Microsoft Access 2003: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction

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About this class

Microsoft Access is a powerful visual tool with which to design and develop Windows-based database applications. Windows power users can also use Access to manipulate data, generate reports and act as the front-end for client/server database systems.

This hands-on course provides an in-depth view of the features and functionality of Access. You learn key database design concepts, and work with Access to build a database system in class. You also develop a Microsoft Access front-end that queries a SQL Server database over a Windows network.

Who will the lesson benefit?

This course is valuable for anyone who plans to prototype, build and integrate database applications using Microsoft Access 2003 or a prior version of Access. Familiarity with Windows is assumed; some knowledge of databases or macros is helpful.!

What delegates will learn

• Design robust relational database applications using Microsoft Access 2003
• Develop client/server database front-ends
• Build database applications quickly using Form, Table, Report and Query wizards
• Link to ODBC and OLE-DB data sources to leverage enterprise security
• Create and integrate macros into your applications
• Implement advanced Access reporting features

Contents of this class

Introduction to Access

Overview of database concepts

• Databases and their contents
• Flat file and relational databases

The fundamentals of database design

• Tables, records and fields
• Ordering schemes
• Indexes and keys

Introduction to the Access product

• The visual development environment
• When to use Access

Creating a Relational Database Management System with Access

Defining the requirements

• Eliciting user needs and wants
• Designing the data model

Building an Access database system

• Access tables, fields, indexes
• Table relationships
• Table Wizards

Adding the data

• Working with the datasheet view
• Attaching or importing existing tables
• Designing a friendly user interface
• Forms design
• Form wizards
• Controls and control properties

Querying the Database

Query types and elements

• What is a Query?
• Query by Example (QBE)
• Query by Form (QBF)
• Select queries
• Crosstab queries
• Action queries
• Parameter queries

Managing queries

• Query wizards
• Expressions in queries

Access as a Client/Server Front-end

Attaching to a SQL Server database

• The ODBC OLE-DB connectivity standards
• Multiuser and security concerns

SQL queries across the network

• Using Query wizards with SQL
• Issuing commands to SQL databases using pass-through queries

Access Reports

Using report wizards

• Quick printouts with AutoReports
• Tabular, groups/totals, mailing labels and other standard report types
• Visually enhancing your presentation with wizards
• Exploiting formulas and expressions in reports
• Designing queries for effective report grouping

Modifying the standard report formats

• Elements of effective custom reports
• Adjusting report controls

Application Development with Macros and VBA

Designing effective macros

• Point and click
• Debugging tips
• Macro style guidelines
• Running a macro from events
• Converting macros to VBA code

Event-driven programming

• Writing event-driven programs
• Associating macros with controls to respond to user-triggered events
• Programming conditional macros to respond to user input

Automating your application with VBA

• Correlating data types with Access table definitions
• Controlling form values with variables

Advanced Access Techniques

Techniques for forms

• Validating user data with field masks, field-level validation and advanced logic control
• Populating list and combo boxes with queries
• Hiding columns in list and combo boxes

Macro techniques

• Grouping macros for organisation
• Creating keyboard shortcuts with AutoKeys
• Converting Access macros to VBA code

Microsoft Access 2003: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction / MAC-123

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