Tour of Tables

Tables are the heart and soul of any database. They’re where a database stores all its information. All the other database objects are merely tools to analyze and manipulate the information stored in tables.

Open a Table

1. Double-click the table you want to open in the Navigation Pane.
   

The table opens as a tab in the window.

Of course, before you can open a table, someone will need to have already created the table, or else you’ll need to be using a database template that already has tables created for you.

Parts of a Table

Let’s take a closer look at the current table and identify its different components.

A	Fields: Tables are made up of groups of fields. A field is a specific type of information, such as a person’s last name, address, or phone number.
B	Records: Together, the related fields for each individual person, place, or thing make up a single record.
C	Datasheet: Table information is displayed, entered, and modified in a datasheet. A datasheet is a grid that contains all the records in a table.
D	Record selector: The record selector shows indication of the record that you are currently working on.
E	Record Navigation bar: You use the Record Navigation bar buttons to move through the records in a table.
F	Scroll bars: Tables usually contain too much information to display on the screen at once, so you’ll have to use the scroll bars to see all of it.

Table Navigation Using the Record Navigation Bar

Next, look at the record navigation buttons near the bottom of the screen. The record navigation buttons on the Record Navigation bar display the number of records in the current database and allow you to move between these records.

Go To	Navigation Buttons	Keyboard	Mouse
Next record	Click the Next record navigation button.	Press the ↓ arrow key.	Click the record you want to select (if displayed).
Previous record	Click the Previous record navigation button.	Press the ↑ arrow key.	Click the record you want to select (if displayed).
First record in a table	Click the First record navigation button.	Press Ctrl + Home (when not editing record).	N/A
Last record in a table	Click the Last record navigation button.	Press Ctrl + End (when not editing record).	N/A
New blank record	Click the New (blank) record navigation button.	N/A	Click in the (New) row at the end of the table.
Search for records using keywords	Type a keyword in the box next to the navigation buttons.	N/A	N/A