Why multiple tables open when I select a database

[Jeff]

As I am still new to Access I am a bit confused about how things relate as I
am used to Foxpro.

When I select a database to open and work with other tables are available to
be viewed on the left hand side in the navigation pane.

I would think if I select one database that is all that should open unless I
select others to veiw.

 

[Fred]

In Access terminology, a database (e.g. a .mdb file) is a "container" which
can hold many objects, including many tables. What some other product cass
a "database" is what Accss calls a "table"

Once you get going, the other objects in Access (queries, forms, reports
etc.) are the main way to enter and view data, and they take care of
getting/placing data from/in tables......without you thinking about
opening/closing them. If by "open" a table you mean viewing it
solely/directly, or putting it in a mode where you can make structural
changes to it, with respect to that, you generally "open" only one table at a
time.

 

[Jeff]

I appreciateyour quick response Fred, however, I am still abit confused.

If I develop a database by importing data from foxpro that is now consideder
a table then what is the main folder this database sits in and how do keep it
seperate from other tables - do I just develop them all as new?

 

[Allen Browne]

Hi Jeff

The term 'database' in Access refers to a collection of tables, queries,
forms, reports, and code. It is not a synomym for 'table.'

Therefore, when you open a database, it may contain several tables with
their indexes and relationships. That's what you are seeing in the
Navigation Pane.

If this is new, see:
What are these objects?
at:
http://allenbrowne.com/casu-01.html

 

[John W. Vinson]

I appreciateyour quick response Fred, however, I am still abit confused.

If I develop a database by importing data from foxpro that is now consideder
a table then what is the main folder this database sits in and how do keep it
seperate from other tables - do I just develop them all as new?

Think of the Access Database as you would consider the folder in which your
FoxPro "databases" (tables in Access jargon) are stored.

If you're expert in FoxPro, it may be HARDER to learn to use Access than if
you had no database experience at all! You'll need to "unlearn" some of the
ways "things are always done", because they're not. In particular, my
experience with FoxPro is that you would use a lot of code, and frequently
create new databases for reports, to combine data from other databases, etc.
This is NOT how Access works; instead it's much more "relational". You'll make
much more use of Queries and much less of code, and creating new tables will
be very rarely needed.

 

[David W. Fenton]

Think of the Access Database as you would consider the folder in
which your FoxPro "databases" (tables in Access jargon) are
stored.

Only FoxPro/xBase uses the incorrect terminology that calls a data
table a "database." One needs to get away from that as soon as
possible, as there is no other environment in which it will not lead
to enormous confusion.

And, to boot, it's just flat out wrong terminology from the
standpoint of relational databases.

 

[Bob Quintal]

I appreciateyour quick response Fred, however, I am still abit
confused.

If I develop a database by importing data from foxpro that is now
consideder a table then what is the main folder this database sits
in and how do keep it seperate from other tables - do I just
develop them all as new?

Consider a Foxpro Application, which has 2 databases, a few indexes
and some forms sitting in a directory on a hard disk
parts.dbf
Partno.ndx
PartDesc.ndx

Suppliers.dbf
supplier.ndx

prtSuppl.frm and the compiled .frg
PrtSuppl.prg

etc

In the form you'd code
Select 1
use PArts
set index to partno
Select 2
Use Suppliers
SET RELAtion to Supplier into PArts

so you'd have about 10 different files in the directory.
Access puuts them all into a single file on disk, but maintains all
those separate parts as tables, queries, forms and modules.

Lets not forget that there are reports too.if necessary.