Microsoft Access
The Basics
The Instructors
Allyson Mower, Digital Initiatives, 581-5263, [email protected]
Alice Weber, Collection Development, 587-9247, [email protected]
Joan Gregory, Technical Services,
581-5269, [email protected]
Your Expectations/Experience?
Class Objectives
To learn when to use MS Access
To learn how to use MS Access
• Toolbars
• Views
• Data entry and editing
To create usable databases of your own
• Using templates and wizards
• Using basic queries and reports
Definitions
MS Access - software used for creating databases
•
Quickly•
Accurately•
Using wizards and templates developed to maintain the integrity of your data
Data are just information
Database
•
Collection of data•
Related to a particular topic or projectData Integrity
Data must be accurate.
Data are RELATED to other data in your
database (e.g., library patron is related to the book(s) that s/he has checked out).
Maintaining the INTEGRITY of the relationship between different pieces of data is very
important.
•
Example of compromised integrity: sending an overdue notice to the wrong library patronMS Access vs. MS Excel
MS Excel
• spreadsheet
• flat database
• all information has a one-to-one relationship
MS Access
• like multiple spreadsheets that are connected to one another
•
one-to-many relationships•
many-to-many relationshipsExamples
Printed Phone Directory (White Pages)
•
Flat database: One-to-one relationships
Library Catalog
•
Relational database: Many-to-many relationships•
Library patrons check out many books.•
Books are checked out by many patrons.
