How do I create a plan and prepare before creating database?

[adibakale]

Hello, I am pretty new to Access and VBA and would like some advice.

What are some pre-planning steps to ensure building the database correctly?

I am starting to create an Access Database so users can track and update notes on several records.

The weekly process after the tables and forms are set up involves:

1. Exporting Data from Web Application to Excel File
2. Importing to Access on a weekly basis

To set up the database, I need to create tables, create forms and figure out how to import the data from Excel correctly, and basically create the process that users will be utilizing to update and add notes to records.

How can I set up a plan to accomplish this efficiently? I feel that I should create a model, or outline steps in a way that will help me gather all the requirements and cover all the steps that need to be done to create the database.

My assumption is using something like a conceptual model?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Joe4]

In order to design a good Access database, I think the three most important things are to make sure you understand the following concepts:
- Relational Database Theory
- Rules of Data Normalization
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Access

If you do not have a decent grasp of these concepts, you are going to run into a lot of problems!

Access is not as intuitive as Excel. If you have very little experience in it, do not expect to be able to just learn "on-the-fly". If you do, you will probably find it to be a slow and painful process. My advice is to either get a good introductory "How To" book on Access or find a course you can take somewhere.

Regarding the other two concepts and database design, here is a good article: https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...a6e-b2d9-c9e0ff57c264&ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US