Hands-On Microsoft Access

Bob Schneider has been a writer and editor for more than 25 years. Since 2001, he has been writing about Access for Smart Computing, one of the nations leading computer magazines. For three years he served as editor-in-chief of Working Smarter with Microsoft Access, a biweekly newsletter that helps office staff use Access more productively. Prior to that, he was development editor for Access 95, 97, and 2000 textbooks published by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. He is based in San Francisco, CA.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

About the Author.

1. Getting Started.

    Key Terms

    Data Types

    Primary Keys

    It's About Nothing: Null Values and Zero-Length Strings

    Conclusion

2. Database Design.

    Learning About Database Design

    Getting Started

    Midchapter Review

    Relational Database Principles

    Organizing Fields into Tables

    Refine the Fields

    Keys

    Multivalue Fields

    Conclusion

3. Understanding Relationships.

    The Primacy of Primary Keys

    One-to-Many Relationships

    Many-to-Many Relationships

    Final List of Fields and Relationships

    Exclusive Identification

    Refining Field Names

    Table Types

    What Is Normalization?

    Conclusion

4. Establishing Relationships.

    Viewing and Creating Relationships

    Referential Integrity

    Overriding Referential Integrity

    The Mechanics of the Relationship Window

    Test Data and Conclusion

5. Building Tables.

    Understanding Lookup Fields

    Creating Access Tables

    Creating Fields

    Assigning Field Properties

    Making Changes to Tables and Fields

    Table Properties

    Conclusion

6. Entering, Editing, and Displaying Data.

    Tables Are the Center of the Access Universe

    Data Entry in Table, Form, and Query Datasheets

    How Form Controls Inherit Field Characteristics

    Data Entry Methods

    Data Entry: Form Versus Substance

    Conclusion

7. Find and Filter.

    Find and Replace

    Filters

    Filters in Reports

    Expressions

    Conclusion

8. Queries.

    The Nature of Queries

    Building Queries

    Adding Calculated Fields

    Top Values Property

    Multitable Queries

    Relationships Versus Joins

    Inner Versus Outer Joins

    SQL

    Updating Records in a Query

    Find Duplicates Query Wizard

    Conclusion

9. Queries, Part II.

    Parameter Queries

    Totals Queries

    Crosstab Queries

    Action Queries

    Conclusion

10. Reports.

    Learning How to Create Reports

    The Asia Database

    Begin the Report by Creating a Query

    Beginning a Report in Design View

    Detail Section

    Page Header and Footer

    Using Concatenation

    Report Header and Footer

    Creating a Report Using the Report Wizard

    Comparing the From-Scratch and From-Wizard Reports

    Conclusion

11. Forms/Subforms.

    Form Overview

    Exploring Form Tools

    Using the Form Wizard

    Refining Your Form

    Conclusion

12. Form/Report Design Elements.

    Adding Pictures and Other Objects

    Visual Elements and Tools

    Manipulating Controls

    Macros

    Multipage Forms

    Switchboard Manager

    Other Report Types

    Conclusion

13. Importing and Exporting.

    Import/Export Overview

    Move Access Data to a Word Processor or Text Editor

    Move Access Data to Excel

    E-mail an Access Object

    Import Access Data into Outlook

    Importing Data into Access

    Importing Access Data

    Linking Versus Importing

    Conclusion

14. Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts.

    Getting Started with Pivot Tables

    Pivot Tables Using Queries

    Pivot Table Properties

    Creating Pivot Charts

    Conclusion

Glossary.

Index.