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Step 1
"A good database design will never fail you! Learn how to plan and create the database architecture by using well known principles..."
The key to creating a good database design starts with the eventual implementation of tables and their relationships. Before this process however, users may need to take a step back and look at the whole picture and sketch out the purpose of the database.
A relational database (tables that are joined together) provides the structure to a good design and to find out where you start, please review the process about Database Normalisation (http://www.about-access-databases.com/database-normalisation.html). -
Step 2
So where do you start? There are several approaches to determining the tables, fields and their best matched data types. My personal approach which seems to work best for me is to carry out a bit of reverse engineering and conduct a review of the type of reports you want to end up with (see http://www.about-access-databases.com/reverse-engineering.html).
So now you have a list of tables, fields and their data types and you also know all the key objectives and main processes are for a good design.
The next step is to build the tables, fields and define their data types (see http://www.about-access-databases.com/create-table.html) and then test some sample data to validate these relationships between the tables.
Also, you may wish to view more information on each data type and further properties (see http://www.about-access-databases.com/data-types.html) to determine which options will best serve and support all dependent objects later on. -
Step 3
A well designed database also needs to include optimisation techniques (the process of speeding up and increasing performance).
This will become more important over a period of time as your volume of data grows. The larger the data information in Access, the slower it will perform without some form of indexing.
Review how to create primary and secondary key indexes in Access to understand the benefits and why it is important to implement (see http://www.about-access-databases.com/primary-key.html).
At this stage, you have the core structure of your tables and fields in place and the next step is to actually create Relationships between the tables making Access a true relational database management system (RDBMS). -
Step 4
Take a look at http://www.about-access-databases.com/access-relationships.html on understanding relationships between tables and the types of links available before joining any tables together.
So if you are ready to implement and join the tables to form a relational database, follow how to apply the joins and create a relational database (see http://www.about-access-databases.com/access-relational-database.html).
Mastering the above processes first will give a good database design and solid foundation for your back-end database before moving onto other important design objects namely queries, forms and reports.
Please review the navigation menu buttons on these topics for more details on understanding the benefits, processes and how to action and implement such objects.
