Setting up table structure

[funk88]

ProductType (3-5 records)
ProductCat (20-30 records – could increase in the future)
QualSpec (currently about 100 records – will increase in future)
UnitsOfMeasure (probably about >30)
QualQuant (2 records)
TestProcedureNumber (currently about 50 records) – this will probably need to be in it’s own table b/c I will need to have TestProcedureNumber, Procedure Name, Link to Procedure File (or attachment)
If I separate TestName and TestType then the TestType record list would have about >200 records
I can see where smaller recordsets such as ProductType and QualQuant would work fine with using the manual entry.
I also see the benefit of using a lookup table for larger recordsets such as QualSpec, UnitsOfMeasure, and ProductCat.
What are the main advantages and disadvantages of using a look up table as opposed to manually typing data into a look up list?

 

[GinaWhipp]

Tomorrow... that is the main disadvantage. When (noticed I said WHEN not IF) the database grows up and/or gets bigger it be far easier. It also plays into the maximum database size... storing numbers takes up a lot less space than text.

Minor advantage, more control over data, so, data integrity.