Microsoft Access Description

• Microsoft Access is a powerful program to create and manage your databases. It has many built in features to assist you in constructing and viewing your information. Access is much more involved and is a more genuine database application than other programs such as Microsoft Works.
  
  This tutorial will help you get started with Microsoft Access and may solve some of your problems, but it is a very good idea to use the Help Files that come with Microsoft Access.
  
  First of all you need to understand how Microsoft Access breaks down a database. Some keywords involved in this process are: Database File, Table, Record, Field, Data-type. Here is the Hierarchy that Microsoft Access uses in breaking down a database.

	Database File: This is your main file that encompasses the entire database and that is saved to your hard-drive or floppy disk. Example: StudentDatabase.mdb
	Table: A table is a collection of data about a specific topic. There can be multiple tables in a database. Example 1) Students Example 2) Teachers
	Field: Fields are the different categories within a Table. Tables usually contain multiple fields. Example 1) Student LastName Example 2) Student FirstName
	Datatypes: Datatypes are the properties of each field. A field only has 1 datatype. FieldName) Student LastName Datatype) Text

 

• This tutorial will help you get started with Microsoft Access and may solve some of your problems, but it is a very good idea to use the Help Files that come with Microsoft Access (or any program you use for that matter).

 

Starting Microsoft Access

• Two Ways
1. Double click on the Microsoft Access icon on the desktop.
   
2. Click on Start --> Programs --> Microsoft Access
   

Creating New, and Opening Existing Databases

The above picture gives you the option to:

• Create a New Database from scratch
• Use the wizard to create a New Database
• Open an existing database

o        The white box gives you the most recent databases you have used. If you do not see the one you had created, choose the More Files option and hit OK. Otherwise choose the database you had previously used and click OK.

Create a database using the Database Wizard

1.      When Microsoft Access first starts up, a dialog box is automatically displayed with options to create a new database or open an existing one. If this dialog box is displayed, click Access Database Wizards, pages, and projects and then click OK.

If you have already opened a database or closed the dialog box that displays when Microsoft Access starts up, click New Database on the toolbar.

2.      On the Databases tab, double-click the icon for the kind of database you want to create.

3.      Specify a name and location for the database.

4.      Click Create to start defining your new database

Create a database without using the Database Wizard

1.      When Microsoft Access first starts up, a dialog box is automatically displayed with options to create a new database or open an existing one. If this dialog box is displayed, click Blank Access Database, and then click OK.

If you have already opened a database or closed the dialog box that displays when Microsoft Access starts up, click New Database on the toolbar, and then double-click the Blank Database icon on the General tab.

2.      Specify a name and location for the database and click Create. (Below is the screen that shows up following this step)

Tables

A table is a collection of data about a specific topic, such as students or contacts. Using a separate table for each topic means that you store that data only once, which makes your database more efficient, and reduces data-entry errors.

Tables organize data into columns (called fields) and rows (called records).

Create a Table from scratch in Design view

1. If you haven't already done so, switch to the Database Window You can press F11 to switch to the Database window from any other window.

2. Double-Click on "Create table in Design view".
   (DESIGN VIEW)

3. Define each of the fields in your table.
• Under the Field Name column, enter the categories of your table.
• Under Data Type column, enter the type you want for you categories.

§         The attribute of a variable or field that determines what kind of data it can hold. For example, in a Microsoft Access database, the Text and Memo field data types allow the field to store either text or numbers, but the Number data type will allow the field to store numbers only. Number data type fields store numerical data that will be used in mathematical calculations. Use the Currency data type to display or calculate currency values. Other data types are Date/Time, Yes/No, Auto Number, and OLE object (Picture).

• Under the Description column, enter the text that describes what you field is. (This field is optional).
• For our tutorial enter the following items:
  

Primary Key

• One or more fields (columns) whose value or values uniquely identify each record in a table. A primary key does not allow Null values and must always have a unique value. A primary key is used to relate a table to foreign keys in other tables.
• NOTE: You do not have to define a primary key, but it's usually a good idea. If you don't define a primary key, Microsoft Access asks you if you would like to create one when you save the table.
• For our tutorial, make the Soc Sec # field the primary key, meaning that every student has a social security number and no 2 are the same.
• To do this, simply select the Soc Sec # field and select the primary key button
  
• After you do this, Save the table

Switching Views

• To switch views form the datasheet (spreadsheet view) and the design view, simply click the button in the top-left hand corner of the Access program.

Datasheet View	Design View
Displays the view, which allows you to enter raw data into your database table.	Displays the view, which allows you to enter fields, data-types, and descriptions into your database table.

Entering Data

• Click on the Datasheet View and simply start "chugging" away by entering the data into each field. NOTE: Before starting a new record, the Soc Sec # field must have something in it, because it is the Primary Key. If you did not set a Primary Key then it is OK.

Manipulating Data

• Adding a new row
• Simply drop down to a new line and enter the information
• Updating a record
• Simply select the record and field you want to update, and change its data with what you want
• Deleting a record
• Simply select the entire row and hit the Delete Key on the keyboard

Advanced Table Features w/Microsoft Access

• Assigning a field a specific set of characters
• Example) Making a Social Security Number only allows 9 characters.
1. Switch to Design View
2. Select the field you want to alter
3. At the bottom select the General Tab
   
   
4. Select Field Size
5. Enter the number of characters you want this field to have
• Formatting a field to look a specific way (HINT: You do not need to assign a field a specific set of characters if you do this)
• Example) Formatting Phone Number w/ Area Code (xxx) xxx-xxxx
1. Switch to Design View
2. Select the field you want to format
3. At the bottom select the General Tab
4. Select Input Mask Box and click on the ... button at the right.
5. Select Phone Number option
   
6. Click on Next
7. Leave !(999) 000-0000 the way it is. This is a default.
8. Click Next
9. Select which option you want it to look like
10. Click Next
11. Click Finish
• Selecting a value from a dropdown box with a set of values that you assign to it. This saves you from typing it in each time
• Example)Choosing a city that is either Auburn, Bay City, Flint, Midland, or Saginaw
1. Switch to Design View
2. Select the field you want to alter (City)
3. At the bottom select the Lookup Tab
4. In the Display Control box, select Combo Box
5. Under Row Source Type, select Value List
6. Under Row Source, enter the values how you want them displayed, separated by a comma. (Auburn, Bay City, Flint, Midland, Saginaw)
• NOTE:This will not alphabetize them for you, so you will have to do that yourself. It should look something like this:
  
7. Select in the datasheet view and you should see the change when you go to the city field.
   

Relationships

After you've set up multiple tables in your Microsoft Access database, you need a way of telling Access how to bring that information back together again. The first step in this process is to define relationships between your tables. After you've done that, you can create queries, forms, and reports to display information from several tables at once.

A relationship works by matching data in key fields - usually a field with the same name in both tables. In most cases, these matching fields are the primary key from one table, which provides a unique identifier for each record, and a foreign key in the other table. For example, teachers can be associated with the students they're responsible for by creating a relationship between the teacher's table and the student's table using the TeacherID fields.

Having met the criteria above, follow these steps for creating relationships between tables.

1. In the database window view, at the top, click on Tools ---> Relationships
2. Select the Tables you want to link together, by clicking on them and selecting the Add Button
3. Drag the primary key of the Parent table (Teacher in this case), and drop it into the same field in the Child table (Student in this case.)
   
4. Select Enforce Referential Integrity
   
• When the Cascade Update Related Fields check box is set, changing a primary key value in the primary table automatically updates the matching value in all related records.
• When the Cascade Delete Related Records check box is set, deleting a record in the primary table deletes any related records in the related table
5. Click Create and Save the Relationship

Forms

A form is nothing more than a graphical representation of a table. You can add, update, delete records in your table by using a form. NOTE: Although a form can be named different from a table, they both still manipulate the same information and the same exact data. Hence, if you change a record in a form, it will be changed in the table also.

A form is very good to use when you have numerous fields in a table. This way you can see all the fields in one screen, whereas if you were in the table view (datasheet) you would have to keep scrolling to get the field you desire.

Create a Form using the Wizard

It is a very good idea to create a form using the wizard, unless you are an advanced user and know what you are doing. Microsoft Access does a very good job of creating a form using the wizard. The following steps are needed to create a basic form:

1. Switch to the Database Window. You can do this by pressing F11 on the keyboard.
2. Click on the Forms button under Objects on the left side of screen
3. Double click on Create Form Using Wizard
4. On the next screen select the fields you want to view on your form. Most of the time you would select all of them.
5. Click Next
6. Select the layout you wish
7. Click Next
8. Select the style you desire...HINT: if you plan on printing your form, I suggest you use a light background to save on printer toner and ink
9. Click Next
10. Give you form a name, and select Open the Form and enter information
11. Select Finish
12. You should see your form. To adjust the design of your form, simply hit the design button (same as with the tables), and adjust your form accordingly

Reports

A report is an effective way to present your data in a printed format. Because you have control over the size and appearance of everything on a report, you can display the information the way you want to see it.

Create a Report using the Wizard

As with the Form, it is a very good idea to create a report using the wizard, unless you are an advanced user. Microsoft Access does a very good job using the wizard to create reports.

1. Switch to the Database Window. You can do this by pressing F11 on the keyboard.
2. Click on the Reports button under Objects on the left side of screen
3. Double click on Create Report Using Wizard
4. On the next screen select the fields you want to view on your form. Most of the time you would select all of them.
5. Click Next
6. Select if you would like to group your files. Keep repeating this step for as many groupings as you would like.
7. Click Next
8. Select the layout and the paper orientation you desire
9. Click Next
10. Select the style you desire...HINT: if you plan on printing your report, I suggest you use a light background to save on printer toner and ink
11. Click Next
12. Give you report a name, and select Preview the Report
13. Select Finish
14. You should see your report. To adjust the design of your report, simply hit the design button (same as with the tables), and adjust your report accordingly

Creating Mail Merge Labels using a Wizard

Microsoft Access lets you create Mailing Labels for your database that you have. To do this do the following:

1. Switch to the Database Window. You can do this by pressing F11 on the keyboard.
2. Click on the Reports button under Objects on the left side of screen
3. Click on New
   
4. Select Label Wizard and the table you would like to get your information from.
   
5. Click OK
6. Select the layout of your labels
7. Click Next
8. Select the font size and color you want on each label
9. Click Next
10. Select how you want your label to look
11. Click Next
12. Select how you want your labels sorted
13. Give your label report a name and preview it