setting up a database

[sharon137]

I have imported my database of customers from excel. the primary key is their account number. There are so many columns that it is hard to read as it is.

Can I link this to the contact list which is already set up in the contacts database or would it better to create a new database?

Can I have several tables which use the same information?

Others need to be able to view and add to the data.

[jzwp11]

Welcome to the forum!

Typically you would have many tables in a database. If the customers and contacts are related, then they should be in the same database, but different tables, of course.

Relational databases like Access operate differently from Excel and as such, the data must also be organized differently. So my concern is with the many columns (called fields in Access jargon) in your customer table that you mentioned. Having many fields usually indicates that your table is not normalized. For more on normalization, this site might help. You might also check out Crystal's site, she has several tutorials from which you might benefit. You will have to analyze those other fields/columns in your customer table to see if the information contained within them should be split off into other related tables.