Inserting Columns into a Table

You can add new column definitions to a table to capture additional data that is not already stored in an existing column. The Standard view, which shows a table with all of its currently defined columns, provides blank grid rows so that you can easily add new column definitions to your database table.

To insert columns into a table from a database diagram

1. In your database diagram, select the table that you want to add new columns to.
   
   
2. If the table is not already in Standard view, right-click the table and choose Standard from the shortcut menu.
   
   
3. Right-click a row in the table and select Insert Column from the shortcut menu. A blank column row is inserted above the selected row.
   -or-
   Place the cursor in the first blank cell in the Column Name column.
   
   
4. In the Column Name column, type the column name in the cell. The Column Name is a required value.
   
   
5. Press the TAB key to go to the Datatype cell. This is a required value.

The default values for your database are added when you create a new column. Define other properties for the column as needed. You can change any of these values and set additional properties at any time according to the rules of your database.

To insert columns into a table from the Table Designer

1. Open the Table Designer for the table to which you want to add a column.
   
   
2. Right-click a row in the table and select Insert Column from the shortcut menu. A blank column row is inserted.
   -or-
   Place the cursor in the first blank cell in the Column Name column.
   
   
3. In the Column Name column, type the column name in the cell. The Column Name is a required value.
   
   
4. Press the TAB key to go to the Datatype cell. This is a required value.

The default values for your database are added when you create a new column. Define other properties for the column as needed. To define any of the fundamental properties, enter the property value on the grid.  To define any of the other properties, highlight the grid row describing that database column, then enter the property value in the appropriate control on the tab appearing under the grid.

See Also

Setting Column Properties | Tables