Database - Table design

[MPgov]

Hi all, I am relatively new to creating databases. My question:

I am recieving the same information (spreadsheets) from different companies
and want to have access to all this info to create reports. I would like to
keep these spreadsheets separate and hopefully build a query to merge them
all for data use only. But, it seems that the only way I can do this is to
use an Append query to make a combined table.

Can I keep these tables separately and merge them only through a temporary
query? Thanks for your help.

 

[KARL DEWEY]

Yes. Use a union query.

 

[Larry Daugherty]

The answer to your question is: it's very unlikely.

In Relational DataBase Management Systems (RDBMS) a lot of rules data
organization have to be observed for optimal performance.

One set of those rules is about data "Normalization". It is pretty
much accepted that data should be normalized to at least 3rd Normal
Form to produce an effective, maintainable and enhanceable
application.

Another very important concept is the identification of the entities
in play in your application; then entering every instance of a given
entity into a table named for that entity type. Note that tables are
named for entity types, not for the entities themselves.

Just about any rule can be broken or bent and you can still get some
usable output. But the more the rules are broken or bent then the
more difficult it is to produce usable output, maintain the
application or to enhance the application.

This is a good group to lurk to get answers to table design questions.
That would seem to be where you need help.

Another good group for newbies is
microsoft.public.access.gettingstarted

I also recommend that you visit www.mvps.org/access It is an
incredibly valuable resource to budding Access developers.

HTH