Microsoft Access 2007 Introduction Access is the database management system in Microsoft Office. A database is an organized collection of facts about a particular subject. Examples of databases are an address book, a library s card catalog, and CIMS student management system. An Access database is the electronic equivalent of a manual database. It lets you organize the facts and provides a way for you to maintain the data electronically. A database management system provides functions to store, search, filter, query, and report on the data in a database. Modern database management systems provide database objects that are tools you need to store, maintain, search, analyze, and report on the data in your database. Access data is stored in a table. Therefore it is very important before creating the table, to think carefully about all the information that will be needed. Make a written list of all data to be collected. Starting Access in 07 Click the Microsoft Office Button with the Vista flag logo Start Button, All Programs, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Access 2007. Office Button Introduction to Access: Things to Remember When Access opens, the appearance of the screen will be very different. Once you get used to the new 2007 features, we think you ll find it much easier to use as you create and edit your databases. There are several features that you should remember as you work within Access2007: the Microsoft Office Button, the Quick Access Toolbar, the Ribbon and Tab Bar, and Navigation Pane. Microsoft Office Button This button performs many of the functions that were located in the File menu in previous versions. This button allows you to create a new presentation, open an existing presentation, save and save as, print, send, or close. Quick Access Toolbar The quick access toolbar is a customizable toolbar that contains commands that you may want to use. You can place the quick access toolbar above or below the ribbon. To change the location of the quick access toolbar, click on the error at the end of the toolbar and click Show Below the Ribbon. You can also add items to the quick access toolbar, simply right click on any item in the Office Button or the Ribbon. Click Add to Quick Access Toolbar and a shortcut will be added. Quick Access Toolbar Tab Bar and Ribbon The tab bar is the panel at the top portion of the screen which contains tabs that display tools and commands in the ribbon. It has five tabs: Home, Create, External Data, Database tools, and Datasheet. Each tab is divided into groups.
Tabs Ribbons Groups Access 2007 Intro To view features in each tab, click the tab. Below is the list of groups within each tab. Home: Views, Clipboard, Font, Rich Text, Records, Sort & Filter, Find Create: Tables, Forms, Reports, Other External Data: Import, Export, Collect Data, Share Point Lists Animations: Preview, Animations, Transition to this Slide Database Tools: Macro, Show/Hide, Analyze, Move Data, Database Tools Datasheet: View, Fields & Columns, Data Type & Formatting, Relationships To view additional features within each group, click the dialog box launcher (arrow) at the bottom right corner of each group. Dialog box Navigation Pane Menu Shutter Bar Open/Close Button Navigation Pane The navigation pane displays database objects such as tables, forms, queries, and reports. The pane replaces the Database window which allows you to work with all objects in the database. Group Bar Navigation Pane Menu: allows you to change the objects displayed in the pane Group Bar: displays database objects Shutter Open/Close: allows you to hide the navigation pane Expand/Collapse Button: allows you to show/hide a group. Expand/ Collapse Button pg. 2
Database Terminology Table: A database table is very similar to a spreadsheet in that information is stored in rows and columns. Each row in a table is referred to as a record. Records are where the individual pieces of information are stored. Each record consists of one or more fields. Fields correspond to the columns in the table. Columns contain the same type of information for each item. The table has a header row that tells you what data is contained in the columns. Query: select records from one or more tables in a database so they can be viewed, analyzed, and sorted on a common datasheet. Sometimes you don't want to see all the records at once, so queries let you add criteria to "filter" the data to just the records you want. Queries often serve as the record source for forms and reports. They help find, filter and retrieve data. Recordset: a table that displays groups of records from a base table or as a query result. Forms: for viewing, adding and updating data. They can be developed from a table or a query and can include calculations, graphics, and objects. pg. 3
Report: an output of data in the order you specified. It can perform calculations and display results. Reports can also print data. Launching the Program Open Access by going to the Start button, All Programs, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Access. Access opens, displaying the getting started screen, giving you several options. If you have already created a database, under Open Recent Database, click on the database file listed or click More to browse for the desired file. We want to begin a new database, so click Blank database button. Blank Database Creating a Database File When you choose Blank Database, the first thing the program does is open File NewDatabase window forcing you to create a file name and location where you will save the new database. For training purposes: Name the file Student Click the folder and choose save to Desktop Once that is complete click Create. The Database Window opens, ready for you to begin crating your new database. Name the file Click the folder to select the desired location to save this file Click Create pg. 4
There are two ways to view a table in Access to add data: Design View and Datasheet View. In Design View you can only view the data types and descriptions, the records are not viewable. Design View Datasheet View: you can display the records in a table where one record is a row. The columns are the fields you have defined for that table. Datasheet View Adding New Fields New fields can be added in either view, design or datasheet. To add a new field in datasheet view: Click on the column Add New Field, double click to rename the columns. Name it Homeroom. Repeat for the next few columns and name them: Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial and Parents Name (Tip: to move from one column to the next, press the tab key) pg. 5
To add a new field by using the New Field Button in datasheet view: Click the datasheet tab on the ribbon Click the New Field button Choose the column that you want the field to appear, select the field(s) that you want and drag it to the column or double click to add from the Field Templates window, Contact Category: Address, City, State, Zip Code, and Home Phone. (Close the field templates box when done) Field Templates To add a new field in design view: Click the View button Choose Design View o Window appears to save table as: o Name it: Student Info o Click Ok Enter the heading for the new field by clicking on an empty field. All data types will be text. Use the down arrow to move to the next field. Enter these additional fields: Business Phone, Mobile Phone, Way Home, Grade pg. 6
Data Types There are different types of data that can be entered in a database. When fields are created in database view, the data type defaults to text. To change the data type, you can do it in either view. Text Text, number, or a combination up to 255 characters Memo Similar to the text field, can contain text, numbers, or a combination up to 2 GB of data. Number Numbers up to 16 bytes of data Date/Time Date and Time information Currency Currency up to 8 bytes and precise to 4 decimal places AutoNumber Access creates a unique number for each new record. This is often the primary key for the table Yes/No Yes and No, stored as -1 for yes and 0 for no OLE Object Images, documents, graphs up to 2 GB Hyperlink Web addresses Attachment Attachments such as images, spreadsheets, documents, and charts. To edit data type in Design View: Click the field name you wish to define Use the drop down arrow Select the appropriate data type Format the fields in the fields properties box On the Home Phone Number field, change the date type to Number To switch view & close the design view: o Click the drop down arrow on View o Select Datasheet view o will ask you do you want to save it, click yes o if prompted about data loss: click yes to continue To edit data type in Database View: Switch to database view Click the Datasheet tab on the ribbon Click the column of the field you wish to change: Mobile Phone Number Click the drop down arrow next to data type (datasheet tab, formatting group) Choose the appropriate data type: Number Field Properties Box pg. 7
Add Records to a Table: (You must be in datasheet view) Click the new cell and type information (you can use the tab button to move from field to field) Enter 4 students with the information below: (Homeroom: Douet, Grade: 1st) When entering data, Access automatically assigns each record in a table a Primary key. The primary key is a numbering field that stores a unique number for each record as it is entered into a database. Do not worry about entering any information in the Id column. o o Wednesday G. Adams Gomez & Morticia 0001 Cemetery Lane Spookyville, LA 70502 337 300 5200, 337 333 5689, 337 567 8965 walker Marcia C. Brady Mike & Carol 222 Clinton Way Hippy, LA. 70502 337 456 7523, 337 654 7459, 337 985 7456 bus o o BamBam W. Flinstone Fred & Wilma 123 Stone Rd. Bedrock, LA. 70502 337 123 4567, 337 236 5874, 337 412 8965 car Judy B. Jetson George & Jane 456 Orbit Lane Outerspace, LA. 70502 337 895 5982, 337 365 1254, 337 745 6542 jet Find and Replace To find data: o The table must be selected/highlighted rather than a cell. In order to select the entire table, click the top left corner of the table (looks like a piece of paper folded down) this will select all records. o Click the Find button on the home tab. o A dialog box appears, type what you are looking for (ex. Douet) To replace data: o The table must be selected/ highlighted o Click the replace button on the home tab. o A dialog box appears, type what you want to find and what you want to replace it with (ex. Douet with Smith) o Click Replace or Replace All (if you choose replace all, if cannot be undone. Also, will prompt and ask you if you want to continue. pg. 8
Primary Key The primary key is the unique identifier for each record. No two records can have the same primary key. The field cannot be left blank. The best option is to leave with the default of AutoNumber Primary Key in Design View Primary Key in Datasheet View Right Click Add a Description to a Table To add a description to a table Right click on a table and choose Table Properties On the pop up window, click the Description text box Type the description o This table is created to record information about each student in my 2008 2009 class. o Click OK Enter description here Delete a Table To delete a table: Right click on the table and choose delete Right Click pg. 9
Rename a Table To rename a table: Right click on the table and choose rename Right Click Rearrange Columns To move a column in a table: Select the column that you need to move Do one of the following: o In Datasheet view, drag the selected columns horizontally to the new position (A thick black line will show where the column will be located) o In Design view, drag the selected columns vertically to the new position Sort Records You can sort records by a single column or by two adjacent columns. Sorting columns is only temporary unless you save the table or form. To sort by one column: Highlight the column/field you wish to sort: way home Choose the Sort ascending or Sort descending button Click on the field Sort Ascending To sort two columns: Move the columns so they are adjacent to each other Select the columns that you want to sort, by holding the shift key and clicking the columns Choose the Sort ascending or Sort descending button To clear the sort Click the Clear All Sorts button Clear All Sorts pg. 10
Filter Records There are times when the most efficient way to gather information from a datasheet or form is to isolate (filter out). You can filter records to include only the records that you want to display. To filter by columns: Open the table in datasheet view Click the drop down arrow on the appropriate column (way home) Uncheck the filters you do not want to include (jet, bus) Click ok To remove a filter: Click the filter button next to the field label Click Clear Filter Click Ok Queries Creating queries is one of the most important and frequently performed database tasks. Before creating a query, it is important to understand some fundamental query concepts. Queries enable the user to view, select, change, and analyze data in a variety of different ways. Queries can also be used as the source of data for forms and reports. Queries enable users to ask questions about the data in tables. Queries can be saved and utilized as often as you need them. Using a Query Wizard to Create a Query A Query Wizard prompts the user for information and then creates a query based on the answers given. To create a query using the wizard, follow these steps: Click Create tab Click the Query Wizard button Choose the query type you wish to run (Simple Query Wizard) Click Ok pg. 11
Choose the fields that you wish to include from the table o Double click the field or o Select the field and click the single arrow o Choose the fields: Parent s Name, Address, Zip Code, State To select fields from other tables, click the tables/queries drop down arrow Click Next Determine if you want a detailed query or a summary query Click Next Type in the title of the query (Parent s Address List) You can choose to view the information or modify the design Click Finish Title of Query pg. 12
To switch between tables and queries: Open the Navigation Pane Double click the name of the table or query you wish to view Forms There are three ways to view a form: Design View: Allows you to design a form that includes a header, a footer, and details in the form. You can also add images and control which fields appear on the form. Form View: Allows the user to enter and edit data or navigate through data in a field. Layout View: Allows you to design the form and manipulate data Create a Form You can create a form from a table or a query. Click the Create tab Click the Form Design button Click the Add Existing Fields In the Field List box on the right, click and drag the fields you would like on the form (First Name, Last Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code) Arrange the fields how you want them to be displayed, they overlap to begin with (click the brown square at the top of the field to move it) To Preview the Form: o Click the View button on the form tab o Click the Form View o Use the arrows at the bottom to scroll through the different records. pg. 13
Form Wizard To create a form using the wizard: Click Create tab Click More Forms drop down arrow Click Form Wizard Choose the Table/Querries that will be used in the form Select the fields that you need on the form by choosing the field and clicking the arrow that points to the right (to Remove, select the field and click the arrow to the left) o For class purposes, select: First Name, Last Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code Choose the layout that want (choose Columnar) Click Next Choose a style (choose Office) Click Next pg. 14
Enter the title (Student Addresses) Choose whether you want to view the form or modify the form Click Finish Create a Report To create a blank report: Click the Create Tab Click Blank Report button Click the Add Existing Fields button From the Field List, click and drag the fields to the report o (drag first name, last name, home phone number) Click back to the original table pg. 15
Report Wizard To create using the report wizard Click the Create tab Click the Report Wizard button Choose which Table/Querries you wish to have on the form Choose the fields you want in your report (First Name, Last Name, Way Home) Click Next Choose the grouping levels you need (Way Home) Click Next pg. 16
Choose the sort order for your report (First Name, Last Name) Choose the layout for your report (Stepped) Click Next Choose the style you want Click Next Create a title for the report (Way Home Report) Choose if you want to view the report or modify the form Click Finish pg. 17
Printing a Report To print a report Choose the report you wish to print Right click on the report name Click Print Preview Choose the appropriate layout, margins, and paper size Click Print Click OK Close Print Preview To Print Labels Click Create tab Click Labels Choose the size label you need Click Next pg. 18
Choose the font size, font name, font color, and font weight Click Next Choose the fields you want added to the labels. Press Enter to move to the next line and remember to add a space between your fields (First Name, Last Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code) Click Next Determine how you want the labels sorted (Last Name) Click Next Name the labels (Student Address Labels) Determine if you want to see the labels the way they will look printed or modify the design pg. 19
Click Finish Importing to Excel Must have Access database open If you want to import the data into a new database, need to create a blank database (that does not contain any tables, forms, or reports) before importing Determine the location of the Excel spreadsheet that you are importing Steps in Access: o Click External Data tab o Click Excel o Pop-up window appears o Click Browse to find the location of Excel Spreadsheet o Click OK o Pop-up window appears, review data, click Next o Determine if you want Excel headings to be field names in database, if so, check the box. o Click Ok, then click Next o Click Next if the Field names meet your needs; if not change each field name by selecting the column heading needing changes and type the field name you wish to use o Click Next for Access to add primary keys. o Name your sheet Sheet 1 o Click Finish o Check the box to Save Import Steps o Name your file in the Save As box and add a description o Click Save Import To open database o Look at Navigation Menu o Locate Sheet 1 o Double click to open and view pg. 20
When saving ANY Office 2007 file, please make sure to save it as a 97 2003 file. Saving in this format will allow the file to be viewed regardless of the version of Office being utilized. Help in Access To get detailed help on how to perform a task, click the help button in the upper right hand corner. To narrow your search, you can use the Table of Contents, Browse PowerPoint Help, or type in a search term. Some of the help Type in term items are built into Microsoft PowerPoint and other items access Microsoft Office Help Online. This handout was created by Lafayette Parish School System Technology Department. Information was gathered from the following sources: Florida Gulf Coast University: (2007). Access 2007 Tutorial Homepage. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from Florida Gulf Coast University Web site: http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2007/access/index.asp Print Table of Contents Browse help pg. 21