Foreign keys in a consolidated table

[threepwoodjr]

I have a database that tracks users, tickets, and inventory. I'm trying to consolidate tables. For example, currently I have multiple comment tables, tblUserComments, tblTicketComments, etc. I want to have one table for comments. However, I'm having a problem understanding how to deal with foreign keys. This is what I have:

tblUser
--tblUser_ID (pk, autonumber)
--tblUser_LastName
--tblUser_FirstName
--tblUser_Office
--tblUser_Phone

tblTicket
--tblTicket_ID (pk, autonumber)
--tblTicket_Title
--tblTicket_Description
--tblTicket_Status
--tblTicket_Opened
--tblTicket_Closed

tblComment
--tblComment_ID (pk, autonumber)


--tblComment_ObjectID (fk, ticketID, userID, etc)
--tblComment_Comment
--tblComment_DateTime

The problem I'm having is when I want to display all the comments for a particular user or ticket, how will it distinguish between users and tickets. In the foreign key field in the comments table, it will have 1. This could be user 1 or a ticket 1.

I thought about adding an additional field like tblComment_SourceTable but that's a lot of redundant data. I thought about adding a T or a U to the primary key but I don't know how to do that and I'm reading thats bad to add descriptive info to a primary key.

I appreciate your help. My knowledge with Access is basic and self-taught. I usually end up rigging it to work somehow and it's not the best way to do it.

-Mike

[RuralGuy]

You were on the right track. Since you have comments referencing two different subjects (tables) you have no choice (IMO) but to add an additional field to the table that describes to what the comment refers.

[threepwoodjr]

Thanks for your help. I was stuck on this and not sure of the best way to move forward. This sets me in the right direction.

[RuralGuy]

Glad I could help.