Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Basic Training 5 Chapter 1: Access Basic Training 7 What is Access Good For, Anyway? 8 Building big databases 8 Creating databases with multiple tables 9 Databases with user forms 12 Databases that require special reporting 14 Reach Out with SharePoint 17 How Access Works and How You Work with It 18 Opening Access 18 Selecting a starting point 19 Now What? 24 Chapter 2: Navigating the Access Workspace 25 Diving Right In 27 Working with Onscreen Tools in Access 29 Clicking tabs 30 Using buttons 31 The File tab and Quick Access tools 32 Accessing panes, panels, and context-sensitive tools 33 Customizing the Access Workspace 34 Repositioning the Quick Access Toolbar 34 Adding buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar 35 Removing buttons from the Quick Access Toolbar 37 Minimizing the Ribbon 38 Working with ScreenTips 38 Mousing Around 41 Navigating Access with the Alt Key 42 Chapter 3: Database Basics 43 Database Lingo 43 Data, no matter how you pronounce it 44 Fields of dreams (or data) 44 Records 45 Tables 45 The database 46 Field Types and Uses 46 Choosing Between Flat and Relational Databases 52 Isolationist tables 52 Tables that mix and mingle 52 Building a Database 54 Adding and Removing Tables 58 One more, please 58 Oops, I didn''t mean to do that 59 Part 2: Getting It All on the Table 63 Chapter 4: Sounds Like a Plan 65 Planning Your Database Tables 65 Reviewing fields 66 Determining data types 66 The new normal 68 Understanding normal forms 68 Normalizing your tables 69 Building Tables in Design View 73 Creating fields 73 Setting data types 75 Chapter 5: Table Tune-Ups 77 The Primary Key to Success 78 The lowdown on primary keys 78 Creating a primary key 79 Making Tables Get Along 81 Rules of relationships 81 Relationship types 82 Building Table Relationships 84 The Relationships window 84 Table relationships 85 Indexing for Faster Queries 89 Creating your own index 90 Adding and removing indexes 92 Chapter 6: Remodeling Your Data 95 Opening a Table for Editing 96 Inserting Records and Fields 98 Adding a record 99 Inserting a field 100 Deleting a field 103 Modifying Field Content 104 Name-Calling 105 Renaming fields 105 Renaming a table 108 Turn Uh-Oh! into Yee-Hah! 109 Chapter 7: Types, Masks, and Triggers 111 Access Table Settings 112 Field Data Formats 114 Text fields 115 Number and currency fields 118 Date/time fields 121 Yes/No fields 122 Gaining Control of Data Entry 123 You really need to put a mask on those fields 123 To require or not to require 130 Making your data toe the line with validation 132 Give Your Fingers a Mini Vacation by Default 133 Part 3: Data Management Mania 135 Chapter 8: A Form for All Reasons 137 Generating Forms 137 Keeping it simple: Form tools 139 Granting most wishes: The Form Wizard 141 Customizing Form Parts 146 Taking the Layout view 147 The theme''s the thing 147 Managing form controls 148 Managing Data in Form View 153 Navigating and finding records 153 Saving, clearing, and deleting 154 Chapter 9: Importing and Exporting Data 157 Retrieving Data from Other Sources 158 Translating data formats 158 Importing and linking 161 Hit the Road, Data 166 Export formats 167 Exporting table or query data 167 Exporting a report to PDF 169 Chapter 10: Automatically Editing Data 171 Please Read This First! 171 Creating Consistent Corrections 174 Using Queries to Automate the Editing Process 177 Looking for duplicate records 177 Running the Find Duplicates Query Wizard 178 Chapter 11: Access and the Web 183 How Access Works with the Web 183 Understanding Microsoft 365 184 Using the Access Web Browser Control 185 Click! Using hyperlinks in your desktop Access database 188 Adding a Hyperlink field to your desktop database table 189 Fine-tuning your hyperlinks 190 Testing links 192 Publishing Access objects to the web 192 Part 4: The Power of Questions 197 Chapter 12: Finding, Filtering, and Sorting Your Data -- Fast 199 Using the Find Command 200 Finding anything fast 201 Shifting Find into high gear 202 Sorting Alphabetically and Numerically 205 Sorting by a single field 205 Sorting on more than one field 206 Fast and Furious Filtering 207 Filtering by a field''s content 208 Filter by selection 209 Filter by Form 211 Unfiltering Filter by Form 213 Filter by excluding selection 214 Chapter 13: I Was Just Asking for Answers 215 Simple (Yet Potent) Filter and Sort Tools 216 Filter things first 216 Fact-finding with fun, fast filtering 219 Here''s the "advanced" part 220 Select Queries 226 Solid relationships are the key to getting it all (from your tables) 227 Running the Query Wizard 227 Getting Your Feet Wet with Ad Hoc Queries 233 Adding the finishing touches 237 Saving the query 239 Running your query 239 Chapter 14: I Want These AND Those OR Them 241 Working with AND and/or OR 242 Data from here to there 243 Using multiple levels of AND 244 Establishing criteria with OR 245 Combining AND with OR and OR with AND 246 Chapter 15: Number Crunching with the Total Row 249 Say Hello to the Total Row 249 Adding the Total Row to Your Queries 251 Giving the Total Row a Workout 252 Putting it together with Group By 253 Well, that certainly sums it up 255 Counting, the easy way 256 Narrowing the results with Where 258 Creating Your Own Top-Ten List 259 Choosing the Right Field for the Summary Instruction 260 Chapter 16: Express Yourself with Formulas 263 A Simple Calculation 264 Complex Calculations 267 Calculate ''til you drop! 267 Using one calculation in another 267 Using parameter queries to ask for help 268 "Adding" words with text formulas 270 Hooray for Expression Builder 272 Chapter 17: Take Charge with Action Queries 277 Easy Update 278 Add Records in a Flash 282 Quick Cleanup 285 Part 5: Simple and Snazzy Reporting 289 Chapter 18: Fast and Furious Automatic Reporting 291 Quick and Not-S0-Dirty Automatic Reporting 292 Creating a quick, one-table report 293 Starting the Report Wizard 297 Previewing Your Report 302 Zooming in and out and all around 304 Pop goes the menu 305 Beauty is Only Skin (Report) Deep 307 The Print Options tab 307 The Page tab 309 The Columns tab 310 Chapter 19: Professionally Designed Reports Made Easy 313 Report Repairs 314 Report Organization 315 Structural devices 316 Page breaks 318 Formatting Stuff 320 Adding color 323 Relocation, relocation, relocation 324 One size does not fit all 325 Spaced-out controls 327 Borderline beauty 328 Tweaking your text 332 Sneaking a Peek 333 Getting a Themes Makeover 335 Adding More Design Elements 336 Drawing lines 336 Pretty as a picture 337 Adding a logo 337 Chapter 20: Groups and Page Breaks, Headers and Footers 341 A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place 342 Layout basics 342 Sections 344 Grouping your records 347 So you want more? 350 Customizing Properties 351 Controlling report and page headings 353 Adjusting individual sections 355 Itemized adjustments 357 Chapter 21: Mailings to the Masses 363 Massive Mailings with the Label Wizard 363 Part 6: The Part of Tens 371 Chapter 22: Ten Common Problems 373 That''s Just Not Normal 374 You Type 73.725, but It Changes to 74 375 Where''s That Word I Just Typed? 375 Was There and Now It''s Gone 377 Undo 377 Search for the missing record 377 Backup recovery 378 You Run a Query, but the Results Aren''t What You Expect 378 The Dreaded Parameter Dialog Box 380 The Slowest Database in Town 380 Your Database File is Ginormous 382 You Get a Mess When Importing Your Spreadsheet 383 We''re Sorry; Your Database File is Corrupt 384 Chapter 23: Ten Uncommon Tips 385 Document Everything as if Your Life Depended on It 386 Keep Your Fields as Small as Possible 387 Use Number Fields for Real Numbers 388 Validate Your Data 388 Use Understandable Names to Keep Things Simple 389 Delete.