Microsoft Access is a program for creating and maintaining databases. A database
is a collection of information that's related to a particular subject
or purpose, such as tracking customer orders or maintaining a music
collection.
These are a series of six Tutorial
Workshops that will teach you how to use Microsoft Access. Each Access
workshop contains illustrated explanations and examples of the features
being taught, followed by detailed learning activities. In the five
classes taught here you will learn the skills for using and
understanding Access’s features and commands. The goal
of these Access Tutorials is to assist you to learn the
software, understand the concepts and show you some tips and
techniques so you can develop your database management/programming
skills over time. West Virginia University provides these free computer
and software training workshops and materials (most are in
pdf format).
Access
Tutorial Workshops
- Introduction to Access 2003 (397kb, 30 pages)
- This introductory tutorial workshop demonstrates and teaches how to create a new database, use design view, add and select records, use the find and sort commands, and use the autoform and autoreport wizards.
- Activity 1: Getting familiar with the Access environment
- Activity 2: Managing Database Objects
- Activity 3: Create A New Database Named SCHOOL.MDB
- Activity 4: Creating Tables In Design View
- Activity 5: Add Additional Records to Your Tables
- Activity 6: Practice Selecting Records, Moving Columns, Changing Font, etc.
- Activity 7: Using the Find Command
- Activity 8: Using the Sort command
- Activity 9: Creating a form using the Autoform Wizard
- Activity 10: Creating a Report using the Autoreport Wizard (Tabular)
- Access: Queries (404kb, 27 pages)
- There are times when you will need to narrow the focus of the information in the database or combine information from multiple tables. This is done through the use of filters and queries. Queries allow you to view, change, and analyze data in different ways. You can also use them as a source of records for forms and reports.
- Activity 1: Creating and Using Filters
- Activity 2: Create a Simply Query
- Activity 3: Combining Criteria in a Single Field
- Activity 4: Combining Criteria using Multiple Fields
- Activity 5: Creating a Multi-table Sorted Query
- Activity 6: Make Table Query
- Activity 7: Performing Calculations
- Activity 8: Concatenating Names and Calculate Age
- Activity 9: Parameter Query
- Access: Reports (137kb, 16 pages)
- The workshop introduces you to the creation of reports. Designing reports can be time consuming and requires some patience. Learning the tools and methods that are available is the first step to creating effective reports.
- Activity 1: Interactive Report Wizard
- Activity 2: Create a Cover Page for the report
- Activity 3: Make each Company print on separate pages
- Activity 4: Add additional fields to the Report
- Activity 5: Create mailing Labels
- Access: Database Design (444kb, 23 pages)
- This workshop deals specifically with database design and maintenance. It introduces you to the various options that Access provides for importing and exporting data as well as the various utilities provided for maintaining your databases.
- Activity 1: Exporting Access tables to an Excel spreadsheet
- Activity 2: Importing an Access table
- Activity 3: Link to a table in another database
- Activity 4: Create a Lookup Field for Textbook Name
- Activity 5: Setting properties in the teacher table
- Activity 6: Create relationships between the school table
- Activity 7: Finish entering the data in the classs table
- Access: Relational Database Design Supplemental Handout (280kb, 20 pages)
- This handout is given as supplemental information on creating relational databases. The topics covered will help you to understand the terminology used when dealing with a relational database as well as some design tips and steps to follow.
- Understanding Databases
- Data Organization
- Keys and Relationships
- Creating Relationships
- Referential Integrity
- Database Design Process
- Database Wizards
- Splitting a Database
- Access: Form Design (368kb, 24 pages)
- The purpose of this installment is to expose you to the possibilities involved in designing your database forms. Form design is time consuming and requires some patience. Learning the form design process is a considerable portion of the database development process.
- Activity 1: Use an Autoform Wizard
- Activity 2: Use an Interactive Form Wizard
- Activity 3: Environment overview
- Activity 4: Toolbox overview
- Activity 5: Creating and Modifying a Form without a Wizard
- Activity 6: Add a header to your form
- Activity 7: Add a Combo Box and a List Box to your Student Form
- Activity 8: Create a Check Box for Paid and an Option Group for Gender
- Activity 9: Create a Calculated Control to compute student's age
- Activity 10: Create a query and a subform
- Activity 11: Filter, Sort, Find
- Access: Macros and Advanced Features (310kb, 34 pages)
- Macros are generally used to automate tasks and functions within your database. They can be used to open or close objects, update data, or complete several tasks in sequence. This workshop will familiarize you with the macro environment and how to create and use them within your database.
- Activity 37: Using the Database Wizard
- Activity 38: Command Buttons
- Activity 39: Inserting a Hyperlink
- Activity 40: Switchboard Manager
- Activity 41: User Access
- Activity 42: Closing a Form with a Macro
- Activity 43: Multiple Action Macro
- Activity 44: Conditional Multiple Action Macro
- Activity 51: Opening Multiple Forms
- Activity 52: Synchronizing Data in Forms