Creating and naming your database

Access will create a database with a generic name in the default location unless you tell it otherwise. This video shows the very basics of creating a new database and begins the naming conventions discussion.

Creating tables

Access, the database program, tries to be a spreadsheet, which it isn't. This video whows you how to set up and data table and why it's important to set it up carefully.

Formatting a data table

We're heading into nerd territory pretty quickly here. But with good reason, as this tutorial considers means of making data entry more accurate, more consistent and easier for end users.

Creating a drop-down list

Awesome Access has some very neat tricks. This is one of the easiest, but improves data integrity enormously. A quick hint: if ever you can remove the end user's need to use a keyboard to enter data - do it!

Input masks

Another really cool way of ensuring data accuracy and integrity. This time forcing the end user to match your input pattern - for example a credit card number is 16 characters long, a mobile phone is 10 numbers (or 12 characters, which you will use to ensure you get the leading zero in)

Adding fields to a completed table

You finished your table and realise you need something else - no problem. This video has you covered!

Creating a data entry form

You've done all that awesome work preparing your data table - now make an entry form to make it look good, protect your data and make your workflow that much more efficient.

I know what you're saying - I don't need to do all that stuff - well yeah, you're right, you don't. But get into the real world and a real job that requires this stuff, you proably will. And it makes the data in your database far more accurate and your end users will havae better workflow and so on. So just do it!

Form naviagtion

Later on in this series we invoke the switchboard manager, which, when used when all the menus are turned off, will give an awesome navigation structure. Why turn off the menus? That's where the admin happens. You're the database admin, your end user isn't. So we take the admin tools away and provide the data access and navigation structures we want our end users to have. This is the beginning of that process. It also helps with workflow.

Testing your data entry form

Testing your work is important. This tutorial gives some hints and help on what to do if something goes wrong...

Creating queries - an introduction

SELECT

FROM

WHERE (AND/OR)

ORDER BY

The golden rules of SQL Queries. Here is the basic overview of how Access implements its version of SQL for queries.

More about queries

SQL is a big beast and a degree course on its own. This is a little more information about queries in Access.

Trusted locations

An Access database is considered an executible program, so Access locks down EVERY database, even ones you make for yourself. Trusted Locations will tell Access that databases stored wherever you put them (for me it's my portable HDD) are safe. Do this for each computer you log in on and thank me later!

The Switchboard Manager

The most useful automation tool in Access and it's hidden where it's almost impossible to find. What a waste! Hint with the switchboard manager: Don't get adventurous editing it - when it corrupts it's usually a total loss (and this kind of explains why it's mostly hidden).

Another hint: backup.

The beginner's guide to the switchboard manager

First the easy one.

Switchboard Manager - Intermediate

Part of the reason the Switchboard Manager is useful is because it can provide a solid navigation structure for your database without the needs for admin menus. And they can provide a really neat workflow when used properly.

Relational Databases

All that for this! This is the final video, and the longest (sorry), but if you follow all the rest of the tutorials that preceed this, you're a shoe-in for understanding relational databases. This gives all the good stuff about primary and foreign keys, relationship types, referential integrity and so on.