[2005] Best Way to set up a database

[dinosaur_uk]

Hi there,

I am in the process of converting three types of Excel forms to an access database. I would ideally like to store it all within a single file.

Excel form1
Contains:

• Date
  Status
  Name

However, it also contains a table which relates only to this "Excel form1"
The question is, how do i store this table into the same table as the table for this form?
Example of the table
A 1 blah
B 2 booo
C 3 beee
D 4 hmmm
E 5 hooo

Any ideas? I am very new to databases.

Many thanks in advance!

[dinosaur_uk]

In other words, how do i create a Table within a Table?

cheers

[Shaggy Hiker]

Well, when you use the word "Relate", you suggest a solution. It sounds like you have two spreadsheets in an Excel workbook. Sheet1 has the date, status, and name, while sheet too has that other stuff. Is that right? If so, how does sheet1 relate to sheet2?

In databases, you might have multiple tables which are related to each other in standard ways. Most often, one table has a field that has the same name as a field in the other table. You can then query the first table using a JOIN statement that effectively does this "get the record from this table along with any records that have that same key in the other table." That's a basic relationship. One record in one table references from 1 to several records in the other table.

Alternatively, if you want the whole thing in one single table, then you would have a few fields which repeat the same data over and over. If that is only one field it's often fine, but if it is more than one field, then splitting that out into a separate table with a relationship will save space, and potentially speed.

[dinosaur_uk]

Sheet1 does not relate to sheet2

i simply want to put a table into a single record.

[Shaggy Hiker]

Each column is a field, each row is a row. A table is pretty much the same as a sheet.

However, I still don't understand what you meant about the Form1.

[dinosaur_uk]

OK.... I have 4 excel files which are used by various people as a daily form which they fill in. The form has several fields, but in that form, it has some mini tables too.

I was thinking of creating four different tables (one for each excel file) in one Access file, but I am not sure on how to store these mini tables into database (as i want it to be on the same row, so one day = one row).

i know it is abit confusing....