Microsoft Access is a relational database management system from Microsoft, it combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface. 

Microsoft Access can use data stored in Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or any ODBC-compliant data container. Skilled software developers and data architects use it to develop application software. Relatively unskilled programmers and non-programmer "power users" can use it to build simple applications. It supports some object-oriented (OO) techniques but falls short of being a fully OO development tool.
Anderson School District in Pendleton, SC, has provided the following Access training documents with exercises. These teach you how to use many of the features or Access, such as creating and working with tables, forms, reports, generating easy and complex queries. All of the features demonstrated here are also available in Access 2003. 


Introduction to Access XP (pdf, 10 pages, 215kb)
This Access training document teaches you how to create and edit Access tables, use table design functions, perform basic and more complex queries, and generate forms and reports. It contains a glossary of terms and 5 in-depth exercises explaining how to accomplish the tasks that are described.

Access Exercises (pdf, 5 pages, 86kb)
These Access exercises demonstrate and instruct you how to do the following: create a Report and Report Layouts, create an AutoReport, use the Report Wizard, work with Report Preview, print a Report, and save a Report.

Introduction to Access (pdf, 63 slides, 234kb)
These training slides explain the following Access database concepts, featuress, and procedures:

• Database Design Concepts
• Database Management System (provides functions to store, search or query, and report the data contained in the database)
• Relational Database (a collection of related information organized into separate files or tables that can be related to one another by common components or fields.)
• Single Table vs. Relational Tables
• The Access Database Container
• Database management system components or ‘Objects’.
• Tables
• Queries
• Forms
• Reports
• Pages
• Macros
• Modules
• Planning and Creating a New Database
• Naming Conventions
• Creating tables in design view
• Creating a Primary Key or Index
• Working with Tables
• Choosing Fields for a Query and Criteria in a Query
• Criteria Symbols
• Working with Queries and more Complex Queries
• Query Types
• Forms and Reports
• Forms and Reports Design

Excel the spreadsheet application of the Microsoft Office Suite. A spreadsheet is a grid of rows and columns containing numbers, text, and formulas, and each intersection is called a cell. A spreadsheet's objective is to solve numeric problems and formulas, but they can also be used to display all types of information in a row and column format. Besides calculating accurately and rapidly, spreadsheets are flexible, and when they are updated all related cells are also updated automatically.

Anderson School District in Pendleton, SC, has provided the following Excel training documents and tutorials. These teach you how to use the features of Excel, format your data, work with formulas and functions, perform page setup, and create charts. All of the features demonstrated here are also available in Excel 2003.


Introduction to Microsoft Excel 2002 (pdf, 15 pages, 302kb)

Objectives:

• Become familiar with Microsoft Excel
• Create, edit, and format spreadsheets
• Create formulas, charts and pivot tables
  

Table of Contents:

• Objectives
• Introduction
• Components of the Excel Window
• Entering and Editing Data
• Working with Excel Documents
• Formulas and Functions
• Formatting Data
• Page Setup, Previewing, and Printing
• Additional Resources

Using Excel Formulas and Functions (pdf, 17 pages, 137kb)

Formulas and functions in Excel give the user a powerful method to calculate and solve numeric problems and build what-if type scenarios. A formula in Excel always begins with an equal sign (=), followed by the elements to be calculated (the operands), which are separated by calculation operators. For example, the following formula multiplies 2 by 3 and then adds 5 to the result: =5+2*3. A formula can contain any or all of the following items: functions (a pre-written formula that returns a value), references, operators (a sign or symbol that specifies the type of calculation), and constants.

Components of an Excel formula:

• Functions: The PI() function returns the value of pi: 3.142...
• References (or names): A2 returns the value in cell A2.
• Constants: Numbers or text values entered directly into a formula, such as 2.
• Operators: The ^ (caret) operator raises a number to a power, and the * (asterisk) operator multiplies.

Creating Charts in Excel (pdf, 6 pages, 159kb)
An easy step-by step guide showing how to create charts using Excel, with screen shots and help tips.

Charts with Word and Excel.pdf (pdf, 12 pages, 332kb)
Explains how to create charts in Microsoft Word (6 pages) and Microsoft Excel (6 pages, with an exercise). Excel charts charts are created from worksheets and usually have titles, data labels, a legend, and at least one data series. Titles and labels describe what is charted. A legend contains labels that identify data series. The data series is a set of related data that is to be plotted. The three most common charts are bar, pie, and line.

Microsoft Word is the word processor application of the Microsoft Office Suite. By using Word effectively, you can create professional looking documents, and whatever you need from a word processor. Anderson School District in Pendleton, SC, has provided the following Word training documents and tutorials. These teach you how to use the basic features of Word, work with tables, design web pages, perform mail merges, and learn some desktop publishing tips and tricks with Word. All of the features demonstrated here are also available in Word 2003.


Microsoft Word Basics  (pdf, 16 pages, 451kb)
This training document outlines most of Word's basic functionality and features, detailing them in a step-by-step format. Creating tables and working with graphics are included.


How to Insert a Picture Into Word (pdf, 1 page, 145kb) 


Introduction to Tables with Microsoft Word 2002 (pdf, 11 pages, 229kb) 
Familiarize yourself with creating and managing tables with Word 2002. One of the handiest features of Word 2002 is the ability to create tables. A table is made up of rows and columns of cells that you can fill with text and graphics. Tables are often used to organize and present information. You can also use tables to create interesting page layouts, or to create text, graphics and nested tables on a Web page.

Table of Contents

• Objectives
• Introduction
• About tables
• Create a table
• Automatically format a table
• Position a table on a page
• Add a cell, row, or column to a table
• Delete a cell, row, or column from a table
• Merge cells into one cell in a table
• Change the cell margins in a table
• Split a cell into multiple cells in a table
• Change the position of text in a table
• Copy a table
• Delete a table or clear its contents
• Display or hide gridlines in a table

Introduction to Web Page Design with Microsoft Word 2002 (pdf, 12 pages, 365kb) 
One of the newest features of Word 2002 is the ability to create web pages. Much of the information which is found in this manual will lay the groundwork for future classes with FrontPage, Microsoft’s web development application.

Objectives

• Become familiar with the Word 2002 Web interface
• Create and edit a personal Web Site: apply graphics, text and background colors
• Apply a theme to create a consistent look and feel to your Web site
• Create hyperlinks to link Web pages
  

Table of Contents

• Objectives
• Introduction
• Designing a Web
• Microsoft Word Web Interface
• Creating a New Webpage
• Themes
• Creating a Hyperlink
• Inserting Pictures
• Additional Resources

Mail Merge (pdf, 3 pages, 61kb)
Defines the terms used in the Microsoft Office mail merge process, and guides you through the 6 steps of the Mail Merge Wizard.

Mail Merge Basics (pdf, 16 slides, 932kb)
Why use mail merge?

• To create customized letters, envelopes, labels , directories, e-mail messages and faxes for mass mailings.
• To create a mail merge, you must have two files:
• Main document, which contains information that won’t change, as well as merge fields and merge blocks, which act as place holders for variable information.
• Source document, which contains variable information such as names and addresses. Word lets you use as many types of data source files for a merge, including an Office address list,an Outlook contact list, or a Microsoft Access database.

During the merge, Word generates a series of merge documents in which the variable information from the data source replaces the merge fields entered in the main document. You can print the merge documents or save them in a file for future use. You can use the Mail Merge Wizard or the button on the Mail Merge toolbar to access Mail Merge features and commands. To begin the Mail Merge Wizard, click Tools menu, point to Letters and Mailings, and then click Mail Merge Wizard.

Desktop Publishing with Word - Tips and Tricks (pdf, 14 pages, 718kb)
This Word tutorial on Desktop Publishing covering the following areas:
1. Using Templates
2. Inserting Images
3. Wrapping Text around a Picture
4. Drawing Tools
5. Autoshape Picture Frame
6. Adding a Drop Shadow to an image
7. Creating a personalized newsletter using Word's mail merge features.

Microsoft PowerPoint is the presentation graphics program of the Microsoft Office Suite. By using PowerPoint, you are able to efficiently generate professional presentations with which you can effectively communicate and with impressive results. Here is a 23-page Powerpoint tutorial, provided by Anderson School District in Pendleton, SC, that teaches you how to use the Powerpoint's features to create nice looking slide presentations. All of the features shown here are also available in Powerpoint 2003.

Powerpoint Tutorial Objectives:

• Become familiar with the PowerPoint interface
• Create and edit a PowerPoint slide presentation: apply graphics, text, and background colors
• Apply a theme to create a consistent look and feel to your presentation

PowerPoint 2002 Tutorial
(23 pages, 382kb, pdf format)

Table of Contents

• Objectives
• Introduction
• Microsoft PowerPoint Interface
• Creating a New Presentation
• About PowerPoint Views
• Working with Slides
• Add text to a slide
• Add Graphics to a Slide
• Change Text Format
• About Layouts
• About Design Templates
• Animate text and objects
• Running a Presentation
• Additional Resources

Here is a free web-based training course for Microsoft Word 2000. This course covers how to create and edit documents, how to automate text entry, formatting, and tracking changes, how to format and print a document, and how to use word styles and enhance document layout.

Free Microsoft Word 2000 Course

1. Introducing Word 2000
Features of Word 2000
Getting Started
Quiz

2. Creating and Editing Documents
Creating a Document
Editing a Document
Quiz

3. Proofreading Documents
Searching and Proofreading
Automating Text Entry and Formatting
Tracking Changes
Quiz

4. Formatting and Printing Documents
Formatting a Document
Printing a Document
Quiz

5. Advanced Formatting
Using Word Styles
Enhancing Document Layout
Quiz