This course is designed for people who need to know how to use Microsoft Access.   This course assumes no prior knowledge of Microsoft Access however a general understanding of personal computers and the Windows operating system is required.
 
To gain the most from the experience students are encouraged have a project in mind, to commence upon completion of the course, or are currently using an Access database and need to become more ‘hands on’.

The skills and knowledge covered in this course are sufficient for creating the tables, queries, forms and reports required for use in a relational database system. Emphasis is also placed on good design practices and database design theory.

At the completion of the formal sessions a workshop is conducted and a database built from the ground up.  Students will be encouraged to use their own database model / ideas during this session.

* Start and exit Access and understand the role of each    of the seven component parts of Access work.
* Be able to apply elementary database theory to    effectively design and create a single user database    system.
* Create effective tables, including
    - Correctly defined data types
    - Application of business logic (data validation)
    - Establish formal relationships between tables
* Manage entry into tables, including
    - Adding data to relational tables
    - Import & Export Data from/to external sources       (Excel, Text etc)
* Design Queries to extract meaningful data from the    database tables
* Understand the role of form and be able to
    - Design a form using the Form Design Wizard
    - Modify a form manually using the form design       toolsets
    - Understand the role of the different form types
* Understand the role of Access tables and be able to
    - Design a form using the Report Design Wizard
    - Make adjustment to reports using the report
      design toolsets
* Create a switchboard manager using standard
   access forms
* Control the way that Access behaves upon startup,    and in doing so create a small ‘database application’    as opposed to a simple Access File.

Unit 1: Access Orientation

Unit 2: Database Theory

* Why Access
* Excel vs Access
* Avoiding Data Redundancy
* Data Flow within Access

Unit 3: Database Design

* Designing an efficient database model - normalisation
* Prepare a Spreadsheet for import into Access -    Create tables to replicate this
* Naming conventions – and why they are so important

Unit 4: Building Tables

* Create Tables
* Lookup Wizards
* Properties that are set
* Data Type and Field Size Enforcement
* Setting Default Values
* Primary Key versus Foreign Key
     - What makes a good Primary Key
     - How to implement
     - Entering, Amending & Deleting Data

Unit 5: Working With External Data

* Importing/Exporting Data from
     - Excel
     - Text Files

Unit 6: Setting Up Table Relationships

* Setting Referential Integrity
* Adding & Deleting Relational Records
* Entering Data Manually
     - via Tables
     - via Forms (advantages of a form)

Unit 7: A Quick Look At The Forms

* Creating an AutoForm
* Using the Form Wizard
* Setting Basic Form Properties

Unit 8: Introducing Access Select Queries

* Relational Queries - How They Work
* Viewing Data
* Creating A Query Design
* Using the Query Grid
* Different Views Of A Query
* Adding More Tables To A Query
* Modifying Fields In A Query
* Creating AND & OR Queries
* Selecting for Opposites
* Using Range Expressions
* Selecting for Specific Data Types (Numeric, Dates,    Text, Yes/No)
* Using Wildcards
* Running A Query From The Database Window
* Problem Queries - Cartesian Datasets

Unit 9: Creating And Using Parameter Queries

* What is a Parameter?
* Creating a Parameter Query
* Display a Range of Records
* Nominating Data Types
* Creating More Flexible Queries – the ‘Like’ Keyword

Unit 10: Using Calculated Fields In Queries

* String Concatenation
* Renaming an Output Field
* Creating Calculated Fields
* Formatting Calculated Fields
* Calculating with Dates

Unit 11: Creating Combo Boxes

* Via the Wizard
* Creating Manually
     - On a table
     - On a form
* Setting properties
     - Hiding/Showing Fields
     - Field Widths
     - Stored Column

Unit 12: Forms Design - Beyond The Wizard

* Setting Properties
     - Removing Dividing Lines
     - Min/Max/Close Buttons
     - Modal State
     - Scroll Bars
     - Border Styles etc
     - Controlling the Tab Order
* Form Heading Versus Page Heading
* Form Types
     - Single
     - Continuous
     - Datasheet
     - Sub Forms
     - Popup
* Designing With Sub Forms

Unit 13: Enhanced Form Design

* Modifying Data Sources
     - Adding New Fields
     - Opening a form based on records in another
* Resizing and Aligning Controls
     - Shift and Ctrl
     - Lasso
* Option Group Wizard
* Adding Images
* Tab Controls
* Adding Buttons to Forms

Unit 14: Creating Simple Access Reports

* Defining the dataset.
* Creating Reports Using the Wizard
* The Report Design View
* Report Sections
     - Report Header/Footer
     - Page Header/Footer
     - Detail
* Editing Controls
* Adding Controls

Unit 15: Modifying Access Reports

* Grouping & Sorting
     - Showing Heading/Footer
     - Keep Together
* Calculations
     - IIF
     - Adding Subtotals
* Grouping & Formatting Techniques
* Using Expressions in Reports

Unit 16: Designing A Navigation System

* User Interface Design Overview
* Creating a Main Menu Form
* Adding Command Buttons for:
* Navigation
     - Delete
     - Duplicating Records
     - Printing
     - Closing
     - Saving & Quitting

Unit 17: Controlling Access at Startup

* Introducing Access Startup Options
* Setting an Application Icon & Title
* Hiding Access Components
* Apply a Database Password

Unit 18: WORKSHOP