Computer E-Learning

Welcome to the Access 2013 Expert workshop. This course covers everything from customizing your apps, to expert-level table, query, form, and report tasks. By the time you finish this course, you will be able to make the most out of Access 2013.

Access 2013 has a number of ready-to-use apps. You may have even experimented with modifying an app so that it can better fit your needs. But sometimes, it’s better to just start from scratch to get the app that you need. In this module, you’ll go through the process of creating your own app using the Custom web app starter, a combination of template tables and blank tables, and importing tables from Access 2010

When you are designing your app, you can add new actions to the Action bar. These actions can be customized using macros. Macros are like a simplified programming language that you write by building a list of actions you want Access to perform. This module will help you create, edit, or delete custom actions.

Interface macros can perform actions like opening another view or applying a filter. An embedded user interface macro attaches directly to objects in your app like buttons, combo boxes, or the Action Bar button. Standalone user interface macros can be reused to avoid duplicating code. You can run a standalone macro from within an embedded macro. You’ll learn how to create these macros in this module. We’ll also learn how to save your app as a package.

Now we’ll move to working in Desktop Databases. Although many of the skills you learned when working in apps applies to desktop databases (and in some cases, vice versa), not all desktop options are available in apps. The skills in this module are a prime example. We’ll look at restricting data input with validation rules and messages in this module.

This module looks a macros in the desktop database environment. We’ll start with learning how to create a data macro and a named macro. Then, you’ll learn how to rename and delete macros. The module will close with learning about the AutoExec macro.

This module explains how to create an update query and a parameter query. You’ll also learn how to use joins to compare the information in two different tables.

This module will help you become an expert at designing forms. We’ll start with design view, where you can change the structure of your form. You’ll also learn how to use form controls, like text boxes, combo boxes, etc. We’ll take a look at the Property Sheet, where you can modify anything about your controls. Finally, you’ll learn how to add header and footer elements to your form, like a logo, title, and the date and time.

This module will help you become an expert at designing reports. Again, we’ll start with the design view for reports. Then you’ll learn how to apply conditional formatting. You’ll also learn how to group and sort items in a report. This module discusses how to add calculated controls. Finally, we’ll look at creating labels.

In this module, we’ll look at several tools to help you improve your database. First, we’ll look at the database documenter, which can help you keep a record of your database objects for offline reference. Next, we’ll look at two ways to analyze your database. The Table Analyzer helps with tables that contain too many repetitions of the same data that should be separated for better performance. The Database Performance tool provides specific suggestions for improving your database. Last, we’ll look at the compact and repair tool.

This module will get you more confident with customizing the Access Environment. First, we’ll look at the Database Properties dialog box, where you can attach different types of information to a database to help with organizing your files or to help with searching for a particular file. Then we’ll look at how to encrypt a database with a password. Then, you’ll learn how to use the Save Object As command. Finally, we’ll look at customizing Access by setting options.

Although this workshop is coming to a close, we hope that your journey to improve your Access skills is just beginning. Please take a moment to review and update your action plan. This will be a key tool to guide your progress in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. We wish you the best of luck on the rest of your travels!