Memo Efficiency Question

[hubs99]

I have a database with 7000+ entries that unfortuantely I inherited and it basically is a flat file (on Access). I am migrating this data into a more traditional relational database setup (on access). The flat file dabase has 1 table with ~100 fields and I'm splitting that up into 10+ tables with 5+ fields.

Now for the question. Many of the tables need to have a comment. So I was going to put a memo field in each of the 10+ tables. However I also contemplated creating an autogenerating Replication ID field in each of these tables instead and linking it a common Comment table which would have this ID + a memo field.

So which of these methods do people think is the better way to go? Is the memo field typer already a referenced datatype like an OLE or is it like a text field?

Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for the help

 

[jrbarnett]

You should put the memo field in the table to which it relates. If it relates to staff, users, orders or whatever, it should be in the table.
Replication ID's are only for replication of data across different tables, instead I would use a primary key and a 1:1 link if you want it off in a separate table. This is OK with memo fields if there is a lot of data in there because the limitations of memo fields may result in a slower database (see FAQ700-4188 for more information).

John