Too many tables, getting confused with the relationship diagram

[SH4F33]

Hello everybody. Im having a simple problem, I've created a database, it actually has 24 tables, from what I can see, I need to put 2 or 3 additional (stand alone)tables in it later. My problem here is that when creating relationship between tables, the relationship diagram becomes very messy and I can get confused at times. Though I know my database and I can make any query, I'd like to see a very clean and neat relationship diagram, it will save me time looking for linked tables, for others to understand how I've created the relationships and also preventing them from straining their eyes figuring out which goes where. Is there a function in access that can re-arrange all the tables for me (without overlapping the lines... if possible)?
I've spent too much time playing with that database in order to make it neat but its still messy.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[mp9]

There's no "arrange tables" function, sorry.

You can use the Hide Table option under the Relationships menu to not show some tables though, if that makes the diagram more legible.

http://www22.brinkster.com/accessory/

 

[Pampers]

Maybe you should not set all the relationships in the diagram (only those with referential integrity), the rest you can set in your query's.

Pampers
You never too young to learn

 

[dhookom]

Check to see if Stephen Leban's solution might help you

http://www.lebans.com/windowtobitmap.htm.

Duane MS Access MVP
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[twench]

I have a database with 27 tables, some of them containing up to 25 fields, and I have a similar problem. Like Pampers I only show those relationships where referential intergrity is enforced but it is still too big and cluttered. I've had to resort to the 'Print Screen' function to print the relationships window section-by-section. Then it all gets a bit Blue Peter with scissors and sellotape then I stick it on the wall next to my desk. It's crude but effective!

 

[dhookom]

twench,
No comment about the possible solution from Stephen Leban's site? I would like to know if this works for any of you with issues?

Duane MS Access MVP
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[SH4F33]

Thanks for the solutions guys. I've been drawing it on paper, the printscreen was a mess. And pen+paper is not that bad.

 

[MajP]

If your serious about this,

http://www3.ca.com/solutions/CollateralList.aspx?CCT=19506&ID=260

Never personally worked with Erwin, but I have seen it in use. Pretty impressive.