Access® For Dummies®

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2021948885

ISBN 978-1-119-82908-9 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-82910-2 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-82909-6 (ebk)

Access® For Dummies®

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Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Introduction

About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here

Part 1: Basic Training

Chapter 1: Access Basic Training
1. What Is Access Good For, Anyway?
2. Reach Out with SharePoint
3. How Access Works and How You Work with It
4. Now What?
Chapter 2: Navigating the Access Workspace
1. Diving Right In
2. Working with Onscreen Tools in Access
3. Customizing the Access Workspace
4. Mousing Around
5. Navigating Access with the Alt Key
Chapter 3: Database Basics
1. Database Lingo
2. Field Types and Uses
3. Choosing Between Flat and Relational Databases
4. Building a Database
5. Adding and Removing Tables

Part 2: Getting It All on the Table

Chapter 4: Sounds Like a Plan
1. Planning Your Database Tables
2. Building Tables in Design View
Chapter 5: Table Tune-Ups
1. The Primary Key to Success
2. Making Tables Get Along
3. Building Table Relationships
4. Indexing for Faster Queries
Chapter 6: Remodeling Your Data
1. Opening a Table for Editing
2. Inserting Records and Fields
3. Modifying Field Content
4. Name-Calling
5. Turn Uh-Oh! into Yee-Hah!
Chapter 7: Types, Masks, and Triggers
1. Access Table Settings
2. Field Data Formats
3. Gaining Control of Data Entry
4. Give Your Fingers a Mini Vacation by Default

Part 3: Data Management Mania

Chapter 8: A Form for All Reasons
1. Generating Forms
2. Customizing Form Parts
3. Managing Data in Form View
Chapter 9: Importing and Exporting Data
1. Retrieving Data from Other Sources
2. Hit the Road, Data
Chapter 10: Automatically Editing Data
1. Please Read This First!
2. Creating Consistent Corrections
3. Using Queries to Automate the Editing Process
Chapter 11: Access and the Web
1. How Access Works with the Web
2. Understanding Microsoft 365
3. Using the Access Web Browser Control

Part 4: The Power of Questions

Chapter 12: Finding, Filtering, and Sorting Your Data — Fast
1. Using the Find Command
2. Sorting Alphabetically and Numerically
3. Fast and Furious Filtering
Chapter 13: I Was Just Asking … for Answers
1. Simple (Yet Potent) Filter and Sort Tools
2. Select Queries
3. Getting Your Feet Wet with Ad Hoc Queries
Chapter 14: I Want These AND Those OR Them
1. Working with AND and/or OR
2. Combining AND with OR and OR with AND
Chapter 15: Number Crunching with the Total Row
1. Say Hello to the Total Row
2. Adding the Total Row to Your Queries
3. Giving the Total Row a Workout
4. Creating Your Own Top-Ten List
5. Choosing the Right Field for the Summary Instruction
Chapter 16: Express Yourself with Formulas
1. A Simple Calculation
2. Complex Calculations
3. Hooray for Expression Builder
Chapter 17: Take Charge with Action Queries
1. Easy Update
2. Add Records in a Flash
3. Quick Cleanup

Part 5: Simple and Snazzy Reporting

Chapter 18: Fast and Furious Automatic Reporting
1. Quick and Not-S0-Dirty Automatic Reporting
2. Previewing Your Report
3. Beauty Is Only Skin (Report) Deep
Chapter 19: Professionally Designed Reports Made Easy
1. Report Repairs
2. Report Organization
3. Formatting Stuff
4. Sneaking a Peek
5. Getting a Themes Makeover
6. Adding More Design Elements
Chapter 20: Groups and Page Breaks, Headers and Footers
1. A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
2. Customizing Properties
Chapter 21: Mailings to the Masses
1. Massive Mailings with the Label Wizard

Part 6: The Part of Tens

Chapter 22: Ten Common Problems
1. That’s Just Not Normal
2. You Type 73.725, but It Changes to 74
3. Where’s That Word I Just Typed?
4. Was There and Now It’s Gone
5. You Run a Query, but the Results Aren’t What You Expect
6. The Dreaded Parameter Dialog Box
7. The Slowest Database in Town
8. Your Database File Is Ginormous
9. You Get a Mess When Importing Your Spreadsheet
10. We’re Sorry; Your Database File Is Corrupt
Chapter 23: Ten Uncommon Tips
1. Document Everything as if Your Life Depended on It
2. Keep Your Fields as Small as Possible
3. Use Number Fields for Real Numbers
4. Validate Your Data
5. Use Understandable Names to Keep Things Simple
6. Delete with Great Caution
7. Backup, Backup, Backup
8. Think, Think, and Think Again
9. Get Organized and Stay Organized
10. There’s No Shame in Asking for Help

Appendix A: Getting Help

Index

About the Author

Advertisement Page

Connect with Dummies

End User License Agreement

List of Tables

Chapter 3

TABLE 3-1 Common Fields for Everyday Tables
TABLE 3-2 Prohibited Symbols

Chapter 4

TABLE 4-1 Number Field Sizes

Chapter 7

TABLE 7-1 Formatting Codes for Text Fields
TABLE 7-2 Codes for Input Masks
TABLE 7-3 Common Number-Field Validations
TABLE 7-4 Common Date-Field Validations

Chapter 9

TABLE 9-1 Files
TABLE 9-2 Compatible Database File Formats
TABLE 9-3 Online Services
TABLE 9-4 Other Sources

Chapter 11

TABLE 11-1 Types of Hyperlink Protocol Codes in Access

Chapter 13

TABLE 13-1 Basic Comparison Operators

Chapter 15

TABLE 15-1 Total Row Functions

Chapter 18

TABLE 18-1 Print Preview Tools

List of Illustrations

Chapter 1

FIGURE 1-1: Datasheet view can be an easy environment for data entry. Or not.
FIGURE 1-2: Here’s a simple form for entering new records or reviewing existing...
FIGURE 1-3: Ah, simplicity. A quick report is just one click away.
FIGURE 1-4: The Report Wizard creates more elaborate (but simple) reports, like...
FIGURE 1-5: Design view might look a little intimidating, but to really customi...
FIGURE 1-6: The Save As command offers choices for … you guessed it … saving yo...
FIGURE 1-7: Double-click an Access database file, and Access opens right up.
FIGURE 1-8: Pick your recently used database from the Recent list on the right.
FIGURE 1-9: An existing table, ready for more records.
FIGURE 1-10: Click the Blank Desktop Database button in the New group.
FIGURE 1-11: Name your database something that replaces the generic DatabaseX.a...
FIGURE 1-12: View the database templates for your chosen category.

Chapter 2

FIGURE 2-1: When it comes to the interface, Access users will find a comforting...
FIGURE 2-2: Open Access and your existing database in one fell swoop.
FIGURE 2-3: You can build a database from nothing or from something — in the fo...
FIGURE 2-4: Open an existing or recently used database.
FIGURE 2-5: The main Ribbon tabs appear when you open a database.
FIGURE 2-6: The buttons relevant to what’s open and active in your database are...
FIGURE 2-7: You can easily tell the active tab (Create) from the inactive ones.
FIGURE 2-8: Click the triangle to the right of the button and make a choice.
FIGURE 2-9: Menu buttons display a — surprise! — menu when clicked.
FIGURE 2-10: Craving the File tab’s tools? Click the File tab to choose from a ...
FIGURE 2-11: Reporting-related tools appear precisely when they’re needed.
FIGURE 2-12: Like to rearrange things? Display your Quick Access Toolbar option...
FIGURE 2-13: Pick a command category and a command to add to the Quick Access T...
FIGURE 2-14: Add as many buttons as you want — the toolbar will expand horizont...
FIGURE 2-15: Reconsidering that added button? No problem. Say bye-bye with a si...
FIGURE 2-16: The Ribbon, minimized.
FIGURE 2-17: The File tab’s panel of commands gives you an Options command, whi...
FIGURE 2-18: The settings for just about everything you can see and use in Acce...
FIGURE 2-19: View the helpful button and tab names and information.
FIGURE 2-20: Rather press a letter or number than click a tab or button with yo...
FIGURE 2-21: Each button on a tab has its own keyboard shortcut.

Chapter 3

FIGURE 3-1: New blank databases need names. Give yours one here.
FIGURE 3-2: Select a home for your new database.
FIGURE 3-3: New table, new database.
FIGURE 3-4: Create new fields by pressing Enter after naming each one.
FIGURE 3-5: The Create tab is the logical place to go when you want to create a...
FIGURE 3-6: Looks familiar, doesn’t it? A new table awaits fields and field nam...
FIGURE 3-7: When you close the table, you will be prompted to save the table.
FIGURE 3-8: Each table has its own button, emblazoned with the name you gave th...
FIGURE 3-9: Choose Delete to get rid of the unwanted table.

Chapter 4

FIGURE 4-1: Tables, fields, data types, and sizes.
FIGURE 4-2: The sadly abnormal Events table.
FIGURE 4-3: Getting Burrell’s events with abnormal table design.
FIGURE 4-4: Burrell’s events with abnormal table design.
FIGURE 4-5: Getting Burrell’s events with normalized table design.
FIGURE 4-6: Burrell’s events with normalized table design.
FIGURE 4-7: The birth of a new table.
FIGURE 4-8: Fields entered in Table Design view.
FIGURE 4-9: Choosing a data type and field size.

Chapter 5

FIGURE 5-1: The completed primary key.
FIGURE 5-2: The Relationships button on the Database Tools tab.
FIGURE 5-3: Use the Add Tables pane to add tables to the Relationships window.
FIGURE 5-4: The Edit Relationships dialog box details how Access connects two t...
FIGURE 5-5: A one-to-many relationship between two tables.
FIGURE 5-6: The Indexes window with the Indexes button above it on the Ribbon.

Chapter 6

FIGURE 6-1: The Access workspace makes opening a database easy.
FIGURE 6-2: Use the Open view to choose from recently used databases or pursue ...
FIGURE 6-3: Open your database through the This PC option.
FIGURE 6-4: The database file opens, and its objects are listed on the left.
FIGURE 6-5: A new record awaits its data.
FIGURE 6-6: Right there in the table is a new field, awaiting creation.
FIGURE 6-7: Not sure what field type to choose? Short Text is a good choice, be...
FIGURE 6-8: Name that new field, and make it feel at home in your table.
FIGURE 6-9: Drag-and-drop your field to reposition it among the other fields in...
FIGURE 6-10: The Data Type drop-down menu gives you formatting options.
FIGURE 6-11: Bid your field a fond adieu with just two clicks of the mouse.
FIGURE 6-12: A selected field name is ripe for editing.
FIGURE 6-13: Rename your field in the Enter Field Properties dialog box.
FIGURE 6-14: To rename a table, you have to be able to see its name listed in t...

Chapter 7

FIGURE 7-1: You can see and edit a table’s structure, including its field prope...
FIGURE 7-2: Working on the EventDate field.
FIGURE 7-3: The number format list.
FIGURE 7-4: The ever-popular date/time format list.
FIGURE 7-5: Not much to talk about with Yes/No formatting.
FIGURE 7-6: The Input Mask Wizard for a date/time field.
FIGURE 7-7: The Input Mask Wizard completes its maskterpiece!
FIGURE 7-8: Manually adding a capitalization mask.
FIGURE 7-9: I have violated the input mask.
FIGURE 7-10: The Required property is set to Yes.
FIGURE 7-11: The Default Value property set to return the current date with the...

Chapter 8

FIGURE 8-1: The Create tab of the Ribbon holds the Forms buttons.
FIGURE 8-2: Form based on the Volunteers table using the Split Form button.
FIGURE 8-3: Select the data source and fields you want to see on the form.
FIGURE 8-4: Lookin’ good. A form created by the Form Wizard.
FIGURE 8-5: The Themes group on the Ribbon.
FIGURE 8-6: The Controls group on the Ribbon.
FIGURE 8-7: If the wizards aren’t coming out to play, turn them on!
FIGURE 8-8: A selected control on the Customers form.
FIGURE 8-9: Navigation 101.
FIGURE 8-10: Record selectors and the ever-popular Records group on the Home Ri...

Chapter 9

FIGURE 9-1: Make sure that you choose the correct button for your file format.
FIGURE 9-2: The Get External Data – Excel Spreadsheet dialog box.
FIGURE 9-3: Saving the Volunteers import steps.
FIGURE 9-4: The Saved Imports tab of the Manage Data Tasks dialog box.
FIGURE 9-5: The Export button group.
FIGURE 9-6: The Export – Excel Spreadsheet dialog box completed.
FIGURE 9-7: The exported Volunteers table in Excel, ready for anything.
FIGURE 9-8: Exporting the Events by Type report to PDF.

Chapter 10

FIGURE 10-1: Copy that table for safekeeping.
FIGURE 10-2: Choose Paste to make a back-up version of the table.
FIGURE 10-3: The Paste Table As dialog box.
FIGURE 10-4: The Find and Replace dialog box.
FIGURE 10-5: The Query Wizard is here to help you.
FIGURE 10-6: The Find Duplicates Query Wizard takes you through duplicate-findi...
FIGURE 10-7: Pick the fields that might have unwanted duplicate entries.
FIGURE 10-8: Pick the fields that will help you choose which duplicates to keep...
FIGURE 10-9: Name your query and finish it so you can see your duplicates onscr...
FIGURE 10-10: All these records have duplicate entries in one or more fields.

Chapter 11

FIGURE 11-1: The Web Browser Control tool.
FIGURE 11-2: The Insert Hyperlink dialog box in front of the web browser contro...
FIGURE 11-3: Connecting the web browser control to a table field.
FIGURE 11-4: Wow! Form displaying a website using the web browser control.
FIGURE 11-5: In Design view, choose Hyperlink from the list of data types.
FIGURE 11-6: Right-click a stored hyperlink within the table and access tools f...
FIGURE 11-7: The Edit Hyperlink dialog box.
FIGURE 11-8: Choose to export your table as an HTML document.
FIGURE 11-9: The Export – HTML Document dialog box allows you to name your web ...
FIGURE 11-10: Choose an HTML template or click OK to accept the defaults.
FIGURE 11-11: Congratulations! You’ve just created an HTML document!

Chapter 12

FIGURE 12-1: The Find and Replace dialog box.
FIGURE 12-2: To search the entire table, change Look In.
FIGURE 12-3: Using the Match option.
FIGURE 12-4: Filtering a single field based on that field’s entries.
FIGURE 12-5: Access shows only those records matching the Filter by Selection c...
FIGURE 12-6: Filter by Form offers a grid and drop-down lists to set criteria f...
FIGURE 12-7: The drop-down list shows all unique values in a field.
FIGURE 12-8: Click the Or tab to further define the criteria.
FIGURE 12-9: Access finds all the Active volunteers who live in Landisville.
FIGURE 12-10: With one click, Access hides all volunteers whose City field valu...

Chapter 13

FIGURE 13-1: Query Design View window allows you to choose the field(s) on whic...
FIGURE 13-2: Click the Advanced button to choose Advanced Filter/Sort.
FIGURE 13-3: Two fields are queried in this example — Status and StartDate.
FIGURE 13-4: Voilà! Your filtered data appears; no abracadabra needed.
FIGURE 13-5: The Simple Query Wizard starts and asks which table(s) you want to...
FIGURE 13-6: The Tables/Queries drop-down list.
FIGURE 13-7: The Query Wizard may give you the chance to summarize your data.
FIGURE 13-8: Access offers different ways of summarizing the data.
FIGURE 13-9: The results of a query built with the Query Wizard.
FIGURE 13-10: A query that will allow you to see only Fundraising Events (and t...
FIGURE 13-11: The Volunteers, Events, and EventVolunteers tables are added to t...
FIGURE 13-12: Access knows how the Volunteers, EventVolunteers, and Events tabl...
FIGURE 13-13: See the resulting events in Ascending date order.
FIGURE 13-14: With the criteria set for the EventType field, only events of tha...
FIGURE 13-15: Click the big red exclamation point that says “Run” underneath it...

Chapter 14

FIGURE 14-1: Find data that falls within a range of dates by using AND.
FIGURE 14-2: The BETWEEN operator is the ultimate range finder.
FIGURE 14-3: Multiple criteria whittle down the resulting data to just those re...
FIGURE 14-4: OR allows more (yet very specific) records to meet your criteria.
FIGURE 14-5: You can use the OR operator to set criteria for data from differen...
FIGURE 14-6: Any criteria placed on separate lines are seen as OR statements.

Chapter 15

FIGURE 15-1: The Total row appears between the Table and the Sort rows.
FIGURE 15-2: This query counts the donations for every combination of data in t...
FIGURE 15-3: Make Access sort your results the way you want with a quick click ...
FIGURE 15-4: Put the Sum instruction in a numeric field so it has something to ...
FIGURE 15-5: Use Count on a single field to easily count the records in a table...
FIGURE 15-6: This query counts the number of volunteers in each state.
FIGURE 15-7: The StateCount column heading is added to the count of the State f...
FIGURE 15-8: The Where instruction limits records in the results to Lancaster o...
FIGURE 15-9: Setting the Top Values property to 10.
FIGURE 15-10: The Zip and VolunteerID fields counted.

Chapter 16

FIGURE 16-1: The AmountOwed calculation.
FIGURE 16-2: The results of the amount owed calculation in Datasheet view.
FIGURE 16-3: The AmountOwed Calculated column is referred to in the NextDonatio...
FIGURE 16-4: The results of the AmountOwed and NextDonation columns.
FIGURE 16-5: The next donation percentage parameter in the NextDonation Calcula...
FIGURE 16-6: Access asks for a next donation percentage.
FIGURE 16-7: Turning two names into a single Calculated field.
FIGURE 16-8: First and last names are combined to the single field, FullName.
FIGURE 16-9: The Builder button launches Expression Builder.
FIGURE 16-10: Expression Builder to the rescue?
FIGURE 16-11: The Donation Report form with the Volunteer combo box.
FIGURE 16-12: Expression Builder is used to select the Volunteer combo box from...
FIGURE 16-13: The expression as it appears in the Criteria row of the Donor Tot...

Chapter 17

FIGURE 17-1: Click the Query Design button on the Ribbon.
FIGURE 17-2: The Volunteers table added to the query.
FIGURE 17-3: The Status and State fields are added to the query.
FIGURE 17-4: Select the Update button on the Ribbon, and the Update To row appe...
FIGURE 17-5: This query will update the Status field to Active for volunteers f...
FIGURE 17-6: Click Yes to update your data.
FIGURE 17-7: The Status field before running the Update query.
FIGURE 17-8: The Status field after running the Update query.
FIGURE 17-9: Fields from the source table to be added to the destination table.
FIGURE 17-10: Say hello to the Append dialog box.
FIGURE 17-11: This query appends all records that equal “Prospective” in the St...
FIGURE 17-12: The Delete query in Design view.
FIGURE 17-13: This query deletes all records where status is Inactive.

Chapter 18

FIGURE 18-1: You can find the Report button on the Create tab.
FIGURE 18-2: Save your report to make it a permanent part of the database.
FIGURE 18-3: Change your report layout with a quick click of the Stacked or Tab...
FIGURE 18-4: Rearranging the original quick Volunteers report is easy — just dr...
FIGURE 18-5: Click and drag to widen or narrow your report’s columns, one at a ...
FIGURE 18-6: The Report Wizard starts by offering you tables and the fields wit...
FIGURE 18-7: Add fields by double-clicking them or by using the buttons between...
FIGURE 18-8: Your list of volunteers will be grouped by their Status field valu...
FIGURE 18-9: Sort by the most important field in the table, or the one that wil...
FIGURE 18-10: Choose your report’s layout in terms of field structure and orien...
FIGURE 18-11: Name your report, or accept the table-name-based moniker that Acc...
FIGURE 18-12: Even a simple report with few fields can look important.
FIGURE 18-13: When you view the whole page, the report is too tiny to read, yet...
FIGURE 18-14: Preview up to 12 pages of your report at a time.
FIGURE 18-15: Choose the view you want to use or how many pages you want to see...
FIGURE 18-16: Adjusting margins to specify how much white space surrounds your ...
FIGURE 18-17: Use the Page tab to choose a printer, page size, and more.
FIGURE 18-18: The Column Layout area of the Columns tab enables you to format a...

Chapter 19

FIGURE 19-1: Design view is best for adding new design elements to your report.
FIGURE 19-2: Layout view is best for modifying existing report elements.
FIGURE 19-3: Common report sections.
FIGURE 19-4: The Page Break control selected.
FIGURE 19-5: The Format tab on the Ribbon.
FIGURE 19-6: The report title is selected.
FIGURE 19-7: Use the Select All box with the four-headed arrow to move a group ...
FIGURE 19-8: Two-headed mouse arrow at the edge of the DonationYear label contr...
FIGURE 19-9: The Position group in the Ribbon’s Arrange tab.
FIGURE 19-10: The gallery of Shape Outline colors.
FIGURE 19-11: The seven Line Thickness options.
FIGURE 19-12: The eight Line Type options.
FIGURE 19-13: The three alignment buttons.
FIGURE 19-14: A report in Print Preview.
FIGURE 19-15: Choose the look you like and apply it to the entire report.
FIGURE 19-16: The Insert Picture dialog box with a logo file selected.

Chapter 20

FIGURE 20-1: In a Columnar report, labels appear to the left of the fields and ...
FIGURE 20-2: In a Tabular report, labels become column headings.
FIGURE 20-3: Grouping volunteer records by Status.
FIGURE 20-4: The Group, Sort, and Total panel.
FIGURE 20-5: Choose a new field by which to group or sort your records.
FIGURE 20-6: Choose the field you want to use for further grouping of your reco...
FIGURE 20-7: Double-click any piece of the report to see that item’s properties...
FIGURE 20-8: The Format tab’s Properties list varies depending on which report ...
FIGURE 20-9: Find out more about a property (Text Align is shown here) by using...
FIGURE 20-10: Use the Property Sheet drop-down list to display PageHeaderSectio...
FIGURE 20-11: Choose a section of your report to adjust by double-clicking the ...
FIGURE 20-12: The Status field has been promoted within the report to Page Head...
FIGURE 20-13: Dragging labels is easy in Layout view.
FIGURE 20-14: Control your report’s page numbers.
FIGURE 20-15: Choose dates and times here.
FIGURE 20-16: Your organization’s logo is a great addition to the report header...

Chapter 21

FIGURE 21-1: The Label Wizard is prepared to make label magic!
FIGURE 21-2: Choose font, size, weight, and text color for your labels.
FIGURE 21-3: Choose fields from the Available Fields box.
FIGURE 21-4: Space your fields, place them on separate lines, and include comma...
FIGURE 21-5: Choose the field(s) you want to use to sort your labels.
FIGURE 21-6: Name your Labels report.
FIGURE 21-7: You can print your labels now and save them for later.

Introduction

Welcome! Thank you for selecting this book. We assume you’ve done so because you’re hoping it will explain how to use Microsoft Access, and of course, as the authors, we believe this was a wise decision. We, the authors, base this belief on the fact that both of us have been teaching and using Access for a very long time, and we know how to share what we know with our students.

So what was it that made you seek out a book on Access? It might be that you’ve been asked to use it at work, or perhaps you run your own business or are managing a nonprofit organization. If any of these is the case — or if you’re just a regular human with a lot of personal contacts and irons in the fire, you need Access to organize your data. You need it so you can find a name or a transaction in seconds after a few keystrokes, not after minutes spent scanning your spreadsheets or swiping apps this way and that on your smartphone. You need it so you can produce reports that make you look like the genius you are. You need it so you can create cool forms that will help your staff enter all the data you’ve got stacked on their desks — and in a way that lets you know the data was entered properly so that it’s accurate and useful. You need Access so you can find little bits of data out of the huge pool of information you need to store. So that’s it. You just need it.

About This Book

With all the power that Access has (and that it therefore gives you), there comes a small price: complexity. Access isn’t one of those applications where you can just sit down and use “right out of the box.” It’s not scarily difficult or anything, but there’s a lot going on — and you need some guidance, some help, and some direction to really use it and make it bend to your will. And that’s where this book — a “reference for the rest of us” — comes in.

So you’ve picked up this book. Hang on to it. Clutch it to your chest and run gleefully from the store or click the Add to Shopping Cart button and sit back with an expression of satisfaction and accomplishment on your face, because you’ve done a smart thing (if we don’t say so ourselves). When you get home, or when the book arrives in person (or when you download it to your handheld device), start reading — whether you begin with Chapter 1 or whether you dive in and start with a particular feature or area of interest that’s been giving you fits. Just read, and then go put Access to work for you.

Foolish Assumptions

You need to know only a few things about your computer and Windows to get the most out of Access For Dummies. In the following pages, we presume that you:

Know the basics of Windows 10 — how to open programs, save your files, create folders, find your files after you’ve saved them, print, and do basic stuff like that.
Have some goals that Access will help you reach. You
- want to build your own databases
  
  and/or
- want to work with databases that other people have created
Want to use and create queries, reports, and an occasional form
Have Windows 10

If your computer uses a version of Windows prior to Windows 10, you can’t run recent versions of Access.

Icons Used in This Book

When something in this book is particularly valuable, we go out of our way to make sure that it stands out. We use these cool icons to mark text that (for one reason or another) really needs your attention. Here’s a quick preview of the ones waiting for you in this book and what they mean.

Tips are incredibly helpful words of wisdom that promise to save you time, energy, and the embarrassment of being caught swearing out loud while you think you’re alone. Whenever you see a Tip, take a second to check it out.

Some things are too important to forget, so the Remember icon points them out. These items are critical steps in a process — points that you don’t want to miss.

Sometimes we give in to the techno-geek lurking inside us and slip some technical babble into the book. The Technical Stuff icon protects you from obscure details by making them easy to avoid. On the other hand, you may find them interesting. (Your inner techno-geek will rejoice.)

The Warning icon says it all: Skipping this information may be hazardous to your data’s health. Pay attention to these icons and follow their instructions to keep your databases happy and intact.

In addition to the content in this book, you’ll find some extra content available by visiting www.dummies.com and typing Access into the search box, including

The Cheat Sheet for this book
Updates to this book, if any

Where to Go from Here

Now nothing’s left to hold you back from the thrills, chills, and power of Access. Not sure where to start? See if you spot yourself in these scenarios:

If you’re brand new to the program and don’t know which way to turn, start with the general overview in Chapter 1.
If you’re about to design a database, we salute you — and recommend flipping through Chapter 4 for some helpful design and development tips.
Looking for something specific? Try the Table of Contents or the index.

Part 1

Basic Training

IN THIS PART …

Discover what Access is and does and what’s new in the current version of Access.

Learn about the objects that make up an effective database, and get started building your first table.

Master database lingo so you can speak the language and understand the terminology.