Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Designing a Database Introduction Entity - relationship diagrams Attributes and key fields Normalisation A sample database Identifying the entities, attributes and relationships Table design Elements of an Access database Naming conventions Designing the Input and Output Chapter 2 - Creating Tables and Relationships Loading Access Creating a new database The Database window Creating a new table Defining the primary key Entering other fields (attributes) Saving the table structure Editing a table structure Inserting a field Deleting a field Moving a field Changing or removing a key field Entering data in Datasheet view Creating the NEWSPAPER table Creating the DELIVERY table Using the Lookup wizard Defining relationships Entering data in Datasheet view Customising a table view Chapter 3 - Creating Data Entry Forms Introduction Creating a columnar AutoForm Changing the appearance of the form Adding a form heading and arranging fields Arranging and sizing fields Changing a form's background Changing the sort order of records Creating a form with a subform Adjusting the size of the form and subform Using the form to enter and edit data Deleting a field from the subform Finding a record Deleting a record Chapter 4 - Queries Understanding queries Types of query Setting special criteria AND and OR queries Allowing the end - user to enter criteria Saving a query with a different name Using the Simple Query Wizard Creating calculated fields with a query Moving columns Changing a column caption Creating a form from a query Chapter 5 - Advanced Queries Introduction Creating a totals query Creating an update query Using queries to process customer payments Summary query Creating and running a Make - Table query Updating one table from another Making a copy of a table structure Creating and running an Append query Creating and running a Delete query Chapter 6 - Reports and Charts Introduction Creating a columnar AutoReport Creating a tabular AutoReport Editing the report format Adding a new field to the report Formatting the report Basing a report on a query Customising the report Sorting and grouping the report Inserting a page break between rounds Chapter 7 - Macros and Command Buttons Macros Creating a macro group Running a macro which is part of a group Command buttons Defining a button's event property Setting the properties of the form Using conditions in a macro Dialogue boxes Creating an unbound form Creating the macros to open and use the dialogue box Attaching the macros to command buttons Using a field from a dialogue box as query criteria Inserting a field from a dialogue box in a report List of macro actions in Access Chapter 8 - Advanced Form Design Introduction Selecting objects Moving objects Aligning and spacing objects evenly Resizing an area of the form Changing a heading or label style Rearranging and resizing fields Inserting an option group Changing the tab order Using the Properties sheet to customise controls Changing a form's record source Combo boxes and list boxes Using a combo box to find a record Inserting a picture on a form Adding a box to the form Keeping the Find Newspaper box synchronised Creating a form from a query Design considerations Using a combo box to look up a record from another table Chapter 9 - Rounding off an Application Introduction The menu structure for the Newsagents database Creating a switchboard Creating the submenus Viewing the main switchboard Creating the main menu (switchboard) Testing the switchboard Editing a switchboard item Customising a switchboard form Setting Startup options Security Chapter 10 - Linking with Word and Excel Mail merging using data held in Access Importing data from Excel Importing records into Access Appending imported records to an existing table Analysing data in Excel Exporting data Chapter 11 - An Introducti

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The practical resource of choice for creating projects using Micrososft Access

About the Author

Pat Heathcote has worked as a programmer and systems analyst, and has many years of experience in teaching Computing and Information Technology. She has served as an Assistant Examiner with AQA, is on the Subject Committee for Computing and is Chair of Examiners for Edexcel AVCE and GNVQ. She is now a full-time author and publisher.

Reviews

A real pleasure using the book, 27 May 2003 Reviewer: Chris Clarke I have purchased many books on Access in an attempt to learn as much as I can about what I consider to be a fantastic piece of software and I have to say that your book Successful ICT Projects in Access (3rd Edition) was one of the easiest and most comprehensive books on the topic that I have come across. It has been a real pleasure using the book and my ability to program has increased beyond my wildest expectations, Thank you. Excellent! 20 February 2003 Reviewer: Dr. Geoff FowlerTechnical Director, Oilfield Consultancy I am Technical Director of a small Oilfield Chemistry consultancy and taught myself, rather badly, Access. However all the books I bought and many online resources assume a level of knowledge hence the many mistakes I make in building databases for myself. I was browsing PC World and came across your Successful ICT Projects in Access. I found it clear, concise, realistically priced and is helping correct my deficient knowledge immensely. I will try and get your VBA book as well. Excellent! I think they are wicked! 3 May, 2002 Reviewer: Miss Fozia Akram a student from Wakefield College, England I would like to thank you for publishing such great books, I have purchased the A2 ICT and Access books and I think they are wicked. Thank you Payne-Gallway and thank you Pat Heathcote, lets just hope my revision pays off. A first rate text which cannot fail to improve grades., 22 September, 2001 Reviewer: Kev Randle from Sheffield, England This guide to producing an 'A' level project is going to take some beating. Some of my students have made fantastic progress in just a few hours from a starting point of zero experience with access. The 'paint by numbers' approach is exactly what is needed as it quickly gets results. Probably feeds the 'instant gratification ' that most of our students are supposed to demand. I don't care. As a teacher it has certainly made my life a great deal less painful and I can recommend this text to anyone taking, or teaching the AQA ICT or Computing course. It's not even hard. Life saver!, 4 November, 2001 Reviewer: A Student from High Wycombe, England This book pretty much lays out what is needed in the project in simple terms so that it can be adapted to your own project. Not only does it give the IT side but also the written work which is in part more important than the actual system. I wouldn't have been able to do the project without it. Excellent book as an introduction to Access, 1 October, 2001 Reviewer: Sean Scaife from Dublin,Ireland As a newcomer to Access, although over 20 years in the IT industry in various capacities, I found this work to be invaluable in being able to grasp the fundamentals of Access development. It is by far and away the most practical publication I have read on the subject, In fact I would go so far as to say that it is an object lesson to most authors of introductory works in so far that is PRACTICAL in real world sense. I have already passed on my original copy to a former colleague and have this morning recommended it to another colleague who will be purchasing it. I have no problem spending ...on other manuals but this work has helped me to produce working solutions in a very short time. Congratulations, A fan Excellent, 17 January, 2001 Reviewer: A Reader from Leicester, England This book really helps with the AS IT course when you need to do your coursework. If you are planning on using Access for your coursework, I really recommend it as it comes in very useful indeed.