Teach Yourself VISUALLY Access 2013

Paul McFedries, Paul McFedries

• Publisher: Visual
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781118705339
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Databases
• Index: Computer Science

The easy, visual way to learn this popular database program

Part of the Office 2013 productivity suite, Access enables you to organize, present, analyze, and share data on a network or over the web. With this Visual guide to show you how, you'll master the fundamentals of this robust database application in no time. Clear, step-by-step instructions are illustrated with full-color screen shots that show exactly what you should see on your screen. Learn to enter new records; create, edit, and design tables and forms; develop queries that generate specific reports; add smart tags to your tables; and much more.

• While it is the most widely used database application, Access is not particularly intuitive; the Visual system's two-page lessons and full-color screen shots make this complex software easier to learn
• Concise, step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations show you exactly what to expect
• Covers scores of tasks, including entering and setting up new records, organizing and sharing data, designing tables and forms, and generating reports
• Shows how to perform more complex operations, such as finding dependencies between database objects and adding smart tags to tables

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Access 2013 uses clear steps and high-resolution screen images to get you up and running with this popular database program.

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Access

Are you new to Microsoft Access or upgrading to the latest version of the program? This chapter introduces you to Access and to some useful database concepts. You also learn how to create and open a database as well as how to navigate through the Access interface.

An Introduction to Access

Start and Exit Access

Create a Blank Database

Create a Database by Using a Template

Open a Database

Close a Database

Understanding the Access Interface

Customize the Quick Access Toolbar

Customize the Ribbon

Change the Navigation Pane View

Open and Close an Object

Change an Object’s View

An Introduction to Access

Microsoft Access is a program for creating and working with special files called databases, which are designed to store collections of related information. For example, one database might store business data such as customers, invoices, and inventory, whereas another might store personal data such as contacts, movies, and household items. You can use Access to create, retrieve, and manage large or small collections of information.

To get the most out of Access, you need to understand basic concepts such as tables, records, and fields; database objects such as datasheets and forms; and database tools such as filters, queries, and reports.

Tables, Records, and Fields

In Access, data is stored in tables, and each individual entry in a table is called a record. For example, in a Customers table, the information about each customer is a separate record. Each record is composed of one or more fields that contain individual pieces of data. In this example, customer fields may include Name, Address, City, State, and Zip Code.

Datasheets and Forms

By default, each table appears as a spreadsheet grid called a datasheet. You can type directly into a datasheet. To make data entry more convenient, some people choose to create on-screen forms, which are like dialog boxes that prompt for field entries. An attractively formatted form is easier and more pleasant to use to enter new records than a plain datasheet.

Filters and Queries

It is often useful to display a filtered view of a table. You can filter a table to show only certain re...