Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual: Exactly What You Need to Get Started

by Kate Chase, Scott Palmer

Overview

Maybe you got Access as part of Microsoft Office and wonder what it can do for you and your household; maybe you're a small business manager and don't have a techie on staff to train the office in Microsoft Access. Regardless, you want to quickly get your feet wet—but not get in over your head—and Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual is the book to make it happen.

Far more than a skimpy introduction but much less daunting than a weighty tech book, Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual demystifies databases and explains how to design and create them with ease. It delivers everything you need—and nothing you don't—to use Access right away. It's your expert guide to the Access features that are most vital and most useful, and it's your trusted advisor on the more in-depth features that are best saved for developers and programmers.

Access is sophisticated and powerful enough for professional developers but easy and practical enough for everyday users like you. This Missing Manual explains all the major features of Access 2003, including designing and creating databases, organizing and filtering information, and generating effective forms and reports.

Bestselling authors, database designers, and programmers Scott Palmer, Ph.D., and Kate Chase are your guides for putting the world's most popular desktop data management program to work. Their clear explanations, step-by-step instructions, plenty of illustrations, and timesaving advice help you get up to speed quickly and painlessly.

Whether you're just starting out or you know you've been avoiding aspects of the program and missing out on much of what it can do, this friendly, witty book will gently immerse you in Microsoft Access. Keep it handy, as you'll undoubtedly refer to it again and again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780596006655
Publisher:	O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/01/2005
Series:	Missing Manual Series
Pages:	396
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.19(h) x 0.96(d)

About the Author

Kate J. Chase is a Microsoft MVP in Office Systems as well as the author/co-author or editor of more than 30 technical reference books, including several books and training modules devoted to Office products. She has developed and managed vibrant online support communities for industry leaders like America Online, The Microsoft Network, and ZDnet. In addition, she frequently uses the tools in Office to work collaboratively with partners throughout the US and the world.

Scott Palmer, Ph.D., has done database design and programming since 1985. He is the author of 21 books, including three best-sellers. He was computer columnist for The Washington DC Business Journal and has written for The Wall Street Journal, Federal Computer Week, InfoWorld, PC World, Cato Policy Report, Reason Magazine, and many other publications. He studied at Indiana University, the State University of New York, and the University of London. He is a member of the Mathematical Association of America and the American Economic Association.

Table of Contents

The Missing Credits; About The Authors; About the Creative Team; Acknowledgements; The Missing Manual Series; Introduction; What’s a Database?; About Access Databases; About This Book; The Very Basics; Example Databases; About MissingManuals.com; Safari Enabled; Building a Database; Chapter 1: Creating Databases; 1.1 A Tour of an Access Database; 1.2 Creating a New Database; 1.3 Starting with a Wizard; 1.4 Modifying the Wizard’s Database; 1.5 Starting from a Blank Database; Chapter 2: Creating Tables to Hold Data; 2.1 Planning Your Tables; 2.2 Creating Tables with the Wizard; 2.3 Creating Tables in the Design Window; 2.4 Adding and Editing Table Data; 2.5 Changing How a Table Displays Data; Chapter 3: Creating Forms to Add and Display Data; 3.1 Form Basics; 3.2 Creating Autoforms; 3.3 Creating Forms with the Form Wizard; 3.4 Modifying the Form Design; 3.5 Creating Forms in Design View; Chapter 4: Linking Tables to Combine Data; 4.1 Why Relate?; 4.2 A Relational Database Tour; 4.3 Linking Tables in the Relationships Window; 4.4 Using Subdatasheets to View Related Items; 4.5 Creating Subforms; Organizing information; Chapter 5: Sorting and Filtering; 5.1 Sorting Database Records; 5.2 Finding Data with Filters; Chapter 6: Finding Data with Queries; 6.1 Types of Queries; 6.2 Setting Query Properties; 6.3 Creating Queries with the Query Wizard; 6.4 Saving, Deleting, and Printing Queries; Chapter 7: Creating Custom Queries; 7.1 Creating Queries in the Query Design Window; Chapter 8: Generating Reports; 8.1 Report Basics; 8.2 Parts of a Report; 8.3 Using the Report Wizard; Appendixes; Help and Installation; Installing Access 2003; Access Help; Visiting Microsoft Office Online; Access FAQ; Importing and Exporting; Validation; Finding Find; Access 2003, Menu by Menu; File Menu; Edit Menu; View Menu; Insert Menu; Format Menu; Records Menu; Tools Menu; Window Menu; Help Menu; Colophon;