Primary key issues

[NEHicks]

I would like to turn an Excel spreadsheet into an Access database. I would like to set up an employee table using the social security # as the primary key. Every time I try, it tells me I can't have a null value, or it tells me it will create duplicate entries within one or more fields, even when I tell it "yes, duplicates ok". Any suggestions?

[RuralGuy]

Don't use the SSN as the PK. Use an AutoNumber as the PK and see what happens. Then examine the table for duplicates.

[NEHicks]

I tried that at first, but the additional tables that I need to set up don't match up correctly so my queries don't run. What I have is:
Table 1 - first, last name, ss #, dob, eod, position (RN, LPN, NA, etc)( does contain duplicates of names, due to the cultural traditions - such is the reason I want to use the SS# as the primary key)
Table 2 - first, last name, ss#, appraisal date, rating (only for LPN, NA, etc)
Table 3 - first, last name, ss#, proficiency due date, proficiency end date, grade, step, rating (Only for RN's)
Table 4 - first, last name, ss#, license expiration date, state, license number (only for RN, LPN)

What ties the 4 tables together is the ss#. The names won't have the same identical key if it's an autonumber due to some tables are only RN's & LPN's and Table 1 contains All employees, RN, LPN, NA, etc.

[RuralGuy]

To get good results in your db, you will need to Normalize your data. The actual data should only exist in one table. References to the data are done with ForeignKey fields.

[NEHicks]

So, my emp. table has the name only? and then I have a table for ss#'s?

[RuralGuy]

Table 1 has AutoNumber (PK), first, last name, ss #, etc...
Table 2 has AutoNumber (PK), Table1(PK) as ForeignKey, appraisal date, etc...
Table 3 has AutoNumber (PK), Table1(PK) as ForeignKey, proficiency due date, etc...
Table 4 has AutoNumber (PK), Table1(PK) as ForeignKey, license expiration date, etc...

[NEHicks]

Thanks, I will give it a try.

[RuralGuy]

Great and have fun.