Managing Critical Business Information Using Microsoft Office Access 2003
(Microsoft Training Course: 4004) - 0.5 day - £600 exc VAT

This scenario-based class provides experienced Microsoft Access users with a stronger relational database foundation. It brings home relational database concepts and teaches how to employ powerful techniques using Access in gathering, organizing, and reporting of information vital to your business. This course is designed for experienced Access users.

1. Creating a Strong Foundation for Your Database
2. Creating an Effective User Interface
3. Organizing Data Though Queries
4. Reporting Strategic Information with Access
5. Integrating Access with other Office Applications

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Module 1: Creating a Strong Foundation for Your Database

• What Is a Relational Database?
• Demonstration: Creating Tables and Using the Relationships Window
• Expert Video: Importance of Using Relationships and Referential Integrity
• Types of Files Commonly Imported or Linked to Access
• Exercise: Importing a Text File and Excel Data
• Best Practices for Creating Tables and Utilizing Outside Data

Skills

• Describe relational database concepts.
  
• Create tables and relationships.
  
• Import data into tables from different types of file sources.
  
• Incorporate best practices for creating tables and utilizing outside data.
  

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Module 2: Creating an Effective User Interface

• Good Form Design
• Mapping Out the Forms to Use in the Fourth Coffee Database
• Exercise 1: Creating the Necessary Input Forms
• Exercise 2: Creating the Main Switchboard and Setting Startup Properties
• Best Practices for Creating User Interfaces

Skills

• Make intelligent decisions regarding the use of form standards.
  
• Create switchboards for launching tasks in their databases.
  
• Use a Form Wizard as a base for creating forms.
  
• Enhance forms so that users can work with them more effectively.
  

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Module 3: Organizing Data Though Queries

• Choosing the Right Type of Query for the Task at Hand
• Exercise 1: Creating Select and Totals Queries
• Retrieving Only the Information That You Want
• Exercise 2: Adding Criteria to Queries
• Exercise 3: Using Forms and Controls for Criteria
• Exercise 4: Adding Data by Using an Append Query
• Best Practices for Using Queries to Their Fullest Potential

Skills

• Use Query Design view.
  
• Specify and create various types of queries.
  
• Add parameters and criteria to query requests.
  
• Create forms that call queries.
  

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Module 4: Reporting Strategic Information with Access

• Generating Reports That Display Strategic Information
• Exercise 1: Generating the Base Report
• Demonstration: Touring Report Design View
• Exercise 2: Creating a Macro to Companies Only on the Report

Skills

• Generate a report by using the Report Wizard.
  
• Construct a form for calling the report and displaying the report in Print Preview mode for printing.
  
• Hide and display sections of a report.
  

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Module 5: Integrating Access with other Office Applications

• Integration with Other Office Applications
• Exercise 1: Publishing Information Using Word and Excel
• Exercise 2: Creating a Custom Toolbar for Office Links and Mail Recipient
• Exercise 3: Performing Mail Merge Between Access and Word
• Best Practices for Avoiding the Pitfalls of Integration

Skills

• Recognize how easily Access and other Office products integrate.
  
• Publish an Access report to Word.
  
• Export a table to Excel.
  
• Employ a custom toolbar that sends a report in e-mail.
  
• Perform a mail merge between Access and Word.
  

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Before attending this course, students must have the following pre-requisites:

• A basic understanding of relational databases.
• An understanding of Access tables, queries, forms and reports and a base knowledge of how they are used within an Access database.
• Experience creating Access macros and using them in forms.
• A working familiarity with standard Microsoft Office applications (such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel).

After completing the course, students will be able to create solid relational database structures using Access for data integrity that is easier to maintain; import data of various formats from outside sources; utilize appropriate techniques for querying information in the Access database as various business needs arise; create consistent standard user interfaces for inputting data; generate powerful and flexible reports for management; describe the benefits that can be realized from the integration of Access with other Office 2003 applications.