Product Description

Maybe you got Access as part of Microsoft Office and wonder what it can do for you and your household; maybe you're a small business manager and don't have a techie on staff to train the office in Microsoft Access. Regardless, you want to quickly get your feet wet - but not get in over your head - and "Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual" is the book to make it happen. Far more than a skimpy introduction, but much less daunting than a weighty tech book, "Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual" demystifies databases and explains how to design and create them with ease. It delivers everything you need - and nothing you don't - to use Access right away. It's your expert guide to the Access features that are most vital and most useful, and it's your trusted advisor on the more in-depth features that are best saved for developers and programmers. Access is sophisticated and powerful enough for professional developers, but easy and practical enough for everyday users like you. This Missing Manual explains all the major features of Access 2003, including designing and creating databases, organizing and filtering information, and generating effective forms and reports. Bestselling authors, database designers, and programmers Scott Palmer, Ph.D., and Kate Chase are your guides for putting the world's most popular desktop data management program to work. Their clear explanations, step-by-step instructions, plenty of illustrations, and timesaving advice help you get up to speed quickly and painlessly. Whether you're just starting out or you know you've been avoiding aspects of the program and missing out on much of what it can do, this friendly, witty book will gently immerse you in Microsoft Access. Keep it handy, as you'll undoubtedly refer to it again and again.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #545038 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 379 pages

From the Publisher
Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual delivers everything you need--and nothing you don't--to use Access right away. The quick and painless way to learn how to put the world's most popular desktop data management program to work for you, this book explains all the most useful features of Access 2003--including designing and creating databases, organizing and filtering information, and generating effective forms and reports.

About the Author
Kate J. Chase is a Microsoft MVP in Office Systems as well as the author/co-author or editor of more than 30 technical reference books, including several books and training modules devoted to Office products. She has developed and managed vibrant online support communities for industry leaders like America Online, The Microsoft Network, and ZDnet. In addition, she frequently uses the tools in Office to work collaboratively with partners throughout the US and the world.

Scott Palmer, Ph.D., has done database design and programming since 1985. He is the author of 21 books, including three best-sellers. He was computer columnist for The Washington DC Business Journal and has written for The Wall Street Journal, Federal Computer Week, InfoWorld, PC World, Cato Policy Report, Reason Magazine, and many other publications. He studied at Indiana University, the State University of New York, and the University of London. He is a member of the Mathematical Association of America and the American Economic Association.

Excerpted from Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual by Scott Palmer, Kate J. Chase. Copyright © 2005. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER 1: CREATING DATABASES

B A Tour of an Access Database
B Creating a New Database
B Starting with a Wizard
B Modifying the Wizard ’s Database
B Starting from a Blank Database

In this chapter,you ’ll create your first database,from the initial concept to a full-fledged Access file.Using Access ’s Order Entry template as an example, you ’ll learn how to set up all the types of database fields to give you the information you want, when you want it,and in exactly the way you want it.You ’ll also learn how to put information into your database and print a simple report.

A Tour of an Access Database

As you read in the introduction to this book,a database typically refers to any organized collection of information.In Access,however,a database is much more than that: it ’s a kind of wrapper to hold other database objects like tables, forms,and reports. An Access database is also relational,which means (among other things)that you can link tables together to combine their information.

A computerized database must let you add,store,find,display,and print information. Access does all these things and more.For each task,Access has different database objects.

The Access Window
When you start Access,a large window opens on your desktop.When you open a database, its window appears inside this outer one.You can have any number of individual database windows open in Access,so in effect,the Access window is like a desktop-within-a-desktop.As shown in Figure 1-1,all of Access ’s toolbars and the task pane also reside in the same window,so it can get pretty busy in there.You can make more room by closing the task pane (click the close button in the upper-right corner)and minimizing any windows you ’re not currently using.

Tables
Access tables hold the information you store in the database (see Figure 1-2),and you can also use them for data entry.In a table,each row contains one record with information about a specific item,like a customer,sales order,or inventory item. Each column contains a field with information about a specific feature of the record in that row, like a customer ’s first name,the date of a sales order,or the part number of an inventory item.

Forms
Forms are windows that you can use to enter or display database information (see Figure 1-3).You lay out a form on the screen by dragging text boxes,labels, list boxes, and other controls onto the form window.You get a fill-in-the-blanks window that resembles a paper form.You ’ll learn how to create your own forms in Chapter 3.

Queries
A query is simply a question you ask Access about the information in your database, like “What are the names and addresses of our customers in Chicago?” or “What are our 10 most expensive products?” Access then searches through your database,finds the information to answer your question, and displays it in an easy-to-read format. Access lets you create queries quickly and easily by dragging table fields with your mouse and clicking a button.

Surprisingly,Access queries can do more than just answer your questions.You can use queries to update or change your data,add new records to a table,create cross tab reports,ask people for information,or connect to other database management systems,like Microsoft SQL Server.You ’ll learn how to create queries in Chapters 6 and 7.See Figure 1-4 for an example.

Reports
You can use reports to print your database information or display it onscreen (see Figure 1-5).You can group the information by city or sort the information by last name,for example.You can include totals and other calculations. You can even include graphics.

Access lets you tailor reports so that they not only show the information you want but show it exactly the way you want it. For simple lists, you can create reports with plain columns. For grouped information, you can create columns that stair-step through each group. You can create reports that group together blocks of information or present information in outline format. You can apply any of six predefined styles to give your reports a professional appearance. And, of course, you can either print reports or display them on your screen.

Just as with forms,you design reports by dragging fields into a grid on your screen.If you need a fairly standard report format,you can also have the Access Report Wizard create your report for you.You ’ll learn how to create reports in Chapter 8.

Putting It All Together
Your own needs determine which forms,reports,and other database objects you ’ll put into your database.You can add,take away,and edit objects at any time as your skills increase and your needs grow and change.As you become more familiar with Access, you ’ll develop a keener sense of what you can do.The possibilities are endless! Here are some examples of objects you may want to build into your database:

- Onscreen data-entry forms that check data for accuracy and make sure it ’s in the correct format.
- Saved queries that let you quickly see,for example,only the new customers added in the past week.A form that lets you create mailing labels.
- Reports that include calculated values,like totals,or that group records based on city,Zip code,or account balance.