Access 2013 Essential Training

Take a tour of the essential features of Access 2013 and discover how to build a database and store your data more efficiently.

Join author and database expert Adam Wilbert on a tour of the essential features of Microsoft Access 2013 and discover how to build a database and store your data more efficiently. First, Adam explains the concepts behind relational databases, before moving onto building tables—the foundation of any database. He then shows how to define the relationships between tables and use queries to find and filter data. The course also shows how to apply rules and validation to minimize data entry errors; build an interface for the database from forms, complete with interactive buttons and combo boxes; create reports for printing and sharing; and automate these tasks and many others with macros.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files

1. Getting Started

• Key database concepts
• Launching Access and the Backstage screen
• Creating the database file
• Understanding the Trust Center
• Digging in to Ribbon tabs
• Using the Navigation pane
• Using the Quick Access Toolbar
• Signing in to Microsoft Live
• Taking backups
• Accessing help

2. Creating Tables

• Understanding table structure and relationships
• Creating a table and setting data types
• Entering data
• Understanding primary and foreign keys
• Importing tables

3. Setting Field Properties

• Establishing relationships and maintaining referential integrity
• Editing table structure in Design view
• Controlling input with masks
• Setting the default value
• Establishing validation rules
• Creating lookup fields
• Setting additional field properties

4. Organizing Records

• Formatting columns
• Sorting table data
• Filtering table data
• Searching and replacing values

5. Using Queries

• Understanding queries
• Creating queries with the Simple Query Wizard
• Building queries in Design view
• Establishing constraints with criteria
• Specifying criteria with wildcards
• Leveraging multiple criteria with AND and OR statements
• Filtering with mathematical comparisons
• Creating flexible queries with parameter requests
• Building expressions
• Obtaining summary statistics

6. Working with Specialty Queries

• Using update queries
• Using make table queries
• Using delete queries
• Using append queries
• Getting a different look with crosstab queries
• Creating a union query in SQL view

7. Creating Forms

• Understanding the role of forms
• Generating forms from tables
• Adjusting form elements in Layout view
• Using the Form Wizard

8. Designing Forms

• Creating forms in Design view
• Exploring the form property sheet
• Setting data sources
• Adding components with form controls
• Understanding input boxes
• Recording navigation
• Adding buttons
• Assigning tab order
• Checking out the More Forms options
• Creating a navigation form

9. Creating Reports

• Introducing reports
• Using the Report Wizard
• Creating a report in Design view
• Grouping and sorting records
• Creating calculated totals
• Applying conditional formatting rules
• Creating labels
• Adjusting print settings

10. Working with Macros

• Creating macros
• Embedding macros into buttons
• Attaching data macros to tables
• Launching macros at startup

11. Integrating Access with the Office Suite

• Exporting tables to Excel
• Emailing with macros
• Linking to data in an Outlook database
• Setting up labels and mail-merge documents in Word

12. Maintaining the Database

• Organizing the Navigation pane with custom groups
• Compacting and repairing the database
• Examining database object relationships
• Documenting your work
• Printing the blueprint of your database with the Database Documenter
• Splitting a database into front and back ends
• Protecting the database with a password
• Creating custom Ribbon tabs
• Setting startup options and custom icons

Conclusion

• Next steps