Access 2007 Intro

Microsoft® Access 2007: introduction Lessons

Even if you have no experience with databases, Microsoft Access 2007 lets you create a user-friendly database for storing business or personal records, such as addresses, product data and business transactions. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use Microsoft Access and become familiar with the Access 2007 interface, as well as create a simple database that includes tables, queries and forms. 1. What is Microsoft Access used for? Microsoft Access 2007 is one of the easiest databases to use, thanks to the tabbed command system. In this lesson, you'll tour the Access 2007 interface, learn where commands are located and understand the purpose of database objects, tables, forms and queries. 2. Microsoft Access how to: work with database tables To build a useful, accurate database, you need to use tables. This lesson begins by showing you how to create a new database. Then you'll explore tables, learning how to use table relationships to connect information within a database.

Welcome to the class

What is Microsoft Access used for?

3. Microsoft Access how to: create and use queries In this lesson, you'll learn how to construct queries in Access 2007 that sort and filter data. You'll use queries to join two or more tables, and even add, change or delete data in multiple records at once. 4. Microsoft Access how to: work with forms When you use a database, you want it to be as simple as possible to enter, edit or display data. Forms are the best way to achieve simplicity in an Access 2007 database. This lesson shows you how to create, modify and use forms.

Microsoft Access 2007 is one of the easiest databases to use, thanks to the tabbed command system. In this lesson, you'll tour the Access 2007 interface, learn where commands are located and understand the purpose of database objects, tables, forms and queries. Microsoft Access 2007 is a full-featured database application which you can use to manage, track and share information from multiple sources. Even if you have no experience with databases, Access 2007 lets you easily create a userfriendly database for storing business or personal records, such as addresses, product data and business transactions. In this Microsoft Access tutorial for beginners, you'll become familiar with the Access 2007 interface, learn about basic database design and create a simple but complete database that includes tables, queries and forms. This class is geared toward employees in small to medium-size businesses who are new to databases and Access 2007 software. However, personal users can also benefit from the class by learning the fundamentals of Access 2007.

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There are four lessons in this class, described as follows:

Lesson 1 explores the Access 2007 interface, shows you where commands are located and explains the purpose of database objects, tables, forms and

Beyond the lessons, be sure to complete the assignments and quizzes. They're designed to reinforce important topics covered in the lessons and enable you to practice some new skills. Throughout this class, we provide Flash examples. To view these examples, you need the Adobe Flash Player. Keep an eye out for notes with links that say "See how to ____" or something similar. Some of these files are very large (10 MB or so) and may take a while to appear or download if you have a slow connection.

As you work through the lessons, you'll see references to an Access sample database called Northwind 2007. This sample database is especially useful for users new to Access; you can use it to see how various functions and features work before you create them on your own.

queries. Lesson 2 shows you how to create a new database, and examines how tables and table relationships can help you connect information within a database. Lesson 3 explains how to construct queries that sort and filter data. You'll also learn how to join two or more tables, and add, change or delete data in multiple records at once. Lesson 4 focuses on how forms are used in Access 2007. You'll discover how to create, modify and use forms for simple entering, editing or display of data.

Getting started with Access 2007

Let's get started with the topics in Lesson 1.

Most of us use databases all the time and just don't realize it. Online maps, for example, are created from databases. The list of contacts in Microsoft Outlook 2007 is a database, too. Generally, when you want to find something or someone by conducting a search on your computer or the internet, a database is also in play. Salespeople use databases to manage leads, teachers and students use them to track assignments, public relations teams use them to handle events--the list goes on.

Access 2007 is Microsoft's most recent version of its popular database product. With it, you can track information, create reports and share information with others. A variety of changes have been made to the interface to make it more intuitive and simpler to use. One of the most important changes is in the look of Access. Instead of the toolbars and menus found in previous versions, a bar across the top of the Access window is displayed that holds the commands you need to create and use your database. This bar is called the Ribbon.

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The Access Ribbon

The Ribbon is a tab system that holds the commands you need when working within Access, as shown in Figure 1-1. Here are the things to remember about the Ribbon:

It's intuitive--it responds to the actions you take, so you only see the commands necessary for the activity you're performing. As you carry out different tasks, you see new options appear in the Ribbon. Each tab is called a command tab. As you work on specific tasks or objects, the command tab you're working with is called a contextual command tab. The contextual command tab holds the specific commands that pertain to the actual activity you're conducting in Access. At any given time, any tab can become a contextual command

Figure 1-1: Commands are located within tabs in the Ribbon. Enlarge image

tab--it just depends on what you're working on in your database.

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