MS Access Tutorial
MGMT 683
J. Rees
Introduction
• MS Access is a relational database management system (RDBMS)
• Other PC-based RDMBS include:
– MS FoxPro
– Borland dBase
• “Industrial-strength” RDBMS include
– Oracle
– MS SQL Server – IBM DB2
– Informix
Getting Started
• Open MS Access (Under Microsoft Office 2003 heading)
• Open a New Database
Select “Blank Database”
Name your database MyShop.mdb
Now click “Create.” Everything you create for this database will be saved as an *.mdb file.
MS Access Functionality
• Tables
– Store Data
• Queries
– Manipulate Data
• Forms
– Make data entry and display easier
• Reports
– Provides information from database to users in easy-to-understand format
Business Example
Your sister has started her own home-décor shop. She sells items such as candles,
pictures and knick-knacks. She wishes to track the items in her inventory, sales and customer information. You agree to assist her in setting up a simple MS Access
database that will track the appropriate
information.
Business Example, Continued
You identify that three tables should be created:
Product Table containing the product number, product name, product description, product
price, and product on hand.
Sale Table containing the sale number, sale date, the product sold and the customer.
Customer Table containing the customer
number, customer last name, customer first
name, phone number, address and notes about customer preferences (notify if a Yankee Candle Company candle comes in, etc.)
Creating Tables
Double click ‘Create table in Design view’
Creating the Product Table
Enter the table information
Next: Create the primary key and save your table
Creating Tables
• Create the Sales and Customer Tables
• Use AutoNumber for the Sales Number and Customer Number
• Remember to set the primary key and
save your tables
Entering Data
Enter the following data into each of your tables:
Entering Data, Continued
Relationships
Link the three tables together
Queries
• Queries allow data to be manipulated
– What were the total sales today?
– How many of my
customers come from out of town?
• Run this query
• Create query to determine customers who do not live in Lafayette
Forms
• Provide a user-friendly interface to the data.
• Control over user’s additions and modifications to the data.
• Forms (like queries & reports) do not
contain data. Data is always saved in
tables.
Create a new form using wizard
Create the Product Form
Select fields to appear on your form
