Access 2013: Tips & Tricks

Create a better user experience for your Access database. Make it faster, more efficient, and fun with these power tips.

Your tables are built, your relationships are defined, your queries and reports are ready to run. But is your Access database really ready for users? With these power tips, you can create a better user experience for your database and transform it into a fast, efficient, and even fun place to work. Adam Wilbert will show you how to remove typical Access interface elements (like the Welcome screen) for a better start-up experience, and borrow some tricks from web design to make your database more attractive and interactive. Plus, learn how to clean up a cluttered navigation pane, filter long lists with cascading combo boxes, and build in contextual help and keyboard shortcuts that your power users will thank you for. Adam also shows how to package the database for users who don't have Microsoft Access installed.

Introduction

• Welcome
• What you should know before watching this course
• Using the exercise files
• Trusting the exercise files

1. Creating a Start-up Experience

• Exploring start-up options
• Launching a splash screen
• Using an AutoExec macro
• Hiding the ribbon
• Creating a kiosk experience

2. Creating Cascading Combo Boxes

• Creating the form
• Creating the combo boxes
• Cascading the results

3. Working with Hidden Objects

• Embedding queries in reports
• Hiding tables and other objects
• Accessing system tables
• Querying a list of database objects

4. Working with Split Databases

• Creating a back end
• Password protecting a back end
• Creating customized front ends

5. Creating a Dynamic Reporting Tool

• Understanding the reporting tool
• Building the form
• Building the query
• Building the report
• Finalizing the reporting tool

6. Aiding the End User

• Creating customized shortcut keys
• Adding tooltips and status messages
• Creating task-specific help dialog boxes

7. Writing Custom Functions in Visual Basic

• Understanding VBA function basics
• Using custom functions in the database
• Creating a Select...Case function

8. Distributing Your Application

• Installing the free Access runtime
• Packaging your application

Conclusion

• Next steps