How to: Modify a table design in Design view.
Solution:
Open the table in the Design view, make the desired changes, and then save the design.
1) If the Database window is not active, activate the Database window.
2) Open the table in the Table Design view.
3) (Optional) Change the name of a field in the 'Field Name' column:
a) Click in the 'Field Name' column for the desired field.
b) Select (highlight) the entire existing name by clicking and dragging the mouse over it.
c) Type a new name for the field. (The new name replaces the old name.)
d) Repeat steps 3)a) through 3)c) for each field name to change in the table.
4) (Optional) Change the data type for a field:
a) Click in the 'Data Type' column for the desired field. (A down arrow appears in the cell.)
b) Click on the down arrow. (A drop-down list appears.)
c) Select the new data type from the 'Data Type' drop-down list.
Data type
d) Repeat steps 4)a) through 4)c) for each field for which to change the data type.
5) (Optional) Change the description for a field:
a) Click in the 'Description' column for the desired field.
b) Edit the description text as desired.
c) Repeat steps 5)a) and 5)b) for each field for which to change the description.
6) (Optional) Change the field properties:
a) Move to the 'Field Properties' section.
Field Properties section
b) Click the 'General' tab.
c) Make the desired changes in the various property boxes.
d) Click the 'Lookup' tab.
e) Make the desired changes in the various property boxes.
NOTE: For some data types, no properties exist for the 'Lookup' tab.
7) (Optional) Add a field:
a) Click in the 'Field Name' column of the next blank row.
b) Type the desired name for the new field in the 'Field Name' column.
c) Click in the 'Data Type' column. (A down arrow appears in the cell.)
d) Click on the down arrow. (A drop-down list appears.)
e) Select the desired data type from the 'Data Type' drop-down list box.
Data type
f) Click in the 'Description' column.
g) Type the desired descriptions for the new field.
h) Move to the 'Field Properties' section.
Field Properties section
i) Click the 'General' tab.
j) Make the desired changes in the various property boxes.
k) Click the 'Lookup' tab.
l) Make the desired changes in the various property boxes.
NOTE: For some data types, no properties exist for the 'Lookup' tab.
8) (Optional) Change the table properties (for the entire table):
a) Select the 'View' menu and select 'Properties'. (The Table Properties property sheet appears.)
b) Make the desired changes in the various property boxes.
c) To close the property sheet, click on the 'X' button (Close button) in the upper right corner of the property sheet. (The property changes are saved automatically when the property sheet is closed.)
9) To save the design changes, select the 'File' menu and select 'Save'.
NOTE: Make sure to save changes because design changes are NOT automatically saved when closing the Table Design view.
10) To close the Table Design view, select the 'File' menu and select 'Close'.
