SQL Design question

[sc_king]

If i'm storing a large database of transactions.
How should I structure my database using mysql 4?

Break it down into tables?
Break it down into years?
Types of transactions?

Thanks

[chazzy]

you shouldn't create tables that have the same structure but a certain attribute is different.

[sc_king]

Hmmm any other ideas on how to structure the database to be able to handle a large amount of transactions? There doesn't seem to be a way to get around the long process time.

Thanks