Access 2010
Working with Tables
Table basics
If you're new to Microsoft Access, you'll need to learn the basics of working with tables so you can open, navigate, add information, and edit them.
To open an existing table:
- Open your database, and locate the Navigation Pane.
- In the Navigation Pane, locate the table you would like to open. Tables are marked with the icon.
- Double-click the name of the table. It will open and appear as a tab in the Document Tabs bar.
Opening a table
Understanding tables
All tables are composed of horizontal rows and vertical columns, with small rectangles called cells in the places where rows and columns intersect. In Access, rows and columns are referred to as records and fields.
A field is a way of organizing information by type. Think of the field name as a question, and every cell within that field as a response to that question.
A record is one unit of information. Every cell on a given row is part of that row's record. Each record has its own ID number. Within a table, each ID number is unique to its record and refers to all of the information within that record. The ID number for a record cannot be changed.
Each cell of data in your table is part of both a field and a record. For instance, if you had a table of names and contact information, each person would be represented by a record, and each piece of information about each person—name, phone number, address, and so on—would be contained within a distinct field on that record's row.
Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn how to navigate a table.
Record Navigation Bar
The Record Navigation bar allows you to navigate through records one at a time. Click the arrows to move from record to record, navigate directly to a record by searching for it with the record search box. You can also use the Record Navigation bar to add a new record to the current table.
Record
In Access, table rows are referred to as records. A record is a unit of data that includes every piece of information in a given row.
Field
In Access, columns are referred to as fields. When you organize your data by entering it into different fields, you are organizing it by type. Each field contains one type of data. The type of data contained within a field is described by the title at the top of each field.
Table Formatting Options
These Formatting Options allow you to make your table easier to read by adding an alternate row color or modifying the gridlines that separate individual rows and columns. You can access even more formatting options by clicking the arrow in the bottom right corner.
Find and Replace
The Find and Replace command allows you to search for any term in your table and replace it with a new one.
The Record Commands Group
The Ribbon contains a handful of commands for working with records, including New Record, Save Record, and Delete Record.
Navigating within tables
To navigate through records in a table, you can use the up and down arrow keys, scroll up and down, or use the arrows in the record navigation bar located at the bottom of your table. You can also find any record in the currently open table by searching for it using the record search box. Simply place your cursor in the search box, type any word that appears in the record you would like to find, and press Enter. To view additional records that match your search, press Enter again.
To navigate between fields, you can use the left and right arrow keys or scroll left and right.