Access Seminar at DMA
James P. Dildine
Tracy Nickless
[Download PowerPoint]

What is a Database

      Databases

   Card Catalogue?

   Index Cards?

   Recipe Box?

   Recipe Book?

   CD Collection?

   The World Wide Web?

What is a Database

      ANY System for Data….

   Entry,

   Organization,

   Manipulation,

   Analysis

      Information or DATA !!! With specific needs and goals.

Why Would YOU
Want/Use a Database

      Personal Information

    Address Book

    Recipe/Video Collection

      Organizational Information

    Surveys

    Orders

    Enrollment

    Mailing/Billing Info

      Store, Find, Use, & Analyze Information

Terminology
(that I will be using)

      Tables (Main Feature of an Access Database) Components:

    Records (Each/Every Piece of Info)

    Fields (Info Collected for each record)

    Number, Text, Memo

      Forms (Wizard – Present/Enter Data Nicely)

      Reports (Wizard – Present Data Analysis Results)

      Queries (Find/Summarize/Calculate Specific Information)

Plan !
For a Database

      PURPOSE

   Why do you want a database?

   What type of information will you be collecting?

   How will it be organized and analyzed?

   What types of tables and fields will you need? (Reports and forms can be created later)

Key to a Successful Database
“Be Specific !”

Another Key to a Successful Database - Help

Create Your Database

      Remember to PLAN

      Start with a Blank Database

      Save it in a “good” location (like the desktop or a folder you can remember)

 

First a Table

      Click “Tables”

      Click “New”

      Start in “Design View”

      Create your fields (decide on type and specificity)

Then a Form – for Easy Data Entry

      Click “Forms”

      Click “New”

      Goto “Form Wizard”

      Choose the Table you made in the last step

      Follow the “wizard” directions

 

Next a Simple Query

      Click “Queries”

      Click “New”

      Choose “Design View”

      Decide the data (fields) you would like to search and query.

      Decide how you would like the data returned

Finally Report your Data

      Click “Reports”

      Click “New”

      Click “Report Wizard”

      Choose the Query/Table you want to report

      Follow the wizard’s directions

Finally -- Make it YOURS -- Forms

      Colors (Design View)

   Whatever you want or think others will respond to.

      Formatting (Design View)

   Emphasis and Focus

      Organization (Design View)

   Make Data Entry Easier

Tables

Fields & Records

Forms

Reports

Queries

Sample – Birthday Database

      All components of a “Good” Database

   Table (various & specific fields),

   Form,

   Query (who’s birthday in what month?),

   Report

Merge the Data?

      In addition to Reports you can use Word to Tailor Documents created from your data.

      Merged Documents!

      Try this one

      Databases are truly powerful when the Data is used…Well.

      Merging data with documents gives you power.