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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:
- 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.
- 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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