Relationship ID's between tables

[cp3]

Hey yall,
I have a database with two main tables used for contacts and check-ins. Both tables have an ID category and both are the primary keys for their individual tables. Both are also auto-numbers. I want to make sure that when a particular record (and its related ID) are entered in one table (i.e. the contact table) they match to the corresponding record in the check-in table when that is entered subsequently. I am new to relationships on Microsoft Access (pun intended ) so how would I go about doing this? Is it ok to have both as auto-numbers and primary keys? I made the relationship in the tab as a one to one but I'm not confident that I have this right? Thanks so much for your support and advice!

[pbaldy]

I assume it should be one to many rather than one to one. If I'm a contact, I can presumably check in more than once. I don't know what a check in represents in your world of course. An employee can clock in multiple times, a customer can check into a hotel multiple times, etc.

[cp3]

Ok yes thats correct we will have multiple check-ins. So if i need to make this one to many how do i set that up with primary keys and how is the relationship drawn if both tables have an ID column. Are both ID's autonumbers? Do i make the relationship tied between the ID variables or from one ID in one table to a different variable in the other table?

[pbaldy]

I should have explained more, sorry. I would expect a "ContactID" field in contacts and a "CheckinID" in the check in table. Both autonumbers, both primary keys, but NO relationship between them. In the check in table I'd expect a ContactID field, which would be a foreign key to the ContactID field in contacts with a one to many relationship.

[cp3]

Ah gotcha thanks so much this is incredibly helpful!!

[pbaldy]

Happy to help! Post back if you get stuck.