Introduction

You can create the columns of a table in Datasheet View. You can create the columns from scratch or use some samples columns provided in Microsoft Access. After starting a table in Datasheet View (on the Ribbon, you could click Create and click Table in the Tables section), you can double-click Add New Field and type the desired name.

 

Using a Sample Field

You can also create a column using one of the sample columns provided by Microsoft Access. First, to use a sample table, on the ribbon, you can click Create. Then, in the Tables section, click Table Templates to see a list of sample tables:

In the Fields & Columns section, click New Field. This would display the Field Templates window:

To expand a node, you can click its + button. Here is an example:

To use a field from the Field Templates window:

• You can double-click the field
• You can click and drag the field from the Field Templates and drop it on the table to the left of Add New Field:
   
  

Some operations will require that you select a column:

• To select one column, position the mouse on its name until the cursor points down and then click
   
  
• To select columns in a range, click and hold your mouse on one of them, then drag to the left or to the right to cover the other desired column or columns. When all desired columns are highlighted, release the mouse
• To select a range of columns, click one column that will be at one end, press and hold Shift, then click the column that will be at the other end, and release Shift

To change the width of a column:

• you can position the mouse on the right border of a column header. The mouse pointer would change into a horizontal double arrow crossed by a vertical line:
   
  
   
  If you double-click, the column would be resized to the widest value of the column, provided the widest value is wider than the column header. If the widest value is narrower than the column header, the column width would be widened enough to display the name of the column.
• You can click the column's right border and drag in the desired direction, left or right until you get the desired width
   
  
• You can right-click a column's name and click Column Width... This would open the Column Width dialog box where you can type the desired value and click OK
   
  

To move a column in Datasheet View, select it, click and hold your mouse on it. Then, start dragging left or right in the desired direction:

To move a group of columns, select them, click and hold the mouse on one of the selected columns. Start dragging left or right in the desired direction:

• To insert a column using the ribbon, first click a cell under the column that will succeed it. Then, in the Fields & Columns section of the Datasheet tab, click the Insert button
• To insert a column from the table, right-click the column that will succeed it and click Insert Column
• To insert a field from the Field Templates, click and drag it from the Field Templates and drop it to the left of the column that will succeed it
   
  

To rename a column:

• Double-click its name on the column header header and type the desired name
• Right-click the column's name, click Rename Column, and type the desires name
• When any cell under the column has focus, on the ribbon, click Datasheet, in the Fields & Columns section, click the Rename button , and type the desired name

To hide a column, drag the right border of its column header completely to its left border:
 

To hide one or a group of columns, right-click and click Hide Column. You can also right-click any column and click Unhide Column. Here is an example:

To hide a column, clear its check box.

To reveal a column or a group of columns previously hidden, right-click any column header on the table and click Unhide Column. In the Unhide Columns dialog box, put a check mark on each column you want to show.

To remove a column from a table:

• You can right-click the column's name and click Delete Column
• You can select the column (or a group of columns), right-click anywhere in the table and click Delete Column
• You can select a column (or a group of columns). Then, in the ribbon, click Datasheet. In the Fields & Columns section, click the Delete button

Any of these actions would present you a warning to confirm whether you still want to delete the column(s) or you want to change your mind. If you still want to remove the column(s), click Yes.