Access 2016: Create a Database

Create a database in Access 2016 from either the File menu or the Welcome
screen. Create a blank database or choose a template.

Microsoft Access 2016 allows you to create either a blank database or one that's
based on a template. A template is like a pre-built database that you can use as a
starter for your own database.

In this tutorial, we'll create a blank database, then add tables, data, and other
objects to it.

Create a Blank Database

Let's go ahead and create a blank database.

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Access 2016 creates a table automatically when you create a blank database. You
can customize this table, then create more using the Create tab.

We now have a blank table, having just created a blank database.

First, we'll customize that blank table. Then we'll create a new one.

Customize the Blank Table

First, we're going to add a field to the existing table. Then we'll rename the existing
field.

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Create a New Table
Now we'll create a new table. This one will contain information on the
albums that the artists release, so we'll call it Albums.

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Design View can make it easier to set up a table. It provides a different view of the
table to Datasheet View and is typically used to configure the table.

You can use Design View to create a table, set up data types for each field, specify
default values, specify how data should be entered and displayed, and more.

Generally speaking, most tasks can be achieved using either Design View or
Datasheet View, however, there are some advanced settings that can only be
changed in Design View. Also, you might find that you prefer to do certain tasks in
Design View and other tasks in Datasheet View.

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We will now use Design View to do two things:

1. Create a new table

2. Set field properties for our existing table

Create a new Table in Design View

So now that we've established that Design View and Datasheet View are just two
ways of looking at the same table, let's go ahead and create a table in Design View.

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Set the Field Properties for an Existing Table

You can also use Design View to edit any existing table. Whether the table was
created in Design View or Datasheet View doesn't matter. Any table can be edited
in Design View.

Now we will change some field properties to the table we created previously.

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The Input Mask Wizard helps you create an input mask. An input mask restricts
how data is entered into the database.

In MS Access 2016, you can use the Input Mask Wizard to create an input mask.
An input mask is a set of simple rules that specifies the format in which data can be
entered into a field.

For example, an input mask of (999) 000-0000 could be used to determine

how phone numbers are entered. In this example, the area code is optional, but the
rest of the number is must be entered. This is because, with any input mask,
a 9 specifies an optional number, a 0 specifies a mandatory number.

Using the Input Mask Wizard

We're now going to apply an input mask to the ReleaseDate field of

our Albums table. Our input mask will ensure that users enter each album's
realease date in the correct format.

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There are many ways of adding data to an Access 2016 table. You can use a form,
import from an external file, use SQL, and you can enter data directly into the
table.

This tutorial explains several methods of entering data, from using a form, to SQL,
to importing data from an external file.

But let's start off by entering data directly into a table in Datasheet View.

Add Records Directly into Datasheet View

This is probably the most obvious way to enter data into a database. Just open up
the table and start typing.

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