
experiment with Quick Start fields.
SET UP You don’t need any practice files to complete this exercise. Close any open
databases, and then with the New page of the Backstage view displayed, follow
the steps.
- In the center pane of the New page, in the Available Templates area, click Blank
Database. - In the right pane, click the File Name box, and type MyTables. Then click the Browse
button, navigate to your Chapter26 practice file folder, and click OK.
Tip You can’t create a blank database without saving it. If you don’t provide a file name
and location, Access saves the file with the name Database followed by a sequential
number in the default location (your Documents folder, unless you have changed it). - In the right pane, click the Create button.
Access creates the blank database in the specified location, opens the database,
and displays a new blank table named Table1.
- With the empty field below Click to Add selected, type Scott, and then press Tab
to move to the next field.
The icon in the record selector changes to indicate that this record has not yet
been saved. The value 1 appears in the ID field, the name of the second column
changes to Field1, and the Click To Add label moves to the third column. - Click the icon in the record selector to save the record before you move on.
Tip Clicking the record selector is necessary only after you enter the first value in a
new table. This action sets the ID field value to 1.