Building an Access database normally starts with tables and getting the right data types in Access early on will save a lot of headaches later when calculation and referring to numeric values elsewhere.

Currency and Number data types are different to each other and the flexibility, scope and application use will help you to make to right choice. Here’s a quick checklist:

1. Is the value going to be a monetary process?
2. How many decimal places are required for the field?
3. How large a range of values will be required?
4. Where do you intend to use this data type in other objects?

Simple questions to answer and get you started but the next element is choosing the right data types in Access and where applicable the size of field.

Microsoft Access Database: Data Types In Access – Currency Versus Number (Technical)

The following numeric data types reveals their field sizes and scope:

1. A Currency data type has no field size option and is fixed to a ‘Double’ size up to 4 decimal places
2. A Number with a field size set to Integer has a different range with no decimal places
3. A Number with  a field size set to Single has a different range up to 6 decimal places
4. A Number with a field size set to Decimal has a different range up to 14 decimal places.

There are other technical factors not mentioned in this post but data types in Access are key to saving memory and improving performance as well as providing a sensible solution to the process.

Take a look at How to Build an Access Database – using easy to understand principles which steps you through your options. It’s very a reasonable price and 100% money back guarantee.

Tags: access table data types, currency data type fields, data types in access, microsoft access database, microsoft data types, ms access help