Access

Databases: Microsoft Access

ICDL Module 5
Using Databases: Microsoft Access


Quizzes: test your knowledge!	Lessons: learn online!	Reference: find out what computer terms mean	Links: Other sites

	There is not as much stuff out there for Access as there is for Word or Excel, because not so many people use Access. Many of the sites are too difficult or too technical, and most go far beyond what you need to know about Access for ICDL. So stay cool, don't panic, and try some of the quizzes and tutorials below. Quizzes Easy / Medium Easy Very nice McGraw Hill quiz on the Access Toolbar. Click on the correct icons. A very nice quiz from Nottingham Trent University. 19 questions in ICDL format (although just a little more difficult!) An easy quiz from McGrawHill Online Learning Center Easy to Medium quizzes from CustomGuide.com There are four or five easy-to-medium Access quizzes here from the publishers EMC Paradigm. They are in Word format, so you download them and the answer files. Excellent set of Access quizzes from Glencoe publishers. Medium A Medium to Difficult quiz from McGraw Hill. You can try other quizzes on the left of their screen. A quiz in Microsoft Word (right-click and select "Save target as.." to download) from University of Pittsburgh There is a medium-level online quiz here from the College of Eastern Utah, but it does not seem to grade your answers. Good for review, though An assignment for Access from Parkland College. For when you finish the course! Not graded.
	Tutorials: Online Lessons If you don't try any other tutorial, try this one from Florida Gulf University One of the best online Access tutorials - goes from simple to advanced, but is very practical. Lots of diagrams. From rd-robotics.com One of the simpler online tutorials for Access. From Bay City Schools, Michigan For teachers from Microsoft: download a Word file (837kb) that shows you to plan and develop a database to manage student information. Five-part online tutorial from Canterbury in the U. Choose Access from the drop-down menu A very detailed tutorial from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas. Looks a little frightening, but has good explanations and lots of diagrams. Medium to Difficult. An animated tutorial from Louisiana State. The animations are slow. An easy to medium level tutorial from the Land Grant Alliance An easy- to medium-level Access tutorial from Baruch College - City University of New York. The screen shots are for the Mac, but most things should be the same on the PC. A collection of Acrobat Reader (*.pdf) format files covering different exercises in Access. From Simon Fraser University, British Columbia. Right-click and select "Save Target as..." to download. Create a new table (Ralph Allen School, Bath, UK. Also, creating a query.
	Reference Something different, from a UK high school. A project, which moves from Excel to Access. Very clear steps, well worth a try. Ralph Allen School, Bath, UK.
	Links to Other Resources A nice collection of links to Access online resources from ITLearningMaterials.com. There are enough tutorials and Access links here to keep you busy for a long time. FindTutorials.com has an excellent collection of tutorials on topics in Access. Chalksoft.com has a downloadable ICDL set of sample ICDL questions for all modules. Scroll down to ICDL You have to enter your email. They sell ICDL preparation software. Download an AutoTest Demo from ElectricPaper. It has the exact format of the ICDL test with about six questions in each module. You can download the entire test (8 Mb - right-click and select "Save target as") or run the modules over the Internet.) Highly recommended
	Module 5: What you need to know! What is a database? Basic concepts Flat file database Relational database Why use Access? Introducing Access tools What are forms? What is a query? What are reports? Start Access The Access application window The Access database window Modify a record The table window Move a field using the mouse Modify the contents of a field Save a table Save a database Table design view Switch design view Switch datasheet view Display or hide a toolbar Add or delete an icon on the toolbar Design and document your database! Basic design rules Make each record unique Make each field unique Create a table with fields and attributes Creating a database Create a table using the table wizard Adding fields using the table wizard Select a sample table Add fields Rename a field using the table wizard Create a table without table wizard Add a field name Set the data type Adding a field description Adding more fields a new database table Saving the new table Tables Move a field using the mouse Move through the table using the keyboard Move from record record using the scroll bar and mouse Move a specific record using the edit menu Move a specific record using the keyboard Enter data in a table Add a record a table Setting a primary key Set one field as a primary key Set more than one field as a primary key Set up an index What is an index? Create an index Table design Modify table layout attributes Move a column(s) Change the width of a column Change the width of a group of adjacent columns Change a column the “best fit” Change a group of adjacent columns “best fit” Change the height of a row Hide/unhide columns Freeze a column or columns Unfreeze all the columns Apply cell effect formatting Display or hide gridlines Change the color of the table gridlines Choose flat, raised or sunken cell effects Change the background color of selected cells Change the font for a datasheet Modify field attributes Field size, Format Input mask, Caption Default value Validation, indexed, required, etc Updating a database Modify data in a table Modify the contents of a field Delete data in a table Delete a record Delete or replace the contents of a field Add, delete records Forms Create a simple form Create a form using the autoform wizard Creating a form using the form wizard Create a form using form wizard Enter data in the database using simple forms Enter data in a form Modify form layout Design view Form view Manipulating form design Select controls Save a form Change the size of a section/form Format text Format text in a control Change colors of controls and backgrounds Import an image or graphics file in a form Change arrangement of objects within form layout Move controls or labels, together or independently Resize and align controls Change spacing between controls Delete a control Duplicate controls and labels Queries Create a query with multiple criteria Creating a query without the wizard Using the query grid Save a query Open a query in design view Add and remove fields in queries Sort and filter records Create and modify reports