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\<bookmark_value\>database tables; creating in design view\</bookmark_value\>\<bookmark_value\>tables in databases; creating\</bookmark_value\>\<bookmark_value\>table design of data sources\</bookmark_value\>\<bookmark_value\>designing; database tables\</bookmark_value\>\<bookmark_value\>properties;fields in databases\</bookmark_value\>\<bookmark_value\>fields;database tables\</bookmark_value\>

# Table Design

This section contains information about how to create a new database table in the design view.

Open the database file of the database where you want a new table. Click the \<emph\>Tables\</emph\> icon. Choose \<emph\>Create Table in Design View\</emph\> to create a new table.

In the Design view, you can now create the fields for your table.

- Enter new fields in rows from top to bottom. Click the \<emph\>Field Name\</emph\> cell and enter a field name for each data field.

- Include a "primary key" data field. Base needs a primary key to be able to edit the table contents. A primary key has unique contents for each data record. For example, insert a numerical field, right-click the first column, and choose Primary Key from the context menu. Set AutoValue to "Yes", so Base can automatically increment the value for each new record.

- In the next cell to the right, define the \<emph\>Field Type\</emph\>. When you click in the cell, you can select a field type in the combo box.

Each field can only accept data corresponding to the specified field type. For example, it is not possible to enter text in a number field. Memo fields in dBase III format are references to internally-managed text files which can hold up to 64KB text.

You can enter an optional \<emph\>Description\</emph\> for each field. The text of the description will appear as a tip on the column headings in the table view.

## Field Properties

Enter properties for each selected data field. Depending on the database type, some input facilities may not be available.

In the \<emph\>Default value\</emph\> box, enter the default contents for every new record. This contents can be edited later.

In the \<emph\>Entry required\</emph\> box, specify whether or not the field may remain empty.

For the \<emph\>Length\</emph\> box, a combo box may be shown that provides the available choices.

Related Topics

Database Overview