Access in easy steps

Illustrated using Access 2019

Mike McGrath

• Publisher: In Easy Steps Limited
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781840788822
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Desktop Applications
• Index: Computer Science

Access in easy steps has an easy-to-follow style that will appeal to anyone who wants to get more from the Microsoft Access app. Whether you're using Access in the Office 365 suite or standalone Office product, you can use this guide to learn the key features and get more out of Access.

Learn how to:

• Optimize database design for efficiency
• Create Tables to store data
• Use handy templates and get a head start
• Make queries to extract specific data
• Produce user-friendly Forms for data entry
• Explore basic SQL for advanced queries
• Construct informative Reports quickly
• Import and export data to Excel and Word
• Securely share your well-designed database and reports that'll impress your colleagues!

Access in easy steps contains separate chapters on the major features of the Access app. There are complete examples that demonstrate each aspect of Access, together with screenshots that illustrate the actual output. This book neatly demonstrates the important functions of Microsoft Access in a clear and concise manner, so you can get going quickly with this popular database application.

Illustrated using Access 2019.

Contents:

• Getting started
• Designing Databases
• Creating Tables
• Defining Relationships
• Handling Data
• Making Queries
• Coding Queries
• Producing Forms
• Enhancing Forms
• Supplying Reports
• Sharing Access

1

Getting Started

Welcome to the exciting world of databases with Microsoft Access. This chapter describes the Access environment and demonstrates the Access user interface.

Introducing Access

Launching the Access app

Exploring the user interface

Customizing Quick Access

Managing files Backstage

Personalizing Access options

Converting older databases

Using Access templates

Searching for templates

Getting some Help

Applying Access updates

Introducing Access

Access is the latest version of Microsoft’s popular Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). The Access application (“app”) lets you manage all types of data with ease:

•Store and manipulate data in Tables

•Retrieve specific data by making Queries

•Provide user-friendly data entry Forms

•Supply attractively-styled data Reports

•Share data with colleagues using Access

Access is, however, much more than a means of storing and retrieving data. If you want to, you can build complete software apps limited only by your requirements and creativity.

You don’t need to be a computer programmer to use Access as you can use nearly all of Access’s functionality without entering a single line of code. All that is required is some forward planning and a clear idea of what purpose the database should serve.

The New icon pictured above indicates new features of Access.

What is a database?

A database is simply an ordered collection of records. For example, the Rolodex you may have on your office desk is a type of database. Open it up and you have the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of your business contacts.

In a computer, database information is organized in a much more structured way but the general idea is the same. Access keeps data in Tables. A Table is like the Rolodex – it contains all the data we need. Each row of the Table contains data about a specific thing. In a Rolodex it would be a business card. The columns of the Table help us to organize the data. Each column contains some specific item of data, such as the address of a contact.

The next chapter describ...