Table Primary Key: Apply It 1

  • Discuss the importance of primary key uniqueness
  • Choose a primary key
  • Set the primary key
  1. Open Design View: Open the design view of the current table and name the table 2020_BusinessCards.
    A blank database in Microsoft Access. A Save As dialog box is open, and a new table called 2020_BusinessCards is being created.
  2. Set the Primary Key: In the ‘Field Name’ with the little key to the left side create a primary key name to use for this table. (Refer to the module about the various options of creating a key.) Make sure to keep the Data Type to AutoNumber and add in a text description.
    A database in Microsoft Access. A cell underneath the column "Field Name" is selected. There is a small key icon to the left of the selected cell. A dialogue box with two tabs "General" and "Lookup" is open at the bottom of the page. The tab "General" is selected with the following fields: Field Size, New Values, Format, Caption, Indexed, Text Align.
  3. Indexed: In the new table with the new key make sure the filed for Indexed is set to Yes (No Duplicates).
    A database in Microsoft Access with one row filled out. The cell underneath "Field Name" reads "Biz_Card". The cell underneath Data Type reads "AutoNumber". The cell underneath Description (Optional) reads "Collected business cards for 2020". The "General" tab is selected for the dialogue box at the bottom of the page and the cell next to "Indexed" reads "Yes (No duplicates)".
  4. Save File: Save all of your work again.
  5. Submit the database file in your course online.