Microsoft Access courseware and training manuals

Our basic Access courseware shows how to use tables, queries, forms and reports in Access, while our VBA courseware shows how to create modules and write VBA code within Access:

You can see details of how to license our Microsoft Access courseware (including volume requirements) here.

Access courseware

Here is a list of all of our Access manual chapters (you can download the ones marked):

Chapter Sections Subsections
Access Basics (12 pages) Introduction to Access Access Objects
Entering and Leaving Access Entering Access ; The Getting Started Page
Doing Things in Access Using the Access Ribbon ; Using Keyboard Short-Cuts ; Using Short-Cut Menus
Undoing and Redoing Commands Undoing Commands ; Redoing Commands
Opening and Closing Databases Opening an Existing Database ; Closing a Database ; A Note about Security
Creating a New Database Starting a Blank Database ; Using a Template
Database Files Access 2010 Files ; Working with Older Access Databases
Working with Databases The Navigation Pane ; Viewing Database Objects ; Tabs and Windows
Using Help Searching for Help ; Using Screentips
Office 2010 Interface (8 pages) Interacting With Office 2010 The File Menu ; The Ribbon ; The Mini Toolbar ; The Quick Access Toolbar
Using the Ribbon Tabs, Groups and Commands ; Using Quick Keys ; Seeing More Options
Customising the Ribbon
Getting Help on the Ribbon
Designing a Database (4 pages) The Stages of Database Design Stage 1 – Deciding What to Include ; Stage 2 – Dividing Data into Tables ; Stage 3 – Choosing a Primary Key ; Stage 4 – Drawing your Relationships ; The End Result
Many to Many Relationships
Table Design (18 pages) Creating New Tables Creating Tables in Datasheet View ; Creating Tables in Design View ; Creating Tables using a Template
Field Data Types Text Fields ; Memo Fields ; Number Fields ; Dates and Times ; Currency ; AutoNumber Fields ; Yes/No Fields ; OLE Object Fields ; Hyperlink Fields ; Attachment Fields ; Calculated Fields
Field Properties Properties for Formatting ; Properties for Validation ; Other Useful Properties
Setting a Primary Key Multiple Primary Keys
Lookup Fields Creating a Simple Lookup Field ; Lookup Fields Based on Tables ; Multiple Value Lookup Fields ; Lookup Fields Based on Queries
Datasheets (8 pages)

Download this chapter 		Moving Around a Table
Working with Records Creating New Records ; Selecting Records ; Abandoning a Record ; Deleting Records ; Copying Records
Sorting Records Removing Sorting
Filtering Records Applying Simple Filters ; Applying Complex Filters ; Removing Filters
Formatting Datasheets Column Widths and Row Heights ; Moving Columns ; Hiding and Unhiding Columns ; Formatting Text ; Formatting Numbers ; Rich Text Formatting
Subdatasheets
Relationships (6 pages) Pre-Conditions for Creating Relationships
Creating Relationships
Editing and Deleting Relationships Selecting Relationships ; Editing a Relationship ; Deleting a Relationship
Referential Integrity Cascade Deletion ; Cascade Updating
Printing Relationships
Importing and Exporting Data (4 pages) Importing Data The Data Source ; Importing Data ; Linked Tables
Exporting Data Reusing Saved Import/Export Steps
Basic Queries (12 pages) Creating a Query
Running a Query Structured Query Language (SQL)
Customising the Query Window
Editing a Query Adding Tables to a Query ; Deleting Tables from a Query ; Adding Single Fields to a Query ; Adding Multiple Fields to a Query ; Deleting Fields from a Query ; The Asterisk (*) – Including All Fields ; Changing the Order of Fields ; Sorting by Fields ; Omitting Fields ; The Best Way to Write Queries ; Saving Queries
Setting Criteria
Criteria Examples Exact Matches ; Pattern Matches ; Comparisons ; Combining Comparisons ; A Couple of Extra Ideas for Searches
Parameter Queries (4 pages) Creating Basic Parameter Queries
Using More Complex Criteria Using Multiple Criteria ; Using Comparison Symbols ; Using Wildcard Characters
Limitations of Parameter Queries
Group and Total Queries (4 pages) Groups and Totals Creating a Group and Total Query ; Changing Grouping Levels
Using Criteria in Group and Total Queries Setting Criteria Using the Where Clause
Totals in Datasheets
Expression Queries (6 pages) Expression Queries Creating an Expression Query
Using Expression Builder Zooming In
Functions Typing in Functions ; Using Functions in the Expression Builder ; The IIF Function ; The NZ Function
Text Expressions Concatenating Text ; Text Functions
Date and Time Expressions Simple Date Expressions ; Date and Time Functions
Joins (6 pages) Introduction to Joins
Creating and Deleting Joins Creating a Join ; Deleting Joins
Types of Join Inner Joins ; Outer Joins ; Using Outer Joins to Find Unmatched Records
Action Queries (6 pages) Introduction
Make Table Queries
Append Queries
Update Queries
Delete Queries The FROM and WHERE Options
Crosstab Queries (4 pages) How Crosstab Queries Work
Creating a Crosstab Query Displaying Row “Totals”
Summarising By Month, Quarter or Year Displaying the Month Name ; Changing the Column Order
Basic Forms (6 pages) What is a Form?
Creating New Forms
Views of Forms
Using Forms Moving Between Records ; Selecting Records in a Form ; Sorting, Filtering and Finding
Split Forms
Finding and filtering (6 pages) How Filters Work Cumulative Filters
Applying Filters Common Filters ; Filtering by Selection ; Filtering by Form ; Advanced Filters
Removing Filters Clearing Filters ; Toggling Filters
Finding Records
Formatting Forms and Reports (16 pages) Introduction to Formatting Which View Should You Use?
Selecting Controls Selecting a Single Control ; Selecting Every Control on a Form ; Selecting Multiple Controls ; Using the Ruler to Select Controls ; Selecting a Section ; Selecting a Form
Control Layouts Types of Control Layout ; Resizing Controls in a Layout ; Moving Controls in a Layout ; Removing Controls from a Layout ; Adding Controls to a Layout
Manipulating Controls Moving Controls ; Resizing Controls ; Deleting Controls ; Sizing Controls Automatically ; Distributing Controls ; Aligning Controls
Properties
Formatting Controls Basic Font Formatting ; Formatting Lines and Borders ; Gridlines ; Formatting Numbers and Dates ; Themes ; Form Logos
Conditional Formatting Deleting Conditional Formats
Setting Form Defaults Saving Default Control Formats ; Saving Default Form Templates
Basic Reports (12 pages) What are Reports?
Views of Reports
Creating Reports Creating Quick Reports ; Using the Report Wizard
Previewing a Report Moving Between Pages ; Zooming ; Viewing Different Numbers of Pages ; Page Size and Orientation ; Margins
Printing Reports
Report Sections Changing Section Heights ; Changing the Report Width ; Why Can’t I Make My Report Narrower?
Sorting and Grouping Adding Totals to a Group ; Avoiding Splitting a Group across Pages ; Removing a Group
Adding Controls (8 pages) Introduction Locking a Control to the Mouse
Lines and Rectangles
Labels and Text Boxes Adding Labels ; Adding Bound Text Boxes ; Adding Unbound Text Boxes
Command Buttons
Check Boxes and Toggle Buttons
Option Groups Creating an Option Group
Combo/List Boxes
Multiple Forms (8 pages) What are Multiple Forms?
Combo Boxes Based on Other Tables Setting Combo Box Format Properties ; Setting Combo Box Data Properties ; Using Lookup Fields
Subforms Editing Subforms ; Editing a Subform in a Separate Window ; Creating a Subform using the Wizard ; Adding a Subform to a Main Form ; Adding Totals to a Subform
Showing Parent Fields on Child Forms
Two Ways to Program in Access (4 pages) Macros vs. VBA
Reasons to Learn Macros
Reasons to Learn VBA Converting Macros to Visual Basic
Basic Macros (14 pages) What are Macros?
Creating Simple Macros
Working with Macro Actions Adding Actions to a Macro ; Deleting Actions ; Moving Actions ; Collapsing and Expanding Actions ; Grouping Actions
Running Macros Running Macros from the Navigation Pane ; Attaching a Macro to a Form Button ; Running a Macro Step-by-Step ; Running One Macro from Another Macro
Adding Program Flow Elements to Macros Comments ; Creating Submacros ; Using Submacros ; Error Handling ; If Statements
Embedded Macros Creating an Embedded Macro
Data Macros Creating a Data Macro ; The Data Events ; Example of a Data Macro
Using the VB Editor (8 pages) Using the Access Window to Write Code
The VBA Code Editor Switching to/from the VB Editor ; Project Explorer ; The Properties Window ; Docking Windows
Modules Inserting a Module ; Renaming Modules ; Deleting Modules
Procedures Creating a Procedure ; Moving between Procedures ; Why Some Words Appear in Blue
Finding and Replacing Text Finding Text ; Replacing Text
Getting Help Using Help ; Getting Help using Search Engines ; AutoCompletion of Commands
Good Coding Practice (4 pages) Comments Commenting Out Multiple Lines
Layout of Code Splitting Lines of Code using Continuation Characters ; Indenting Lines
Modular Coding Advantages of Modular Coding
Using Different Modules
Checking and Running Macros (4 pages) Three Stages to Run a Macro Examples of the Different Stages of Error
Checking your Macros before Running Them On-Line Syntax Checking ; Turning Off Syntax Checking ; Compiling your Code
Running and Stopping Procedures Running the Currently Selected Procedure ; Stopping a Procedure which is Running
Talking to your users (6 pages) Basic Message Boxes Syntax of the MsgBox Command ; Named Arguments ; Building Up Messages ; Multiple Line Messages
Customising your Message Box Button Combinations Available ; Symbols Available
Asking Questions with Message Boxes The Possible Buttons ; The Different Button Values Possible
Asking for Information Syntax of the InputBox Function ; Example of an InputBox Function
Displaying Messages in the Status Bar
Using VBA - Front Menus (6 pages) Our Menu System
Creating a Splash Form Step One: Ensuring that Forms don’t Fill the Screen ; Step Two: Designing your Form ; Step Three: Ensuring your Form Opens Non-Maximized ; Step Four: Getting your Splash Form to Disappear ; Step Five: Getting your Splash Form to Autostart ; Other Startup Options
Creating a Menu Form
Using VBA - Validating Forms (4 pages) Overview of Form Validation Form Validation Methods Summarised
Setting Field Validation Rules
Checking Each Control before you Leave it
Checking a Record before you Save It
Using VBA - Criteria Forms (4 pages) What is a Criteria Form?
Creating the Criteria Form Creating the Form ; Writing the Code for the Show Button
Creating the Underlying Query
Creating the Report Redisplaying the Criteria Form when you Close the Report
Using VBA - Navigation Buttons (4 pages) Wizards versus Creating Your Own
Creating your Navigation Buttons Step One: Adding Form Buttons ; Step Two: Creating the Navigation Buttons Code ; Step Three: Attaching your Function to your Button

Access Visual Basic courseware

Here is a list of all of our Access Visual Basic manual chapters (you can download the ones marked):

Chapter Sections Subsections
Two Ways to Program (2 pages) Macros and Modules
Two Reasons to Use VBA not Macros
Writing Code (8 pages) The VBA Code Editor Going to the VBA Editor ; Project Explorer ; ; ; ; ; The Properties Window ; Docking Windows
Modules Inserting a Module ; Renaming Modules ; Deleting Modules
Procedures Creating a Procedure ; Moving between Procedures
Finding and Replacing Text Finding Text ; Replacing Text
Getting Help AutoCompletion of Commands (Intellisense) ; Using Search Engines
Good Coding Practice (4 pages) Comments Commenting out Multiple Lines
Layout of Code Splitting Lines of Code using Continuation Characters ; Indenting Lines
Modular Coding Advantages of Modular Coding
Using Different Modules
Checking and Running Macros (4 pages) Three Stages to Run a Macro Examples of the Different Stages of Error
Checking your Macros before Running Them On-Line Syntax Checking ; Turning Off Syntax Checking ; Compiling your Code
Running and Stopping Procedures Running the Currently Selected Procedure ; Stopping a Procedure which is Running
Displaying Messages (5 pages) The MsgBox Function Syntax and Parameters of a Message Box
Displaying Messages Displaying a Simple Message ; A Note on Using Parentheses ; Using Multiple Lines ; Customising the Title
Icons and Buttons Modifying the Buttons ; Setting the Default Button ; Displaying Icons ; Combining Buttons and Icons
User Inputs (5 pages) Asking Users for Input Where to Store User Input
Asking a Question with a Message Box The Possible Results of a Message Box ; Storing the Result of a Message Box ; Testing Which Button was Clicked
The InputBox Function Syntax and Parameters of the InputBox Function ; Using an Input Box to Ask a Question ; Setting a Default Value ; What Happens if You Click Cancel?
Variables (9 pages) Data Types in VBA Summary of the VBA Data Types
Declaring and Using Variables The Dim Statement ; Writing To and Reading From Variables
Declared vs. Non-Declared Variables Non-Declared Variables ; Explicitly-Declared Variables ; Forcing Explicit Variable Declaration
Variables and Data Types The Variant Data Type ; Declaring Multiple Variables
Converting Variable Data Types Explicit Data Type Conversion ; Checking for Dates and Numbers
The Scope of Variables Procedure Level Variables ; Module Level Variables ; Project Level Variables
Constants Declaring a Constant ; The Scope of Constants
Arrays (6 pages) Overview of Arrays Viewing the Contents of Arrays ; The Array Function
Declaring Arrays Setting the Dimensions of an Array ; Changing the Base of Arrays ; Declaring Multi-Dimensional Arrays
Populating Arrays
Reading from Arrays Referring to a Specific Element ; Looping Over an Array ; The Bounds of an Array ; Using For Each Loops
Dynamic Arrays Re-Dimensioning an Empty Array ; Preserving the Contents of an Array
Writing Functions (4 pages) What is a Function?
Creating Functions An Example of a Function ; Testing Functions in the Immediate Window
Using a Function in a Query Step One: Creating the Function ; Step Two: Test the Function ; Step Three: Incorporate the Function within your Query
Embedded Procedures (6 pages) What are Embedded Procedures?
Attaching Code to Events Step One: Selecting the Form, Report or Control to Attach Code to ; Step Two: Choosing the Event ; Step Three: Writing the Code ; Alternative Method: Using the Code Window to Assign Code
Using ME Using Me to Avoid Hard-Coding a Form or Report Name ; Using Me to Get Autocompletion for Control Names
Major Events Useful Form Events ; Useful Control Events
Renaming Controls and Procedures
How VBA Really Works (8 pages) Collections and Objects The Count Property
Referring to Form, Report and Control Objects Referring to Forms or Reports ; Referring to Controls
Properties and Methods Properties ; Changing Properties in Visual Basic ; Methods ; Using Autocompletion to Distinguish between Methods and Properties
The DoCmd Object
The Access Object Models The Object Browser
Object Variables Declaring Variables – the SET Command ; Converting Control Types
Loops and Logic (6 pages) Simple Conditions Using IF Simple Conditions ; Testing Alternatives (ELSE)
Multiple Conditions Multiple Conditions Using Nested IF Statements ; Multiple Conditions Using the SELECT statement
Normal Looping Looping Until a Condition is True (DO UNTIL … LOOP) ; Looping While a Condition is True (DO WHILE … LOOP)
Looping a Set Number of Times (FOR … NEXT) Exiting Prematurely from Loops
Looping over Collections Some Examples of Looping Over Collections
Debugging (10 pages) Our Example
Debugging The Debugging Toolbar ; Starting the Debugger ; Stepping Over or Through ; Moving the Next Execution Line
Breakpoints Setting Breakpoints ; Removing Breakpoints ; Permanent Breakpoints (STOP) ; Conditional Breakpoints (Debug.Assert)
The Immediate Window Examples using the Immediate Window ; Executing Statements Using the Immediate Window ; Clearing the Immediate Window ; Using DEBUG.PRINT
Looking at Variables Hovering over Variables in Break Mode ; The Locals Window ; Watching Variables
The Call Stack Displaying the Call Stack ; Using the Call Stack
Handling Errors (3 pages) The ERR Object
Trapping Errors and Resuming Execution
Putting It All Together – an Example
Queries and Tables in VBA (4 pages) Overview of QueryDefs
Creating and Deleting QueryDefs Creating Queries in Code ; Deleting Queries
An Example – Criteria Form
TableDefs – An Overview Listing out Tables ; The Bad News about TableDefs
Access Objects (4 pages) What is an Access Object?
Accessing an Object Choosing the Containing Object ; Collections Within Code Objects ; Collections within Access Database Data Objects
Putting it Together – Accessing Objects Example: Listing Form Names ; Example: Finding Out if a Form is Open ; Example: Listing Queries ; Example: Listing Database Contents
Recordsets (8 pages) Using the Right Object Library A Quick Reminder
Types of Cursor
Creating a Recordset Creating a Recordset Based on an SQL Command
Working with Recordsets Moving through Recordsets ; Example of Moving through Recordsets ; Referring to Fields
Editing Records Choosing a Lock Type ; Editing Records ; Adding New Records ; Deleting Records
Finding Records Repeated Finds
Case Study - Navigation Buttons (5 pages) Using a Wizard vs Creating your Own
Creating the Navigation Buttons Step One: Adding Form Buttons ; Step Two: Creating the Navigation Buttons Code ; Step Three: Attaching your Function to your Button
Case Study - Front Menu (5 pages)

Download this chapter 		The Menu System
Creating the Splash Form Step 1 - Creating the Form ; Step 2 – Setting Overlapping Forms ; Step 3 – Getting the Form to Resize ; Step 4 – Getting the Splash Form to Disappear
Creating the Menu
Case Study - Criteria Forms (5 pages) The Final System
Creating the Criteria Form Creating Combo Boxes
Creating the Query for the Data Form
Creating the Data Form
The Code Gluing Everything Together Code for the Criteria Form ; Code for the Data Form
Case Study - Validating Forms (4 pages) Overview of Form Validation Form Validation Methods Summarised
Setting Field Validation Rules
Checking Each Control before you Leave it
Checking a Record before you Save It

Notes:

  1. Since Wise Owl print courseware double-sided to save trees, the number of physical pages in each chapter is roughly half of the number of sides quoted.
  2. Downloads are provided as examples only, and should not be used or distributed in any way or form without the prior written permission of Wise Owl.
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