BroShaI.

TSolution

IntroductiontoMSAccess
Beginnerview
DagahBrown

[Year]

Getting Started
Microsoft Office Button The Microsoft Office Button performs many of the functions that were located in the File menu of older versions of Access. This button allows you to create a new database, open an existing database, save and save as, print, send, or close.

The Ribbon The ribbon is the panel at the top portion of the document. It has four tabs: Home, Create, External Data, and Database Tools. Each tab is divided into groups. The groups are logical collections of features designed to perform function that you will utilize in developing or editing your Access database.

Commonly utilized features are displayed on the Ribbon. To view additional features within each group, click the arrow at the bottom right corner of each group.

Home: Views, Clipboard, Fonts, Rich Text, Records, Sort & Filter, Find Create: Tables, Forms, Reports, Other External Data: Import, Export, Collect Data, SharePoint Lists Database Tools: Macro, Show/Hide, Analyze, Move Data, Database Tools Quick Access Toolbar The quick access toolbar is a customizable toolbar that contains commands that you may want to use. You can place the quick access toolbar above or below the ribbon. To change the location of the quick access toolbar, click on the error at the end of the toolbar and click Show Below the Ribbon. Navigation Pane The Navigation Pane displays database objects such as tables, forms, queries, and reports.

Tabbed Document Window Viewing Tabbed document viewing opens tables, forms, queries and reports in the same window. Click the tabs to switch between windows.

Customized Access
Access 2007 offers a wide range of customizable options that allow you to make Access work the best for you. To access these customizable options: Click the Office Button Click Access Options

Popular These features allow you to personalize your work environment with the use of ScreenTips, the location and file format of the databases, and the username.

Current Database This feature allows you to set options for the Application, Navigation, Ribbon and Toolbars, AutoCorrect, and Filters.

Datasheet This features allows you to personalize options in the way the datasheet looks, including default colors, gridlines and cell effect, and font.

Object Designers This feature allows you to customize the options for creating and modifying database objects in Access including Table Design, Query Design, Forms/Reports, and Error Checking.

Proofing This features allows you to change how Access automatically correct and formats the contents of the database and how it indicates errors.

Advanced This feature allows for advanced customization of Access including, Editing, Display, Printing, and other advanced options.

Customize Customize allows you to add features to the Quick Access Toolbar. If there are tools that you are utilizing frequently, you may want to add these to the Quick Access Toolbar.

Database Terms
Table A table is a collection of information arranged in rows and columns. Information about an item is displayed in a row. Columns contain the same type of information for each item. The table has a header row that tells you what data is contained in the columns.

To view data in a table: Click the arrow to open the navigation pane Double-click on the table name to open the table

Query Queries select records from one or more tables in a database so they can be viewed, analyzed, and sorted on a common datasheet. A query can also perform calculations and display the results. The resulting collection of records, called a dynaset (short for dynamic subset), is saved as a database object and can therefore be easily used in the future. The query will be updated whenever the original tables are updated. Types of queries are select queries that extract data from tables based on specified values, find duplicate queries that display records with duplicate values for one or more of the specified fields, and find unmatched queries display records from one table that do not have corresponding values in a second table.

To run a query: Click the arrow to open the navigation pane Double-click on the query name

Recordset A recordset is a table that displays groups of records from a base table or as a query result. Form A form is a graphical interface that is used to display and edit data. Forms can be developed from a table or a query. Forms can include calculations, graphics and objects. To view data using a form: Click the arrow to open the navigation pane Double-click on the form name

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Report A report is an output of data arranged in the order you specify. Reports can perform calculations and display the results. Reports can be used to print data. To view data using a form: Click the arrow to open the navigation pane Double-click on the report name

Create a New Database

Type in a name for the database Click Create

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Database Templates To create a new database from the database templates: Click the Microsoft Office Button Click New Choose the type of database you wish to create

Type in the name for the database Click Create

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Create a Table
Table Views There are two ways to view a table in Access to add data to the table: Design View and Datasheet View. In Design View you can view all the fields with the data types and descriptions. The records of information that has been added to the database is not viewable.

To go to Design View: Click the down arrow on the View button Click Design View In Datasheet View you can display the records in a table, where one row is one record. The column headers are the fields you have defined for the database.

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To go to Datasheet View: Click the down arrow on the View button Click Datasheet View

Adding New Fields There are many ways to enter new fields into a database. New fields can be added in the Datasheet View or in the Design View. There are two ways to add a new field in Datasheet View: Add A New Field or the New Field Button. To add a New Field within the Datasheet: Click the Add New Field column

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To add a new field by using the New Field Button Click the Datasheet tab on the Ribbon Click the New Field Button Choose the type of field you wish to add from the Field Templates window

To add a new field in Design View: Click the Design View button Click on the next available field Type in the Name of the field

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Data Types There are many types a data that a field can be predefined to hold. When you create a new field in a database you should closely match the data type to what will be entered into the field. Text Text, number, or a combination up to 255 characters Memo Similar to the text field, can contain text, numbers, or a combination up to 2 GB of data. Number Numbers up to 16 bytes of data Date/Time Date and Time information Currency Currency up to 8 bytes and precise to 4 decimal places AutoNumber Access creates a unique number for each new record. This is often the primary key for the table Yes/No Yes and No, stored as -1 for yes and 0 for no OLE Object Images, documents, graphs up to 2 GB Hyperlink Web addresses Attachment Attachments such as images, spreadsheets, documents, and charts. Editing Data Types in Fields When creating tables, you should define the data types of the tables to most closely match the type of data that will be entered in the field. To edit the Data Type in Datasheet View: Click the field you wish to define Click the Datasheet tab on the Ribbon Click the down arrow next to Data Type Choose the type of data that will be entered into the field

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To edit the format of the data: Click the field you wish to define Click the Datasheet tab on the Ribbon Click the down arrow next to Format

To edit the Data Type in the Design View: Click Design View Click the field name you wish to define or create a new field Click the Data Type Choose the appropriate Data Type Format the field in the Field Properties Dialog box

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Manage Tables
Delete a Table To delete a table: Open the desired database by clicking the Microsoft Office Button and clicking Open Right click on a table and choose Delete

Rename a Table To rename a table: Open the desired database by clicking the Microsoft Office Button and clicking Open Right click on a table and choose Rename Type in the new name

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Add a Description to a Table To add a description to a table Open the desired database by clicking the Microsoft Office Button and clicking Open Right click on a table and choose Table Properties Click the Description text box Type in the description

Keys
Primary Key The primary key is a unique identifier for a record. The primary key cannot be the same for two records. This field can never be blank.

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Composite Key A composite key is a primary key that is comprised of two or more fields. It can also be called a compound or concatenated key. Foreign Key A foreign key is a field or combination of fields that are related to the primary key of another table.

Table Relationships
Table relationships are the associations of data between tables. By defining table relationships, you can pull records from related tables based on matching fields.

One-to-One Relationship A one-to-one relationship is between two tables where the primary key in one table and the foreign key in another table are the same. For each record in the first table, there is a single matching record in the second table.

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One-to-Many Relationship A one-to-many relationship occurs between two tables where the primary key in one table can be duplicated many times in another table

Creating Table Relationships To create relationships between tables: Click the Database Tools tab on the Ribbon Click the Relationships button

Click on the Design tab Click Show Table

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Select the desired tables Click Add Click Close

Click the field you wish to create a relationship from Drag it to the matching field in the other table Click Create

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Print a Table Relationship Click the Database Tools tab Click the Relationships Button Click the Relationship Report Button on the Design tab

Click the Print button

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Managing Data
Add Records to a Table To add a new record to a table: Open the table in Datasheet View Click the New Cell Type in your new record

Find and Replace To find data: Click the Find button on the Home tab

To find and replace data: Click the Replace button on the Home tab

When you are searching for data for a find, replace or go to, you have several options in the Find Dialog Box. These options are: Find What Text Box Type the text you wish to find Link in Drop Drop-Down List Use the drop-down list to specify a table or a column to search Match Drop-Down List Use the drop-down list to narrow down the search to a field or the beginning of a field Search Drop-Down List Use this drop-down to specify the direction to search. Match Case Check Box Use this check box to specify whether to search by the same upper and lower case letters.

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Totals The totals button provides you the opportunity to add a totals row to your database. The total can be the sum, average, a count, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, or the variance. To set up a totals row: Click the Totals button on the Home tab

Click the down arrow of the cell where you want the totals Click the appropriate choice

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Sort Records You can sort records in a datasheet by a single column or by two adjacent columns. To sort records by a single column: Select the field you wish to sort Click the Sort Ascending or Sort Descending button

To sort two columns: Move the columns to they are adjacent to each other Select the desired columns for sorting by holding the shift key and clicking the columns Click the Sort Ascending or Sort Descending button

To clear the sort: Click the Clear Sort button

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Filter You can filter records to include only records that you want to display. To filter by a column: Open the database in Datasheet View Click the down arrow in the field label Choose the appropriate filter criteria Click OK

To remove a filter: Click the filter button on the field label Click Clear Filter Click OK

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Querying a Database
A query allows you to select and filter data from multiple tables. Queries can be saved and utilized as often as you need them. Query Wizard The Query Wizard walks you through the steps to set up a query. To run a query using the query wizard: Click the Create tab Click the Query Wizard button

Choose the type of query you wish to run Click OK

Choose the fields you wish to include from each table To select fields from different tables, click the Tables/Queries down arrow Click Next

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Insert pic of query wizard Type in a title for the query Click Finish The query will display

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To switch between tables and queries: Open the Navigation Pane Double click the name of the table or query you wish to view

Query Design Feature You can also design a query with the Query Design Button. To design a query using the Query Design Button: Click the Query Design Button on the Create tab

Select the tables that you would like to query Click Add

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Double click the name of the field you would like to query Repeat this process for as many fields as you would like in the query

Click Run

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Query Criteria Query criteria are search conditions used in a query to retrieve specific data. You can set query criteria to be a specific number or data set, or you can set the criteria to be a range of data. value = < <= > >= <> Between X And Y Is Null And Or Not Will only display items that are that exact value (replace the word value with what you want to search by) Is equal to Less than Less than or equal to Greater than Greater than or equal to Not equal to Within a range (replace X & Y with values) Null values True only if both conditions exist True if either condition exists True if the single instance is not true

To specify search criteria: Click the query that you wish to add conditions Type in the appropriate query criteria in the Criteria Box

Calculated Fields
A calculated field is a field that gets its information from the calculations performed on other fields. You can build calculated fields in the Query screen by using the addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*) and division (/) operators. Expressions Expressions a combination of functions, field names, numbers, text, and the operators listed above. To build an expression to create a calculated field: Open an existing query or start a new query Click on the View Button Click on Design View

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In the Query Pane, right-click on the field where you would like to create the calculation Click Build

Choose the tables that you wish to build the calculation from Double-click the field that you want to include in the calculation Click the operator that you wish to include in the calculation Click the second field you wish to include in the calculation Click OK

Click Run

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Zoom The Zoom Dialog Box allows you to view an entire expression at one time. To view the Zoom Dialog Box: In Design View, right click on the field you want to display Click Zoom

Designing Forms
Forms allow you to control the look and feel of the screen for the input of data and the reports generated. Form Views There are three ways to view forms in Access: Allows you to design a form that includes a header, a footer, and details in the Design View form. You can also add images and control which fields appear on the form. Form View This is a dynamic page which allows the user to enter and edit data or navigate through data in a field. Layout View This view allows you to design the form and manipulate data. Create a Form You can create a form from a table or a query. To create a form: Click the Create tab Click the Form Design button

Click the Format tab Click the Add Existing Fields Button In the Field List box on the right, click and drag the fields you would like on the form

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To change the colors and fonts, click the Property Sheet button on the Arrange tab

Insert pic of property sheet button Choose the Section you wish to modify Choose the properties you wish to modify

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To preview the form: Click the Views button on the Home tab Click the Form View button

Form Wizard You can create forms with the help of the Form Wizard. To use the form wizard: On the create tab, click the More Forms down arrow Click Form Wizard

Choose the Tables/Queries that you wish to have on the form Choose the fields you wish to have on the forms Click Next

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Chose the layout for the form Click Next

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Choose a style Click Next

Create a title for the form Choose whether you want to open the form to view it or modify the forms design Click Finish

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Generating Reports
Reports are a means to view and analyze large amounts of data. You can use the Report Wizard or create a custom report that meets your specific needs. Report Views Reports can be displayed in four views: This view provides you with the Design View structure of your report. You can add, modify or delete components of the report but you cannot manipulate the data in the tables associated with the report. Report View This view allows you to view the data from the table but not to change any layout of the report. Layout View This view allows you to see data from the table and add, modify, and delete components of the report. Print Preview This view allows you to see what your report will look like when it is printed. To change report views: Click the View button on the Home tab

Create a Report To create a blank report: Click the Blank Report button on the Create tab

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Click the Add Existing Fields button From the field list, Click and drag the fields to the report

Report Wizard To create a report using the report wizard: On the Create tab, click the Report Wizard button

Choose the Tables/Queries that you wish to have on the form Choose the fields you wish to have on the forms Click Next

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Choose the sort order for your report

Chose the layout for the form Click Next

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Choose a style Click Next

Create a title for the form Choose whether you want to open the form to view it or modify the forms design Click Finish

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Custom Calculated Fields You can create reports that include calculated fields. These reports will display information that you wish to report with an arithmetic calculation. To add a custom calculated field to a report: Open the Report that you wish to add to Click the View button Click Design View

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Click the Design tab Click the Text Box button

Click the section on the report where you would like to locate the textbox Click the Property Sheet Pane

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Click the Data tab Click the three dots next to Control Source

Insert the fields you wish to include in the calculation and the mathematical operations. Click OK

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Print a Report
After you have generated a report, you can print the report. To print the report: Print a Report To print a report: Select the report you wish to print Right-click on the Report Name Click Print Preview Choose the appropriate layout, margins, and paper size in the Page Layout group

Click Print Click OK

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