Question

In Access, what is the difference between the field size and field width? Are they important? Explain.

Answer 1

Field size in Microsoft Access:
* It determines how much disk space Microsoft Access uses for each value of the field for number fields. It determines the maximum amount of disk space Microsoft Access permits for each value of the field for text fields.
* A field's field size can be changed to store text data.
Yes, it is important. It is important for Number and Currency fields, as it determines the field value range. Also, the field size "property" determines how much disk space each Number field value requires.
* Changing the field size property of number fields in the table thus, adjusts the amount of space each record in an Access table uses.
* It specifies the maximum number of characters each value (field size) can have. The number range is from 1 to 255. For text fields, the Memo data type is used.
* When the field size is changed it reduces data-entry errors.

Field width in Microsoft Access:
* In Microsoft Access, you can automatically adjust the width of a field so it can hold the widest entry.
* The field view is changed in the "layout view" of a report in Access.
* The field width is changed by dragging either the right or the left edge of the border until the field is the width you want.