Microsoft Access for Beginners and Intermediates

By Fredrick Ezeh

The Microsoft Access (Ms-Access) application is one of the many applications in the Microsoft Office package.

According to Wikipedia, It is a database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools.

Ms-Access is used in offices, businesses, schools, and organizations to create simple and complex and creative databases for storing, analyzing, communicating, and manipulating information in such a way that is presentable and suitable to a group of people or audience.

 

Course Objectives

In this Access course, we will utilize a practical or hands-on approach to show how you can create simple databases with pre-formatted tables, forms, reports, and queries. You will learn the skills of creating and working with tables, working with forms, editing texts, formatting texts, creating, and working with reports and queries.

 

Pre-Requirements and Target Audience

The course is designed for both beginners who do not have any prior background in Ms-Access, and for intermediate level people who also wish to extend their practical/hand-on skills and knowledge.

To achieve or fully take advantage of this course, you need to have some prior knowledge Windows operating system environments.

it is important you have a laptop or desktop computer with the Ms-Access application installed, preferably, a laptop with Windows 10 and with Office365.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fredrick Ezeh
• Release date: Nov 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201485757

Book preview

Fredrick Ezeh

Power-Tech Computers Trainings (PTCT)

© Copyright 2020

COURSE STRUCTURE

chapter 1: Introduction to Ms-Access (Database) Environment

-  What is Microsoft Access (Ms Access)?

-  Starting Ms Access

-  Components of the Ms-Access Window (From Office 365) - Getting to know the Access Environment.

chapter 2: DATABASE, DATASHEET, Tables and properties

-  Creating Blank (New) Databases

-  Creating Databases Using Templates

-  Saving Databases

-  Creating Backups for Your Database (Using Save As)

-  Closing Your Database Without Exiting Ms-Access

-  Opening Databases

-  Printing Databases

-  Exiting Ms-Access

-  Creating Table for a New Database

-  Editing Table Data - Working with Design View

-  Describing the Fields Data Type

-  Defining Index and Primary keys

chapter 3: working with tables: records, layouts and Formatting

-  Entering (Adding New) Records in a Table

-  Navigating Records in a Table or in a Database

-  Using Find and Replace Commands – Searching for Specific Field Data

-  Hiding and Un-hiding Fields in a Table

-  Adjusting Row Heights and Field Width of a Table

-  Sorting and Filtering Records in a Table

-  Datasheet and Text Formatting (Font, Size, Color, Background, Border etc.)

-  Deleting Existing Records

-  Copying and Pasting Records and Fields Between Tables

chapter 4: Working with Forms and Reports

-  Forms

-  Creating Forms

-  Modifying Data In a Form

-  Adding New Records in a Form

-  Reports

-  Creating Reports

-  Modifying Data In a Report

-  Adding New Records in a Report

chapter 5: working with queries

-  Queries

-  Creating Queries

-  Modifying Data In a Query

-  Adding New Records in a Query

-  List Comparison Operators

-  Defining a Criteria and Running a Query

MICROSOFT ACCESS@ (DATABASE)

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction to Ms-Access (Database) Environment

-  What is Microsoft Access (Ms Access)?

-  Starting Ms Access

-  Components of the Ms-Access Window (From Office 365) - Getting to know the Access Environment.

NOTE: This Chapter has been created using Office365 and Windows 10.

What is Microsoft Access (Ms-Access)?

Microsoft Access is a database application created by Microsoft. It helps you write and create professional looking databases that can be printed, faxed, or delivered online.

A database is an organized collection of data, generally stored and accessed electronically from a computer system. Where databases are more complex, they are often developed using formal design and modeling techniques. Wikipedia

Starting Ms-Access

You can start Access in several ways. These are:

- Option 1: Start Ms-Access Using the Start/Windows Button

Click Start (Windows ) button and a list of programs pops-up

Look for the Access logo and click it, and a new window pops-up.

Under New section, click Blank database, and another window pops-up.

In the Filename box ,type the name of the database and click the create button. A new empty Access database will be opened with an empty Table e.g., See Figure 1.1.

- Option 2: Starting Ms-Access Using the Search Box

Move and click in the Type here to search box near the windows logo at the bottom left of your computer or laptop.

Type Access and a separate window with a few suggested programs or apps pops-up

Look for the Access app and logo , and click it, and a new window pops-up.

Under New section, click Blank database, and another window pops-up.

In the Filename box, type the name of the database and click the create button. A new empty Access database will be opened with an empty Table e.g., See in Figure 1.1.

Components of the Ms-Access Window (From Office 365) - Getting to know the Access Environment

When the Ms-Access application is opened, the environment looks like the window shown below.

Figure 1.1: The Ms-Access Window (From Office 365)

The next image shows the components of the Access environment or window, and a brief description of each component is given next. Each component explained below is highlighted by the dark blue box .

Figure 1.2: Components of the Ms-Access Window

(NOTE: Use a zoom size of 130% to view the image clearly)