Gotta start somewhere

Labels: Tips, Tutorials

Suggestions

• LINKS TO TIP SHEETS AND ARTICLES
  

  "Instead of telling your users to go out to Microsoft.com and do a search, put hyperlinks to the printer-friendly version of tip sheets and articles on your company’s main portal page. Providing links to information you know they need will help you cover the training bases. And presenting the links on an internal web site they already use will show your users that it’s okay to go outside of their four firewalls to learn something new. Include your favorite hyperlink in your signature line so it goes out in every e-mail you send."

• ONLINE TRAINING
• E-LEARNING
• WEBCASTS
• VIRTUAL TRAINING
• MULTILINGUAL SCREENTIPS AND TRANSLATIONS
• COMMAND REFERENCE GUIDES
• OFFICE ONLINE AT WORK

Labels: Tutorials

Available in PDF

"The main intent of these tutorials is to guide frequent users of Microsoft Access through the transition of earlier versions to the new 2007 edition. Throughout the different tutorials . . . topics from program specifications through features added, dropped, or unchanged as well as demonstrating implementations of subjects discussed."

• Microsoft Access 2007 in the box (Office editions and what's new)
  
  
• Microsoft Access Head-to-Head (Access 2003 vs. Access 2007)
  
  
• Microsoft Access Side-by-Side (Access 2003 vs. Access 2007 continued)
  
  
• Microsoft Access 2007 PDF and XPS support
  
  
• Microsoft Access 2007 Ribbon/Office menu customization
  
  
• Microsoft Access 2007 Navigation Pane customization
  
  
• Microsoft Access 2007 Working with the Attachment DataType
  
  
• Microsoft Access 2007 Working with the Rich Text Feature
  
  
• Microsoft Access 2007 Collect Data Through Emails

Labels: 2007, 2010, Tutorials

How to

1. Build a dialog box with as many combo boxes as you need.
   
2. Design a query to read its criteria from the information on the dialog box.
   
3. Create a macro or visual basic procedure to tell them both what to do.

Labels: Combo, Queries, Tutorials

What's the Outlook?

"Using Microsoft Access and Outlook together can reduce manual processing of Ordering emails very substantially. I know this because sometimes it would take up to 15 minutes to undertake all the little steps of saving customer details into tables and newsletter lists. Also without software, it was very difficult to explain to other staff members what to do when an e-mail arrived. Now we can process the orders in a couple of minutes when Outlook email arrives in the correct folder."

Labels: E-mail, Tips, Tutorials

Drawing bar objects

Labels: Graphics, Tutorials

You have a choice

1. Create a query to use as the RecordSource of your report.
   
2. In query design view, in the Criteria row under your date field, enter:
   
   Between [StartDate] And [EndDate]
   

• Flexible: user does not have to limit report to from and to dates.
  
• Better interface: allows defaults and other mechanisms for choosing dates.
  
• Validation: can verify the date entries.
  

Labels: Forms, Queries, Tips, Tutorials

Get started in the right direction

• Access
  
  
• Adobe Acrobat
  
  
• Dreamweaver
  
  
• Excel
  
  
• FrontPage
  
  
• Microsoft Office Tools
  
  
• Outlook
  
  
• Outlook Web Access
  
  
• PowerPoint
  
  
• Publisher
  
  
• Visio
  
  
• Windows
  
  
• Word Art
  
  
• Word

Labels: Tutorials

Transfer data

Some simple guidance of how to transfer data from Excel or Access into HTML web pages using XML data files. VBA programs can be used to export data tables from Excel or Access into simple XML files. There are several examples of using different methods to display the XML and XSL files on web pages in order to quickly share your data with others.

Labels: Tables, Tutorials

Bean Counting Models

"My intention is to provide a wide range of 'Kick Start' Models that anyone can use as a starting-point, and could extend cleanly and logically, with appropriate reference to the Business Rules.

It is not my intention to provide Models that can be used off-the-shelf to meet the requirements of a large commercial organization.

After all, that is one of the things I do for a living !!!

None of the Models is the complete and final solution in its area, but any of them can be added to easily and quickly to meet a specific requirement. The logic in each Model is intended to be correct and to contain the minimum Entities for the area being modeled."

Labels: Relationships, Tips, Tutorials

Another look at parameters

Labels: Queries, Tutorials

Free Basic Instruction

Also:

Access 2003 Training Modules

These are 30 to 55 minute demonstrations.

"When you click Practice in Access at the bottom of this page, a practice database will download to your computer and open in Access, and a separate window with practice instructions will appear alongside."

Labels: Tutorials

Data bits and pieces

"Data modeling is probably the most labor intensive and time consuming part of the development process. Why bother especially if you are pressed for time? A common response by practitioners who write on the subject is that you should no more build a database without a model than you should build a house without blueprints.

The goal of the data model is to make sure that the all data objects required by the database are completely and accurately represented. Because the data model uses easily understood notations and natural language, it can be reviewed and verified as correct by the end-users.

The data model is also detailed enough to be used by the database developers to use as a "blueprint" for building the physical database. The information contained in the data model will be used to define the relational tables, primary and foreign keys, stored procedures, and triggers. A poorly designed database will require more time in the long-term. Without careful planning you may create a database that omits data required to create critical reports, produces results that are incorrect or inconsistent, and is unable to accommodate changes in the user's requirements."

Labels: General, Relationships, Tables, Tutorials

Create a sorting function

"Chris Weber develops a solution that allows users to sort the data in their forms (or subforms) that you can add to your application easily.

• The sorting interface should be generic to any form in any database.
  
  
• It should also work with subforms.
  
  
• It needs to be implemented as expediently as possible to fulfill the bid, and be easily maintained in the future.
  
  
• It should be intuitive or reminiscent of other interfaces in Access and Windows.

Labels: Forms, Macros, Tips, Tutorials, VBA

No cost lessons

"Microsoft Access is a development environment used to create computer databases for the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems. This site provides lessons, examples, and links on how to use and explore MS Access. We also separately provide some guidance on VBA, the programming language that ships with Microsoft Access."

Labels: Tutorials

More data than the pie will hold

"Chris Weber provides you with a generic method to control the data for pie charts that are actually readable."

Labels: General, Tips, Tutorials

Excel Mock-up

"This article explains how to use Microsoft Excel to create prototypes of your Access databases and how to make sure your data adheres to a set of rules called normal forms. Normal forms aren't hard to understand, and they're critical to designing useful databases."

Design Access databases with normal forms and Excel

Also see:

Database normalization Webcast

An Introduction to Database Normalization

Database normalization basics

Database Normalization Basics for Developers

Also see:

Tushar-Mehta.com:
Building and using a relational database in Excel


See all Topics

access

Labels: Tables, Tutorials

Format to mask entry

Labels: Forms, Properties, Queries, Tutorials

Distribute to everyone

The pertinent file is down near the bottom of the page. Look for article 127 and download accarch127.zip.



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access

Labels: Tips, Tutorials

Have more controls

Here are some step by step instructions:
TECH on the Net:
Create more than 8 switchboard items

Here are some more Switchboard tips:
TECHontheNet


Switchboard 2007

More Switchboard 2007



See all Topics

access

Labels: Customize, Tutorials

Definition and explanation

"If you're searching for a more flexible data management system, a database might be just the salvation you're looking for.

What is a database? Quite simply, it's an organized collection of data. A database management system (DBMS) such as Access, FileMaker Pro, Oracle or SQL Server provides you with the software tools you need to organize that data in a flexible manner. It includes facilities to add, modify or delete data from the database, ask questions (or queries) about the data stored in the database and produce reports summarizing selected contents.

Microsoft Access provides users with one of the simplest and most flexible DBMS solutions on the market today. Regular users of Microsoft products will enjoy the familiar Windows "look and feel" as well as the tight integration with other Microsoft Office family products.

Labels: General, Tutorials

Just the check

1. Use the Report Wizard to create a report that is based on the Northwind Products table. Use the ProductName field and the Discontinued field.
   
   
2. In Design view, add a TextBox control to the Detail section.
   
   
3. Right-click TextBox, and then click Properties.
   
   
4. In the TextBox properties dialog box, click the Format tab. For Border Style, click Transparent. For Font Name, click Wingdings.
   Note You can adjust the size of the check mark by changing Font Size.
   
   
5. Click the Data tab.
   
   
6. For Control Source, type =IIF([Discontinued]=-1,"Alt+0252")
   Note "ALT+0252" is the check mark character. To enter this character, hold down ALT, and then type 0252 by using the keypad. The check mark character appears as "ü" in the IIF statement.
   
   
   Note If you want to display an "X" instead of a check mark,
   
   
   1. In the TextBox properties dialog box, click the Format tab. For Border Style, click Transparent. For Font Name, click Arial.
      
      
   2. Click the Data tab.
      
      
   3. For Control Source, type =IIF([Discontinued]=-1,"X")
      
   
   
7. Close Design view.
   
   
8. Click Preview.

Labels: Fonts, Tips, Tutorials

Outlook Contacts in Access

1. Choose File >Open from the menu bar.
   (Office button>Open in 2007)
   
2. Under Files Of Type choose Outlook().
   
3. Locate your Outlook PST files.
   
4. Choose Contacts, or if you have set up separate files for different groups choose an appropriate one.
   
5. The wizard walks you through the process of creating an Access database with a linked Contact table.

Labels: Relationships, Tables, Tutorials

PowerPoint in Access

"Create a PowerPoint slide presentation from scratch using Access data. In addition, display and control a slide show from within an Access form. Walk through the solution and explore ways to extend the sample for your own applications.

This article looks at two ways of interaction between Access and PowerPoint.

The first sample illustrates how to create a PowerPoint presentation from the data in an Access table using Automation.

The second sample shows how to display and manipulate an existing PowerPoint presentation inside of an Access form, also using Automation."

Here is an MSDN article:
Working with PowerPoint Presentations from Access Using Automation

If you have some knowledge of VBA, you can probably figure it out from the code on the Access Form.



Office 2003 Sample:
Working with PowerPoint 2003 Presentations from Access 2003 Using Automation



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access

Labels: Forms, General, Tutorials

A second chance

"In Microsoft Office Access 2007, by default, users are not prompted to confirm changes after modifying and saving records on a form. But often you might want to prompt users to confirm their changes before the record is saved.

You can use a BeforeUpdate event procedure to display a confirmation prompt and handle a user's response to either cancel or continue with the save.

This visual how-to topic illustrates how to display a custom dialog box to prompt users to cancel or continue with saving changes to a record.

Labels: Macros, Properties, Tutorials

Good combo

"While working with forms, a split form can be a very useful view because you simultaneously get two views of the form that are connected to the same data source.
This demo shows you how to create a split form view where you can use the datasheet part of the form to quickly locate a record and the form portion to view or modify the record.

You will also learn how to enhance and customize a split form view to suit your needs."

Labels: Forms, Tutorials

More dimensions than Star trek

When a company accumulates a great deal of information, it becomes un-wieldy to work with just basic Excel or Access databases.

There is a database concept called on OLAP cube (On-Line Analytical Processing).

This multidimensional collection of data can be thought of as a 3-D pivot table viewed from flat land.

MSDN:
Just What Are Cubes Anyway?
(A Painless Introduction to OLAP Technology)

OLAPReort.com:
What is OLAP


Wikipedia:
OLAP

Wang.se (Wang Sweden) a Swedish software company:

Create an OLAP Cube



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access

Labels: General, Relationships, Tutorials

Question and collection

"You begin with the Collect Data Through E-mail Messages Wizard, which guides you through the steps of creating a form.

The form is sent through Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to your recipients, with your request for new or updated information.

When the recipients reply to your message, Access automatically enters their data into your database.

Labels: E-mail, Forms, Tutorials