Chapter 2. Defining and Relating Tables

The logical starting point in designing a database application is to define the tables that will store the data. The table schema is the foundation that must support the entire application, so it is imperative that this be designed well. Because Access makes it so easy to build an application, it can be tempting to skip this important step, but don't.

In this chapter I'll explain some of fundamental principles that ensure a good data model. These techniques are universally applicable to most database engines. I will cover database normalization, defining primary and foreign keys and using constraints to ensure referential integrity.

I will guide you through the process of creating a base set of tables for ...

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