How to Create Table Relationships in Access
Table relationships in Microsoft Access allow you to create stronger queries and more powerful databases. Relationships allow fields from one table to relate to the fields in another table. This effectively ties the two tables together. Multiple relationships can exist between tables. You can also change relationships at any time. Microsoft Access provides you with a relationship screen to create and manage relationships. You can add new tables to the screen as you create new tables in your database.
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Instructions
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Open an existing Microsoft Access database with at least two existing tables. You don't need data in the tables, as long as a related field exists between the two tables. For instance, if your database was about pets, both tables may have a "Pet Type" field.
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Locate the relationships icon on the toolbar. The icon looks like three small squares connected by small lines. If you hover your mouse over the icons, you will see the name of each icon.
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Add tables to the relationships screen. Click the "Show Table" icon, which looks like a plus sign next to a small square. Select the tables you wish to add. You can add all existing tables, even if you don't create a relationship between the tables.
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Scroll to the fields you wish to create the relationship between in each table. Highlight the field in one table, hold the left mouse button, and drag your mouse to the corresponding field in the next table.
If you already have an existing relationship between the tables, press "No" to create a new relationship. -
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Press "Create" to create the relationship.
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Tips & Warnings
Create relationships between queries as well as tables for even more control over your database.
Be careful of how many relationships you create between the same two tables. If tables are too similar, you may need to combine the two for a smoother running database
