o'reilly - access 2007 the missing manual

Access 2007: The Missing Manual By Matthew MacDonald Publisher: O'Reilly Pub Date: Decem ber 01 , 2 00 6 ISBN-10: 0 -5 9 6- 527 60 -8 ISBN-13: 9 78- 0- 596 -5 276 0-0 Pages: 60 0 Table of Contents | Index Compared to industrial-strength database products such as Microsoft's SQL Server, Access is a breeze to use. It runs on PCs rather than servers and is ideal for small- to mid-sized businesses and households. But Access is still intimidating to learn. It doesn't help that each new version crammed in yet another set of features; so many, in fact, that even the pros don't know where to find them all. Access 2007 breaks this pattern with some of the most dramatic changes users have seen since Office 95. Most obvious is the thoroughly redesigned user interface, with its tabbed toolbar (or "Ribbon") that makes features easy to locate and use. The features list also includes several long- awaited changes. One thing that hasn't improved is Microsoft's documentation. To learn the ins and outs of all the features in Access 2007, Microsoft merely offers online help. Access 2007: The Missing Manual was written from the ground up for this redesigned application. You will learn how to design complete databases, maintain them, search for valuable nuggets of information, and build attractive forms for quick-and-easy data entry. You'll even delve into the black art of Access programming (including macros and Visual Basic), and pick up valuable tricks and techniques to automate common tasks even if you've never touched a line of code before. You will also learn all about the new prebuilt databases you can customize to fit your needs, and how the new complex data feature will simplify your life. With plenty of downloadable examples, this objective and witty book will turn an Access neophyte into a true master. Access 2007: The Missing Manual By Matthew MacDonald Publisher: O'Reilly Pub Date: Decem ber 01 , 2 00 6 ISBN-10: 0 -5 9 6- 527 60 -8 ISBN-13: 9 78- 0- 596 -5 276 0-0 Pages: 60 0 Table of Contents | Index Copyright The Missing Credits Introduction Part I: Storing Information in Tables Chapter 1. Creating Your First Database Section 1.1. Understanding Access Databases Section 1.2. Getting Started Section 1.3. Saving and Opening Access Databases Section 1.4. The Navigation Pane Chapter 2. Building Smarter Tables Section 2.1. Understanding Data Types Section 2.2. Design View Section 2.3. Access Data Types Section 2.4. The Primary Key Section 2.5. Six Principles of Database Design Chapter 3. Mastering the Datasheet: Sorting, Searching, Filtering, and More Section 3.1. Datasheet Customization Section 3.2. Datasheet Navigation Section 3.3. Advanced Editing Section 3.4. Printing the Datasheet Chapter 4. Blocking Bad Data Section 4.1. Data Integrity Basics Section 4.2. Input Masks Section 4.3. Validation Rules Section 4.4. Lookups Chapter 5. Linking Tables with Relationships Section 5.1. Relationship Basics Section 5.2. Using a Relationship Section 5.3. More Exotic Relationships Section 5.4. Relationship Practice Part II: Manipulating Data with Queries Chapter 6. Queries That Select Records Section 6.1. Query Basics Section 6.2. Creating Queries Section 6.3. Queries and Related Tables Chapter 7. Essential Query Tricks Section 7.1. Calculated Fields Section 7.2. Query Functions Section 7.3. Summarizing Data Section 7.4. Query Parameters Chapter 8. Queries That Update Records Section 8.1. Understanding Action Queries Section 8.2. Update Queries Section 8.3. Append Queries Section 8.4. Delete Queries Section 8.5. Tutorial: Flagging Out-of-Stock Orders Chapter 9. Analyzing Data with Crosstab Queries and Pivot Tables Section 9.1. Understanding Crosstab Queries Section 9.2. Creating Crosstab Queries Section 9.3. Pivot Tables Section 9.4. Pivot Charts Part III: Printing Reports Chapter 10. Creating Reports Section 10.1. Report Basics Section 10.2. Printing, Previewing, and Exporting a Report Section 10.3. Formatting a Report Section 10.4. Filtering and Sorting a Report Chapter 11. Designing Advanced Reports Section 11.1. Improving Reports in Design View Section 11.2. The Report Wizard Section 11.3. The Label Wizard Section 11.4. Fine-Tuning Reports with Properties Section 11.5. Expressions Section 11.6. Grouping Part IV: Building a User Interface with Forms Chapter 12. Creating Simple Forms Section 12.1. Form Basics Section 12.2. Sorting and Filtering in a Form Section 12.3. Creating Better Layouts Section 12.4. The Form Wizard Chapter 13. Designing Advanced Forms Section 13.1. Customizing Forms in Design View Section 13.2. Taking Control of Controls Section 13.3. Forms and Linked Tables Chapter 14. Building a Navigation System Section 14.1. Mastering the Navigation Pane Section 14.2. Building Forms with Navigation Smarts Section 14.3. Linking to Related Data Part V: Programming Access Chapter 15. Automating Tasks with Macros Section 15.1. Macro Essentials Section 15.2. Macros and Security Section 15.3. Three Macro Recipes Section 15.4. Managing Macros Section 15.5. Connecting Macros to Forms Section 15.6. Conditional Macros Chapter 16. Automating Tasks with Visual Basic Section 16.1. The Visual Basic Editor Section 16.2. Putting Code in a Form Section 16.3. Understanding Objects Section 16.4. Using Objects Chapter 17. Writing Smarter Code Section 17.1. Exploring the VB Language Section 17.2. Dealing with Trouble Section 17.3. Deeper into Objects Section 17.4. Using VB to Run a Better Business Part VI: Sharing Access with the Rest of the World Chapter 18. Sharing a Database with Multiple Users Section 18.1. Opening Up Your Database to the World Section 18.2. Preparing Your Database Section 18.3. Playing Well with Others Section 18.4. Data Corruption Section 18.5. Securing Your Database Chapter 19. Importing and Exporting Data Section 19.1. Case for Importing and Exporting Section 19.2. Using the Clipboard Section 19.3. Import and Export Operations Section 19.4. Access and XML Section 19.5. Collecting Info by Email Chapter 20. Connecting Access to SQL Server Section 20.1. Should You Switch to SQL Server? Section 20.2. Getting Started: SQL Server 2005 Express Section 20.3. Creating a SQL Server Database Section 20.4. Adding Objects to a SQL Server Database Chapter 21. Connecting Access to SharePoint Section 21.1. Understanding SharePoint Section 21.2. Setting Up SharePoint Section 21.3. SharePoint and Access Part VII: Appendix Appendix A. Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar Section A.1. The Quick Access Toolbar Colophon Index [...]... options), and then choose Design View from the menu Note: Be on the look out for drop-down arrows in the ribbonthey're tricky at first You need to click the arrow part of the button to see the full list of options If you click the other part of the button, then you don't see the list Instead, Access fires off the standard command (the one Access thinks is the most common choice), or the command you... work this way The Quick Access Toolbar Keen eyes will have noticed the tiny bit of screen real estate that sits on the Office button's right side, just above the ribbon (Figure I-8 ) This bit of screen holds a series of tiny icons, like the toolbars in older versions of Access This area's the Quick Access toolbar (or QAT to Access nerds) Figu r e I - 8 The Quick Access toolbar puts the Save, Undo,... The New Features in Access 2007 Access 2007' s most impressive enhancement is the new interface But the new look isn't the only significant change When Microsoft decided to rework Access 2007, they created a development team that was seven times larger than the team that created Access 2003 All this extra manpower allowed them to make a number of long-awaited changes Here are some of the highlights: A... feature in the Access ribbon It translates to the following instructions: "On the ribbon, click the Cr e a t e tab On the tab, look for the Ta ble s section In the Tables box, click the Ta ble button." (Look back to Figure I-2 to see the button you're looking for.) As you saw back in Figure I-3 , the ribbon adapts itself to different screen sizes Depending on your Access window's size, the button you... that Access is paying attention You can now complete your action by pressing the next key for the menu command The Office Menu One small part of the traditional Access menu's left in Access 2007sort of The traditional File menu that lets you open, save, and print files has been transformed into the Office m enu You get there using the Office button, which is the big, round logo in the window's top-left... see a paltry two- or threeword description in a yellow box Instead, you see a friendly pop-up box with a complete mini-description Here, the mouse is hovering over the Table command Tip: Want to reclaim the screen real estate that the ribbon occupies? Just double-click the current tab, and the ribbon collapses, leaving only the row of tab titles visible Double-click the tab again to pop the buttons back... demonstrate Access features and techniques for building good databases Many of these examples are available as Access database files in a separate download Just surf to www.missingmanuals.com , click the link for this book, and then click the "Missing CD" link to visit a page where you can download a zip file that includes the examples, organized by chapter About MissingManuals.com At www.missingmanuals.com... fingertips Access singles out these commands because people use them more frequently than any other commands But as you'll learn in the Appendix, you can add anything you want here If the Quick Access toolbar were nothing but a specialized shortcut for three commands, it wouldn't be worth the bother However, the nifty thing about the Quick Access toolbar is that you can customize it In other words,... the command you want When you press Alt+E in Access 2003, the Edit menu pops open (in the main menu) You can then press the S key to choose the Paste Special command At first glance, it doesn't look like these keyboard shortcuts amount to much in Access 2007 After all, Access 2007 doesn't even have a main menu! Fortunately, Microsoft went to a little extra trouble to make life easier for longtime Access. .. scratch The Ribbon The Access 2007 ribbon is a super-toolbar that replaces the various toolbars and menus in previous versions Note: Access doesn't show the ribbon until you create a database If you can't stand the suspense any longer, and you want to be able to look at the ribbon on your monitor as you read the next couple of pages, follow the instructions in Section 1.2.1 to create a blank database The . Access 2007: The Missing Manual By Matthew MacDonald Publisher: O'Reilly Pub Date: Decem ber 01 , 2 00 6 ISBN-10: 0 -5 9 6- 527 60 -8 ISBN-13: 9 7 8- 0- 596 -5 276 0-0 Pages:. resulting from the use of the information contained herein. This book uses RepKover™, a durable and flexible lay-flat binding. ISBN-10: 0-5 9 6-5 276 0-8 ISBN-13: 97 8-0 -5 9 6-5 276 0-0 [M] The Missing Credits About. Manual by Nancy Conner Excel 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual by Matthew MacDonald Excel 2003: The Missing Manual by Matthew MacDonald Excel 2007 for Starters: The Missing Manual by Matthew