Hands-On Microsoft Access: A Practical Guide to Improving Your Access Skills

The Primacy of Primary Keys

I previously compared primary keys to employees who represent their companies at industry gatherings. The analogy was okay, as far as it went. But I don't want you to think of primary keys as carousing revelers at a widget-makers' convention. These are powerful, integrating forces that enable you to tightly connect tables.

In that sense, a more appropriate analogy can be found in tribal societies or even any community of extended families where blood relationships are strong. Imagine that one of the up-and-coming members of Family A marries into Family B. This young thing now has an important position in both families. As a product of Family A, he or she represents all of its interests in Family B. At the same time, ...