Primary key query

[kimberlin]

Is it possible to use a word rather than a number as the primary key in a table which then becomes a foreign key when connected to a junction table? My reason for asking is that this would be a limited list of around 20 words and would be more meaningful to the end users if they were doing a search.

 

[plog]

Possible, yes. Correct, probably not.

 

[Mr. B]

If you are only going to have 20 values available for the Primary Key, then you will have limited yourself to only having 20 records becasue each primary key value must be unique.

 

[kimberlin]

I get the bit about the primary key value being unique, but how does it only limit the database to 20 records if the other records in the foreign table are combining any of those 20 words with different information from different fields all the time?

 

[jdraw]

The primary key is ideally for the use of Access, not the user/client.
The user/client can interact with forms and behind those forms your queries etc can make use of primary key(s). The client/user see the terms they are familiar with and you optimize queries etc for Access to use the primary key (many will tell you to use autonumber PK).

 

[kimberlin]

Ok, thanks for that, I can see I've got reams to learn.

 

[jdraw]

Some useful links
http://databases.about.com/od/specificproducts/a/primarykey.htm


The first few topics here are well worth the read
http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/forum/topic238.html

and there are numerous links to great info. Good luck

 

[kimberlin]

Thanks for the links, I've bookmarked them for a closer read before bed.