I have been assigned a task to create a database to keep track of bridge inspections. I have several records for each bridge and would like some guidance on setting up the tables. When a new inspection is submitted, I wish to enter it into a field that updates the table with a new line for the entry and moves the previous records down in the table. I am not an Access expert but am comfortable enough to follow instructions if anyone has any to offer - or if this can be done.

Many thanks in advance to anyone that can offer any direction (or to tell me I'm living in a fantasy).

Generally I'd expect 2 tables, "bridges" and "inspections". I'd have a form/subform to manage the data; the form would be bound to the bridges table and the subform to the inspections table. Master/child links would make sure the subform only displayed inspections for the bridge displayed on the main form. When you add records, you don't worry about the actual order of them in the table; it's irrelevant. When you view the records in a form or table, you order them how you want there.

Does that help?

What you are asking is to make Access act like a spreadsheet. How you want something displayed is totally separate from how it is stored when you move up to a relational database.

You would need at least two tables to manage your request. You need a table that defines bridges and another that holds inspections. This is a one-to-many relationship. One bridge - many inspections.

Do some reading on normalization before you proceed. You will most likely need additional tables for example -

inspectiors since a bridge may be inspected by multiple people
findings since an inspection may result in multiple problems

Keep working at it with pencil and paper before you start building tables and forms.