Access 2016 For Dummies

Book description

Your all-access guide to all things Access 2016

If you don't know a relational database from an isolationist table—but still need to figure out how to organize and analyze your data—Access 2016 For Dummies is for you. Written in a friendly and accessible manner, it assumes no prior Access or database-building knowledge and walks you through the basics of creating tables to store your data, building forms that ease data entry, writing queries that pull real information from your data, and creating reports that back up your analysis. Add in a dash of humor and fun, and Access 2016 For Dummies is the only resource you'll need to go from data rookie to data pro!

This expanded and updated edition of Access For Dummies covers all of the latest information and features to help data newcomers better understand Access' role in the world of data analysis and data science. Inside, you'll get a crash course on how databases work—and how to build one from the ground up. Plus, you'll find step-by-step guidance on how to structure data to make it useful, manipulate, edit, and import data into your database, write and execute queries to gain insight from your data, and report data in elegant ways.

  • Speak the lingo of database builders and create databases that suit your needs
  • Organize your data into tables and build forms that ease data entry
  • Query your data to get answers right
  • Create reports that tell the story of your data findings

If you have little to no experience with creating and managing a database of any sort, Access 2016 For Dummies is the perfect starting point for learning the basics of building databases, simplifying data entry and reporting, and improving your overall data skills.

Table of contents

    1. Cover
    2. Introduction
      1. About This Book
      2. Foolish Assumptions
      3. Icons Used in This Book
      4. Beyond the Book
      5. Where to Go from Here
    3. Part I: Getting Started with Access 2016
      1. Chapter 1: Access 2016 Basic Training
        1. What Is Access Good For, Anyway?
        2. What’s New in Access 2016?
        3. Reach out with SharePoint
        4. How Access Works and How You Work with It
        5. Now What?
      2. Chapter 2: Navigating the Access Workspace
        1. Diving Right In
        2. Working with Onscreen Tools in Access
        3. Customizing the Access Workspace
        4. Mousing Around
        5. Navigating Access with the Alt Key
      3. Chapter 3: Database Basics
        1. Database Lingo
        2. Field Types and Uses
        3. Choosing Between Flat and Relational Databases
        4. Building a Database
        5. Adding and Removing Tables
      4. Chapter 4: Sounds Like a Plan
        1. Planning Your Database Tables
        2. Building Tables in Design View
    4. Part II: Getting It All on the Table
      1. Chapter 5: Table Tune Ups
        1. The Primary Key to Success
        2. Making Tables Get Along
        3. Building Table Relationships
        4. Indexing for Faster Queries
      2. Chapter 6: Remodeling Your Data
        1. Opening a Table for Editing
        2. Inserting Records and Fields
        3. Modifying Field Content
        4. Name-Calling
        5. Turn Uh-Oh! into Yee-Hah!
      3. Chapter 7: Types, Masks, and Triggers
        1. Access Table Settings
        2. Field Data Formats
        3. Gaining Control of Data Entry
        4. Give Your Fingers a Mini Vacation by Default
    5. Part III: Data Management Mania
      1. Chapter 8: A Form for All Reasons
        1. Generating Forms
        2. Customizing Form Parts
        3. Managing Data in Form View
      2. Chapter 9: Importing and Exporting Data
        1. Retrieving Data from Other Sources
        2. Hit the Road, Data
      3. Chapter 10: Automatic Data Editing
        1. Please Read This First!
        2. Creating Consistent Corrections
        3. Using Queries to Automate the Editing Process
      4. Chapter 11: Access and the Web
        1. How Access Works with the Web
        2. Understanding Office 365
        3. Connect Office 365 to Access 2016
        4. Meet the Custom Web App
        5. Click! Using Hyperlinks in Your Desktop Access Database
    6. Part IV: The Power of Questions
      1. Chapter 12: Finding, Filtering, and Sorting Your Data — Fast
        1. Using the Find Command
        2. Sorting from A to Z or Z to A
        3. Fast and Furious Filtering
      2. Chapter 13: I Was Just Asking … for Answers
        1. Simple (Yet Potent) Filter and Sort Tools
        2. Select Queries
        3. Getting Your Feet Wet with Ad Hoc Queries
      3. Chapter 14: I Want These AND Those OR Them
        1. Working with AND and/or OR
        2. Combining AND with OR and OR with AND
      4. Chapter 15: Number Crunching with the Total Row
        1. Say Hello to the Total Row
        2. Adding the Total Row to Your Queries
        3. Working Out the Total Row
        4. Creating Your Own Top-Ten List
        5. Choosing the Right Field for the Summary Instruction
      5. Chapter 16: Express Yourself with Formulas
        1. A Simple Calculation
        2. Complex Calculations
        3. Hooray for Expression Builder
      6. Chapter 17: Take Charge with Action Queries
        1. Easy Update
        2. Add Records in a Flash
        3. Quick Cleanup
    7. Part V: Simple and Snazzy Reporting
      1. Chapter 18: Fast and Furious Automatic Reporting
        1. Quick and Not-S0-Dirty Automatic Reporting
        2. Previewing Your Report
        3. Beauty Is Only Skin (Report) Deep
      2. Chapter 19: Professionally Designed Reports Made Easy
        1. Report Repairs
        2. Report Organization
        3. Formatting Stuff
        4. Sneaking a Peek
        5. Getting a Themes Makeover
        6. Adding More Design Elements
      3. Chapter 20: Headers and Footers and Groups, Oh My!
        1. A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
        2. Customizing Properties
      4. Chapter 21: Magical Mass Mailings
        1. Massive Mailings with the Label Wizard
    8. Part VI: More Power to You
      1. Chapter 22: Analyze This!
        1. From Flat File to Relational Tables with Table Analyzer
        2. Record Database Object Information with the Database Documenter
        3. Improve Database Performance without Steroids
      2. Chapter 23: Steer Users in the Right Direction with Navigation Forms
        1. The Comings and Goings of a Navigation Form
        2. Am I in the Right Place? Testing Navigation Forms
        3. Maintaining the Navigation Form
        4. Displaying the Navigation Form at Startup
    9. Part VII: The Part of Tens
      1. Chapter 24: Ten Common Problems
        1. That’s Just Not Normal
        2. You Type 73.725, but It Changes to 74
        3. The Words They Are A-Changing
        4. Was There and Now It’s Gone
        5. You Run a Query, but the Results Aren’t What You Expect
        6. The Dreaded Parameter Dialog Box
        7. The Slowest Database in Town
        8. Your Database File Is as Big as a Whale
        9. You Get a Mess When Importing Your Spreadsheet
        10. We’re Sorry; Your Database File Is Corrupt
      2. Chapter 25: Ten Uncommon Tips
        1. Document Everything as Though One Day You’ll be Questioned by the FBI
        2. Keep Your Fields as Small as Possible
        3. Use Number Fields for Real Numbers
        4. Validate Your Data
        5. Use Understandable Names to Keep Things Simple
        6. Delete with Great Caution
        7. Backup, Backup, Backup
        8. Think, Think, and Think Again
        9. Get Organized and Stay Organized
        10. There’s No Shame in Asking for Help
      3. Appendix A: Getting Help
        1. Asking Access for Help
        2. Online Help
        3. Who’s Our Next Caller?
    10. About the Authors
    11. Cheat Sheet
    12. Advertisement Page
    13. Connect with Dummies
    14. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Access 2016 For Dummies
  • Author(s): Laurie Ulrich Fuller, Ken Cook
  • Release date: November 2015
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781119083108