DB Checklist, INLS 256, Fall 1999

Checklist for Creating a DB in Access
Database I

This is a checklist you can use when creating your tables in Access to be sure that your design is solid before you start entering data or answering queries.

Be sure to check the following for each table you create:

__ Does it have a primary key field(s)?
__ Have you made the primary key field(s) required?
__ Have you given each attribute a useful name?
__ Have you given a text description for each attribute?
__ Have you decided on a data type for each attribute?
__ Have you determined the most appropriate field size for each attribute?
__ Have you set up a format or input mask for fields where that is appropriate (i.e., for things like zip codes, phone numbers, dates, etc.)
__ Have you set up a default value for the attribute if it is likely to take a particular value (for example, "NC" could be the default value for a state attribute if you will be dealing with local addresses)
__ Have you decided whether or not each field should be indexed, and if so whether or not duplicates will be allowed?

Once you have finished with the tables, you will want to check the following in the relationship window:

__ Have you included all of the tables in your relationship window?
__ Have you made connections between the primary keys and foreign keys for all of your tables?
__ For each connection between a primary key and a foreign key, did you check the "Enforce Referential Integrity Constraints" box?
__ For each connection between a primary key and a foreign key, did you make a decision about cascading updates or deletes?
__ When you are done making connections, are all of your tables linked to the others in some way (NOTE: This does not mean that each table should have a connection to all the other tables -- just that no tables should be left out on their own without being linked to any others.)