1. By Wanda Gibson, CI, MMI, SME

2. Microsoft Access Access is a database management system. This system lets you create and process data. A database is a collection of data that is organized in a way that enables you as the user to retrieve it.

3. Database A database is like a book cover. Everything is included in chapters. Tables Queries Each chapter is considered an Object. Forms Reports

4. Terminology to Remember Table – the basic organization of the information in a database Record – contains information about a particular person, company, or event Field – A name given to a specific piece of information in a record (name, address, etc.) Primary Key – a unique identifier

5. Tables -- the starting point Begin with the Structure Field Names -- name given to a specific piece of information in a record (name, address, etc.) Data Type – the kind of information included (words or numbers) Description – a definition of the information included in the fields Field Size – the size the field needs to be to accommodate all data

6. Everything has two views Design View – the structure Datasheet View – the information

7. Field Name Rules A field name can not exceed 64 characters. A field name can contain letters, digits, and spaces. A field cannot contain periods, exclamation points, accent marks, or square brackets. The field name cannot be repeated in the same table.

8. Data Type The type of information to be stored in a particular field can be one of following: Text – Words or numbers that will not be used in calculations. Number – A number that can be used in a calculation. This number can be positive or negative. Currency – A field that contains money information. The information will be displayed with dollar signs, decimal points and two digits. Yes/No – A signifies yes, a signifies no.

9. Primary Key A primary key is a field that is unique. The information is not repeated in any record. A good example of a primary key would be our Social Security Number. This number is unique to each of us.

10. To create a new Database – Click Blank Database

11. New Database Named

12. This is the main menu in Access There are four ways to create a Table from this menu.

13. Click Create Table in Design View

14. The Design View of a Table is where the structure is created.

15. Indicates Primary Key Indicates the size of the field

16. Once the structure is complete and saved, the user can input the data. Click the view button to go to the datasheet view.

17. All data has been added. The Toys Table is complete. This is Data Sheet View of the Table

18. Field Names Data Records Record Selector

19. An additional table has been added to the database

20. The data for the Vendors Table has been added.

21. Navigation Buttons First Record Previous Record Current Record Next Record Last Record New Record Total Number of Records

22. Using Access Access is straightforward and methodical. The user saves the structure. Access automatically saves the data (records).

23. Forms Forms show individual records They can be used for data entry They can also be used to edit existing records instead of using the table Forms can be customized using the Wizard Forms, just like Tables and Reports have a Design View and a Datasheet View.

24. A Form can be used for data entry. To create a form, either use AutoForm in the New Objects button on the toolbar or click Forms in the objects menu.

25. Using the AutoForm button, the form is created quickly. This form includes all the fields from the table in the order they appear in the table. This is Datasheet View of the Form.

26. This is Design View of the same Form.

27. Using Form Wizard, the user can select just the fields needed for the form.

28. This form has the fields requested in the wizard.

29. Reports Reports are not used for data entry They are used to display information about the table or tables from the database Reports can be customized using the Wizard Reports just like Tables and Forms have a Design view and a Datasheet View

30. AutoReport is a way to create a report with all fields shown in the order they appear in the table.

31. This AutoReport is hard to read because all the records follow each other with no dividing line between. Record 1 Record 2 This is Datasheet View of the Report.

32. This is Design View of the previous Report.

33. Using Report Wizard a user can include only the fields needed for the required information.

34. Using Report Wizard, only the fields needed were added to the report. This report is in a tabular layout and is easy to read. This Report is in Data Sheet View

35. This is the previous Report in Design View.

36. Permissions Microsoft product screen shots reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.