Access 2000 Introduction

Creating Tables-Table Structure

It can become necessary to alter the structure of your table to accommodate the records and fields of your table. You have the ability to freeze columns in a table, resize columns, or move them to new locations.

Freezing Columns

If your table has many fields, it may be too wide to show certain fields at the same time. You can prevent a field from scrolling by freezing it. To freeze a column, you must first select it by clicking on the column heading at the top, directly on the name of the field. (Click-and-drag to select several columns) You then choose Format|Freeze Columns from the menu bar. The computer will then place the "frozen" column(s) at the left side of the table and separate them from the remaining columns with a vertical bar. To unfreeze, choose Format|Unfreeze All Columns. NOTE: the computer does NOT place the frozen column(s) back in the original location. <Click here> for a video demo. (204K)

Resizing Columns

If you have ever worked in a spreadsheet program, then you already know how to resize columns in Access. To make a column wider or narrower, place the pointer in the column headings on the border to the RIGHT of the column you wish to resize. You then click-and-drag to adjust the width of the column. If you wish Access to resize the column automatically, double-click the mouse on the border in the column headings. <Click here> for a video demo. (139K)

Moving Columns

Similar to the moving of fields in Design View, you have the ability to move columns in a table. It is a two-step process. Firstly, you must highlight the column(s) you wish to move. This is accomplished by clicking on the field name at the top of the column. (Click-and-drag for multiple columns) Then, WHILE THE POINTER IS STILL ON THE COLUMN HEADING, click-and-drag the mouse. A vertical bar will move between one column and the next. When the VERTICAL BAR (not the mouse) is in the location you want the column(s) to move, release the mouse. <Click here> for a video demo. (192K)

The two steps of moving a column