Access Advanced Database Design

This Microsoft Access course is for delegates who have sound skills in the use of MS Access and are now ready to expand their knowledge into some of the more specialised and advanced features of the software.

This course will provide delegates with the skills needed to create complex queries, create macros to automate tasks, enhance forms and reports and use the Access programming language Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), enabling delegates to really take control of their databases.

Course Prerequisites

• Delegates should understand database design and structure

• Delegates should be able to create and manipulate Queries

• This course assumes knowledge of how to create a database with many related tables

• Delegates should have an up to date working knowledge of Access and have attended Access Essentials course or have equivalent knowledge and experience

Course Objectives

• Put existing data into correctly designed tables and compact a database

• Use a variety of techniques to summarise data

• Create and edit Access macros

• Create macros to automate tasks within a database

• Use advanced features to enhance forms

• Add security features to protect your database

• Start creating programs in your database with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)

Included with this course

• Comprehensive course materials and exercises

• Telephone and Email Support

• Lunch and refreshments when training is delivered at our training venues

Access Advanced Database Design Course Content

Working with Action queries

• Update query

• Make Table query

• Find Duplicates query

• Append query

• Delete query

Advanced form design

• Unbound forms

• Command buttons

• Passing values to queries from a field on a form

• Creating Cascading Combo Boxes (The combo box filters the contents of another combo box)

• The Expression Builder

• Triggering Events on a form

• Using the data functions to return specific values, for example, DLookup, DSum, Dcount

Reports

• Grouping and sorting records

• Creating calculated fields

• Conditional formatting

Macros

• Creating macros

• Embedding Macros into buttons

• Message Boxes

• Macros in form events

• Passing values between forms to filter data

• Attaching macros to the quick access toolbar

Database utilities

• Configuring the Navigation Pane with custom groups

• Compacting and repairing a database

• Examining object dependencies

• Splitting a database into Front and back ends

• Creating Custom Ribbon Tabs

• Startup options and custom icons

• Protecting your database with a password

Introduction to programming in Access (VBA)

• This is a gentle introduction to programming in Access. It is where the real power lies when you create a database. Once you have mastered the user interface this is your next step. In this course we provide you with an ‘easy steps’ introduction to programming; you will learn how to:

• Use the programming environment

• Create your first program and attach it to a button

• Automate tasks such as:

• Open a form/ report, create your own switchboard

• How to run several queries at with the click of the button

• How to filter a form depending on the criteria chosen

• How to hide fields on a form

• How to display a message

• Once you have attended this course you will have the confidence to experiment and start learning how to program using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). This part of the course gives you a taster of programming without you having to attend a full blown programmers course.