Data Types In MS-Access

1. Text: - The text data type is a most common data type and can contain

any combination of 255 characters and/or numbers. For example- The text data type can be used for storing values that contain combination of numbers and letters such as address, job description, etc.

2. Memo: - Use a memo field to store long but variable lengthy text

possibly relating to other field data For example- We can add comments to our employee records about their efficiency on the job or on their skills when dealing with customers. It is not necessary that every record to include memo data but when one does the text can vary in size from a few words to up to 65,535 characters.

3. Numbers: - Select the number data types when you plan to sort the

values or use them in calculation. For example- Adding up the working hours by a certain employee during a season for any type of calculation.

4. Date/Time: - the date/time data type is used whenever we have to

represent a particular date.

5. Currency: - Use the currency data type when we want to store monetary

values such as the cost. Currency fields can be used arithmetic calculation just like the number field. Currency values are accurate up to 15 digits to the left of decimal points and 4 digits to the right.

6. Auto number: - When you specify the auto number field, access

guarantees that each record to the table has unique value in the field & there by creating a field that we can use as a primary key. Access generates a unique value for the field as you enter each new record.

7. Yes/No: - This field is useful when you want the equivalent of a cheque

mark in your record. For example- If you want to know whether the transaction has been posted or not or job has been completed or not, this field is used there. By default a Yes/No field appears as a cheque box i a data sheet as well as in forms and reports.

8. OLE (object linking embedding): - When you want to link an object from

another source in your table, you can use OLE object data type. With this type of field we can acquire data from object and excel spreadsheet, a word document, etc.

9. Hyper link: - whenever you want the field to jump to another location or

to connect to an internet or an intranet, store the hyper link address in a hyper link field. A hyper link field can contain up to 4 parts-

Display Text- Optional text that display instead of the full hyper link address.

Address- (URL) Universal address locator.

Sub-address- Page within the web address or a location within the file.

Screen Tip- Text that displays when the mouse pointer rest on the hyper link.

10. Attachment: - An attachment field is used to store pictures, images,

file from the other programs. An attachment field offers more flexibility than the OLE data types. When you attach a field to a field, access creates a system table in the background and you use the attachment dialogue box to work with them. We can open or edit an attachment.

11. Look-up wizard: - The look-up wizard creates a field limited to a list of

valid values. When you select this data type, a wizard helps you to create the list and attaches it to your table.