How to Create Relationships in Access 2007

By eHow Computers Editor

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A database should be designed to minimize data redundancy by dividing the data into tables so that each fact is only represented once. A relationship between tables allows Office Access 2007 to bring this data back together by displaying information from more than one table at a time. The following steps will show how to create a relationship in Access 2007.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Start Access 2007 and click on the Microsoft Office Button, then click on the "Open" line item to bring up the "Open" dialog box. Select and open the database in which you wish to create a relationship.

Step2

Click on the "Database Tools" tab and look in the "Show-Hide" group for the "Relationships" icon. Click this icon to bring up the "Relationships" window. This should automatically bring up the "Show Tables" dialog box if you have not defined any relationships for this database. If it doesn't, click on "Show Table."

Step3

Select all of the tables or queries for which you wish to create a relationship and click the "Add" button. When you have added all of the tables and queries you need relationships for, click the "Close" button.

Step4

Drag a field from one table to the common field on another table. You select multiple fields by holding the "CTRL" key down as you select each field. The "Edit Relationships" dialog box will come up at this point.

Step5

Verify that the field names are correct and check the "Enforce Referential Integrity" box, if desired. "Click the Create" button to establish the relationship. Note that a relationship line is now drawn between the two tables.