How to Create a Graphic Microsoft Access Database Schematic

Using Microsoft Access can enhance your productivity.

Microsoft Access is the lightweight database tool that is provided with the Microsoft Office suite of productivity tools. One of the features of the Microsoft Access database application is the program’s ability to automatically create graphic database diagrams, or schematics. The database diagram feature allows the user to create a diagram of an existing database, including all relationships between variables and tables, or to create a database within the diagram interface.

Instructions

1. Open the database to be diagrammed in Microsoft Access.

2. Click the “Database Diagrams” button. This button appears to have a picture of several linked tables.

3. Click “New” from the toolbar. A blank diagram page will appear with the “Add Tables” button.

4. Click “Add Tables.”

5. Click the title bar for each table to add. Hold the CRTL key and click on each table’s title to select multiple tables.

6. Right-click in the diagram page and click “New Table” to create a new table from within the diagram interface.

7. Drag and drop the tables to convey relationships between tables and variables. Relationships between the tables are defined in the database and the relationship lines automatically link the appropriate variables and tables. To group a set of tables, move the tables close together and then drag a rectangle around all of the tables.

References

• Microsoft: Create a Database Diagram in Access