Advice on Contacts Table - one table or many?

[digitaljunkie]

Hi,

I am about to start my own database from scratch.

I am pondering over the following.

I want to have client contacts, supplier contacts, affiliate contacts, other contacts.

Do I create one big contacts table and filter them out to different layouts using a contact type field.

or

Have 4 Seperate contacts tables (one for each type).

At the moment I am leaning towards one table for ease of use but am wondering the possible advantages/disadvantages or pitfalls of both methods.

All comments and suggestions appreciated.

Edited August 31, 2006 by Guest

[Ender]

If they hold data with the same structure, then they should reside in the same table. Use a Type field to differentiate between them.

I've written about this many times in the past, if you want to dig up the reasons.