Data Dictionary: tblvendor (Sample) Field Name Data Type Field Size Format Default Value Input Mask VID Text Unique Vendor Identifier 10 >L????? VName Text Vendor Name 50 VAddress Text Vendor Address 50 VCity Text Vendor City 30 VState Text Vendor State 2 WA >?? VZip Text Vendor Zip Code 10 VPhone Text Vendor Primary Phone Number 15 VFax Text Vendor Primary Fax Number 15 VTerms Text Vendor Payment Terms 30 VShipVia Text Vendor Preferred Shipping Method 30 VDateAdded Date/Time Date Vendor Added to Database Short Date Now()
Data Types Type of data Size Text (Default) Text or combinations of text and numbers, as well as numbers that don't require calculations, such as phone numbers. Up to 255 characters or the length set by the FieldSize property, whichever is less. Microsoft Access does not reserve space for unused portions of a text field. Memo Lengthy text or combinations of text and numbers. Up to 65,535 characters. (If the Memo field is manipulated through DAO and only text and numbers [not binary data] will be stored in it, then the size of the Memo field is limited by the size of the database.) Number Numeric data used in mathematical calculations. For more information on how to set the specific Number type, see the FieldSize property topic. Date/Time Date and time values for the years 100 through 9999. 8 bytes. 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes (16 bytes if the FieldSize property is set to Replication ID). Currency AutoNumber Yes/No OLE Object Hyperlink Currency values and numeric data used in mathematical calculations involving data with one to four decimal places. Accurate to 15 digits on the left side of the decimal separator and to 4 digits on the right side. 8 bytes. A unique sequential (incremented by 1) number or 4 bytes (16 bytes if the FieldSize property is random number assigned by Microsoft Access set to Replication ID). whenever a new record is added to a table. AutoNumber fields can't be updated. For more information, see the NewValues property topic. Yes and No values and fields that contain only one of 1 bit. two values (Yes/No, True/False, or On/Off). An object (such as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, a Microsoft Word document, graphics, sounds, or other binary data) linked to or embedded in a Microsoft Access table. Text or combinations of text and numbers stored as text and used as a hyperlink address. A hyperlink address can have up to three parts: Up to 1 gigabyte (limited by available disk space) Each part of the three parts of a Hyperlink data type can contain up to 2048 characters. text to display the text that appears in a field or control. address the path to a file (UNC path) or page (URL). Lookup Wizard subaddress a location within the file or page. screentip the text displayed as a tooltip. The easiest way to insert a hyperlink address in a field or control is to click Hyperlink on the Insert menu. Creates a field that allows you to choose a value from another table or from a list of values by using a list box or combo box. Clicking this option starts the Lookup Wizard, which creates a Lookup field. After you complete the wizard, Microsoft Access sets the data type based on the values selected in the wizard. The same size as the primary key field used to perform the lookup, typically 4 bytes.
Field Size - Numbers Decimal Storage precision size Byte Stores numbers from 0 to 255 (no fractions). None 1 byte Decimal Stores numbers from 10^38 1 through 10^38 1 (.adp) Stores numbers from 10^28 1 through 10^28 1 (.mdb) 28 12 bytes Integer Stores numbers from 32,768 to 32,767 (no fractions) None 2 bytes Long Integer Stores numbers from 2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 (no fractions) None 4 bytes Single Double Stores numbers from 3.402823E38 to 1.401298E 45 (negative values) and from 1.401298E 45 to 3.402823E38 (positive values) Stores numbers from 1.79769313486231E308 to 4.94065645841247E 324 (negative values) and from 4.94065645841247E 324 to 1.79769313486231E308 (positive values) 7 15 4 bytes 8 bytes Replication ID Globally unique identifier (GUID) N/A 16 bytes Format - Numbers General Number (Default) Display the number as entered. Currency Euro Fixed Standard Percent Scientific Example: 3456.789 Use the thousand separator; follow the settings specified in Regional s in Windows Control Panel for negative amounts, decimal and currency symbols, and decimal places. Example: $3,456.78 Use the currency format, with the euro symbol (), regardless of the currency symbol specified in Regional s in Windows Control Panel. Example: 3,456.78 Display at least one digit; follow the settings specified in Regional s in Windows Control Panel for negative amounts, decimal and currency symbols, and decimal places. Example: 3456.79 Use the thousand separator; follow the settings specified in Regional s in Windows Control Panel for negative amounts, decimal symbols, and decimal places. Example: 3,456.79 Multiply the value by 100 and append a percent sign (%); follow the settings specified in Regional s in Windows Control Panel for negative amounts, decimal symbols, and decimal places. Example: 123.00% Use standard scientific notation. Example: 3.46E+03
Date/Time Format General Date (Default) If the value is a date only, no time is displayed; if the value is a time only, no date is displayed. This setting is a combination of the Short Date and Long Time settings. Long Date Medium Date Short Date Examples: 4/3/93, 05:34:00 PM, and 4/3/93 05:34:00 PM. Same as the Long Date setting in the Regional s Properties dialog box in Windows Control Panel. Example: Saturday, April 3, 1993. Example: 3-Apr-93. Same as the Short Date setting in the Regional s Properties dialog box in Windows Control Panel. Example: 4/3/93. Long Time Warning The Short Date setting assumes that dates between 1/1/00 and 12/31/29 are twenty-first century dates (that is, the years are assumed to be 2000 to 2029). Dates between 1/1/30 and 12/31/99 are assumed to be twentieth century dates (that is, the years are assumed to be 1930 to 1999). Same as the setting on the Time tab in the Regional s Properties dialog box in Windows Control Panel. Example: 5:34:23 PM. Medium Time Example: 5:34 PM. Short Time Example: 17:34.
Input Mask Characters 0 Digit (0 through 9, entry required; plus [+] and minus [-] signs not allowed). 9 Digit or space (entry not required; plus and minus signs not allowed). # Digit or space (entry not required; blank positions converted to spaces, plus and minus signs allowed). L Letter (A through Z, entry required).? Letter (A through Z, entry optional). A Letter or digit (entry required). a Letter or digit (entry optional). & Any character or a space (entry required). C Any character or a space (entry optional).., : ; - / Decimal placeholder and thousands, date, and time separators. (The actual character used depends on the regional settings specified in Microsoft Windows Control Panel.) < Causes all characters that follow to be converted to lowercase. > Causes all characters that follow to be converted to uppercase.! Causes the input mask to display from right to left, rather than from left to right. Characters typed into the mask always fill it from left to right. You can include the exclamation point anywhere in the input mask. \ Causes the character that follows to be displayed as a literal character. Used to display any of the characters listed in this table as literal characters (for example, \A is displayed as just A). Password the InputMask property to the word Password creates a password entry text box. Any character typed in the text box is stored as the character but is displayed as an asterisk (*). Input Mask Examples (000) 000-0000 (206) 555-0248 (999) 999-9999! (206) 555-0248 ( ) 555-0248 (000) AAA-AAAA (206) 555-TELE #999-20 2000 >L????L?000L0 GREENGR339M3 Examples of values >L0L 0L0 00000-9999 >L<?????????????? ISBN 0-&&&&&&&&&-0 >LL00000-0000 MAY R 452B7 T2F 8M4 98115-98115-3007 Maria Pierre ISBN 1-55615-507-7 ISBN 0-13-964262-5 DB51392-0493