# Table Design

/text/shared/guide/data_tabledefine.xhp
tables in databases; creating in design view (manually)
designing; database tables
properties;fields in databases
fields;database tables
AutoValue (Base)
primary keys;design view
MW deleted "database tables;" and changed "tables in databases;"
UFI added AutoValue and Primary Key entry - i48831
MW changed Tables in databases, AutoValue and Primary Key entries
Table Design
This section contains information about how to create a new database table in the design view.
Open the database file of the database where you want a new table. Click the Tables icon. Choose Create Table in Design View to create a new table.
In the Design view, you can now create the fields for your table.
- Enter new fields in rows from top to bottom. Click the Field Name cell and enter a field name for each data field.
- Include a "primary key" data field. Base needs a primary key to be able to edit the table contents. A primary key has unique contents for each data record. For example, insert a numerical field, right-click the first column, and choose Primary Key from the context menu. Set AutoValue to "Yes", so Base can automatically increment the value for each new record.
- In the next cell to the right, define the Field Type. When you click in the cell, you can select a field type in the combo box.
Each field can only accept data corresponding to the specified field type. For example, it is not possible to enter text in a number field. Memo fields in dBASE III format are references to internally-managed text files which can hold up to 64KB text.
You can enter an optional Description for each field. The text of the description will appear as a tip on the column headings in the table view.
Field Properties
Enter properties for each selected data field. Depending on the database type, some input facilities may not be available.
In the Default value box, enter the default contents for every new record. This contents can be edited later.
In the Entry required box, specify whether or not the field may remain empty.
For the Length box, a combo box may be shown that provides the available choices.