Tables are the heart and soul of any database. Tables are where a database stores all of its information. Each table in a database stores related information. Most databases have more than one table: Each table is used to store a different type of information. For example, one table might contain a list of customers and their addresses, while another table might contain any orders placed by the customers, while yet another table might contain a list of products.

Tables are made up of groups of fields. A field is a specific type of information, such as a person's last name, address, or phone number. Together, the related fields for each individual person, place, or thing make up a single record. If your company has ten employees, your employee table would have ten one for each employee.

Here's how to Create, open and view a table:

Datasheet view consists of directly introducing the data into the table, and according to the value introduced into the column determines the type of data that the column has.

Design view is the method we will detail in this unit.

Table wizard guides us step by step in the creation of the table using a predetermined sample table.

Import table consists of creating a new table from an existing one in another database.

Link table consists of creating a reference to another table stored in a different database.

Create Table by using Design View

• Double Click on "Create table in design view"
• In the Field Name Column type field name which you want to store in table
• In the Data Type Column Choose data type ,for your required field name.
• Optional : Description Column type details of field
• Click on Save button
• Type the table name
• click on ok
  If we have not assigned a primary key before saving the table, a dialogue box will appear advising us of this, and asking whether we would like Access to create one like this:
• If you click Yes, it will create a Autonumber field and will define it as the primary key.
• If you click No, the table is saved without a primary key, a primary key is convenient but not obligatory.

Before saving the table we need to assign a primary key.

Primary key: One or more fields (columns) whose values uniquely identify each record in a table. A primary key cannot allow Null values and must always have a unique index. In a table we can not define more than one primary key, but we can have a multiple-field primary key (one primary key defined on several fields.

To assign a primary key to a field follow these instructions:

• Click on the name of the field that will be the primary key.
• Click on the Primary key button on the toolbar.
• On the left of the field name will appear a key indicating to us that this field is the primary key of the table.

If we want to define a multiple-field primary key (based on various fields), hold down the Ctrl key and click on all those fields, then click on the button.

• Select the table that you want to modify by clicking on it so that its name stands out.
• Click on the Design button in the database window Or
• Click on view menu >> Click Design view