Database design/ tables design

[Anton Ayrapetov]

Hello All,
I am new to Access database and learning my through. I was hoping to
get an advice from those who has more experience. I need help in
designing a structure, so I appreciate any input.
The situation:
I need to create a vehicle/client database. Client table has Last
Name and First Name field . As a Primary Key, I have ID which is an
auto number. There are about 600 clients. Also, I have vehicle table
that stores information about the car. each car has a unique Parking
Permit ID , which I set as a primary key. The idea is associate car
with its owner (the client). Be able to add a new car to the client.

The Problem:
Each client may have more than one car. There are different clients
with same last name ( first name is different) few clients have same
last and first name but different address.

How do I structure database so that clerk, the person who possess
absolutely no knowledge of access, can simply use client update form
in order to put in the new client with vehicles, and update existing
ones should they acquire a new car.

If it is not too much to ask, please advise.

Thank you All.
A.A.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Based on your description, you have "people", "vehicles", and "owners" to
consider. It sounds like you have the first two 'entities' covered, but to
get the best out of Access (or any other relational database), you'll need a
third table that stores valid combinations of persons and vehicles (i.e.,
"owners", consisting of who & which vehicle). This third table will have
one row for each valid combination ... if a person owns 7 cars, your table
will hold seven records pointing back to that person (using the personID).

Good luck!

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP