Why Access?  Why not Excel? 

Everyone loves Excel.  And why not?  Excel spreadsheets are great for simple lists and doing math on those lists.  But if your primary goal is the storage and efficient retrieval of large amounts of data critical to the life of your business, Access is the tool you need.

An Access database acts as an electronic filing cabinet of information arranged for easy, efficient search and retrieval.  With Access, you can track and report information with ease.  Before recording large amounts of your critical data in Excel, take a look at what Access can do for you . . . you'll be glad you did.

• Exploring the Access 2007 Ribbon
• Designing and creating databases and tables
• Creating relationships between tables
• Adding and editing records in tables
• Designing simple filters and queries
• Setting query criteria
• Creating basics forms and reports

Do you need to manage and report on large quantities of data? Take Access 2003 - Basics to learn how to design a sound, multi-table, relational database. You also will learn to retrieve specific data from your database, such as customers located in Belleville.

• Designing and creating databases and tables
• Creating relationships between tables
• Designing filters and queries
• Setting query criteria
• Creating basic forms and reports

You need some information from your database right now.  How do you get it? 

The real power of an Access database is not the ability to organize and store information. The real power is having the ability to retrieve information from your database when and how you need it. 

Queries are the real workhorses of your database.  Typically, the information you need is spread across several tables---queries allow you to bring that info from the various tables into a single view.  And since you probably don't want to see all the records in your database at once, queries let you specify criteria to "filter" the data so you only see the data that you need right now.

Key Training Points

• Using Operators in Queries
• Designing Advanced Queries
• Creating Action Queries
• Using Advanced Query Wizards
• Using Advanced Database Features
• Exporting Data to Microsoft Excel & Word
• Using Access Database Security
• Working with Indexes
  

You need an easier, more accurate way to put info in your database.  And you need a way to summarize and present the data from your tables.  Here's how to do that.

Access "forms" are the interface you use to work with your data --- you can edit data directly into your tables, but using a form provides you and other users a true "data entry screen".  A well-designed form simplifies data input and reduces data entry errors, which can save you time and money. 

Reports are what you use to summarize and present data in your database so you can make better decisions and improve your bottom line.  In Access, you can design reports to answer specific questions, e.g. "How much money did we receive from each customer this year?"  And you can format each report to present the information in the most readable way possible.

Key Training Points

• Using Controls and Layouts
• Manipulating Form Controls in Design View
• Using Design View
• Using Advanced Form Design
• Using Editing Tools
• Using Advanced Report Design
• Using Subforms/Subreports

This Access 2003 seminar helps you simplify data entry and effectively print data. Learn to create drop-down lists that provide choices for data entry, ensuring that critical information, such as customer ID numbers, will be entered correctly every time. Also learn to create sub-forms that can be used to display data from multiple tables on one screen and generate reports that can automatically calculate and summarize data, such as average sales or an employee's total absences.

Topics include:

• Modifying forms and reports
• Creating combo boxes, list boxes, and option groups
• Inserting graphics and charts
• Creating forms with sub-forms
  

This advanced Access 2003 seminar teaches you how to simplify data retrieval. You will learn to create queries that prompt the user for criteria. For instance, you can specify a different state each time you query your customer list. Queries also can be used to edit data automatically. For example, you can increase all employees' salaries by a specific percentage.

Topics include:

• Importing and linking data
• Creating action queries, parameter queries, and cross-tab queries
• Creating calculated fields