Summary Basics of Access

0 is not whole number so phone numbers are “text”

 Data dictionary
o Employee ID – Auto number, Primary key
o First name – Short text, Field size: 35, Validation: Is not null
o Last name - Short text, Field size: 35, Validation: Is not null
o Position - Short text, Field size: 30, Validation: Is not null
o Department ID - Number, Foreign key, Validation: Is not null
o Start date – Date/time, Input mask: 00/00/0000, Validation: Is
not null
o End date – Date/time, Input mask: 00/00/0000
 Data Types
o Short text – values up to 255 characters
o Long text – large values for a description
o Number – such as an exam mark
o Date/time – such as a date of birth
o Currency – such as an employee salary
o Yes/no – Boolean values such as M/F
 Field size
o Maximum size
 Short text –Don’t want it too small or too large. Such as first
name 35 characters, Postcode 8 characters
 Number – Defines whether decimal places can be stored
o Byte – 0 - 255
o Integer – -37768 – +37768
o Long Integer – -2,147,483,648 – +2,147,483,647
o Single – -3.4 x 1038 – +3.4 x 1038
o Double – -1.797 x 10308 – +1.797 x 10308