Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Databases

Chapter 6. Maintaining Integrity Through Data Validation Rules

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS:

• An Overview of How Validation Rules Work in Databases

• Implement Field-Level Rules

• Implement Row-Level Rules

• What You Have Learned

In Chapter 5, “Using Access to Build the Time Entry and Billing Database,” you completed the process of building the core parts of the Time Entry and Billing database. The core parts included the tables, fields, and relationships. At a minimum, this is all you need to store data. The big issue now is how do you control what gets into the database? Should the user be able to enter whatever he wants? Should a user be able to save a client record without a complete address? Should there be some element of control? If there should be some ...