Question on where to start

[scottsoo9]

Let me start off by saying I am very new to Access. I have only read a tutorial on the program, so my knowledge is limited.

I have an Excel spreadsheet filled with the following data which i would use as my fields

task number (primary key)
delivery order
description
customer
group
start date
end date
% complete
% of funds expended
dollars authorized
dollars expended
backlog
remarks
contract type
amount invoiced
amount paid
expended bill
authorized bill
bill paid

The rows that fill this information is the individual task number for each contract. There are about 100 contracts in total with many subtasks for each contract.

I was going to put the task number as the primary key.

My question is do I put all of this information in one table or do I split it up and put it in different tables. Any help on how to get this started would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Scott

 

[apr pillai]

It is better if you organize related information (or subtasks as you have mentioned) in separate tables using Task Number as links to those tables. Take a look at the Northwind.mdb sample database in your machine (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Samples\Northwind.mdb).

1. Open this database.
2. Select Relationships from Tools Menu and study how various related Tables are created and how they are linked each other with common information.
3. Open each table (starting with Employees Table) and study the information in them and try to understand their logical arrangements and why they are kept in separate tables rather putting everything in one Table.

This will give you a general idea as how to start with your Project. You can find lot of examples in Forms, Reports and Query design examples in there.

Regards,
a.p.r. pillai