Access Database Prerequisites

To get the most out of this course, you should be comfortable using your computer, that includes opening and closing applications, saving files, moving and sizing windows, and using Windows Explorer to find, open, copy, and move files.

• Platform Support
  This course is designed for the Windows, Linux, and Mac OS platforms.
  In the next lesson, we will take a look at what you need in order to get the most from this course.
• Defining Requirements And How They Work
  A requirement is a specification that informs the developer what should be included or implemented in a database application.
  Here are some example Access database requirements:

1. A user driven feature: "The user must be able to include a total of each salesperson's sales."
2. A system property: "There should be a login form and limits as for user rights."
3. A application constraint: "All code must include error trapping."
4. We help you create your Requirements Specificiations with our Database Planning Phase for your project.

This is where the similarities with other database engines end. Access is also an application development platform that you can use to define forms, menus, and reports.With Access, you can design forms to display and update data. Because the form definition is integrally tied to the data schema, the form can easily enforce data integrity. For example, if you define a foreign key relationship between two tables, the form can automatically provide a dropdown list showing the permitted values. Access provides a facility for designing reports that use tables or queries. Because the report writer is integrated into the database design, you can simplify the report definition. MS Access also allows you to create forms for navigating through the various forms and reports, so you can control the entire user experience. Finally, by using macros and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), you can automate tasks and provide advanced features.

• Required software
  In addition to a Web browser, you will need the Microsoft Access 365 application. Access should already be installed on your PC since this course does not cover the installation process. If you have Access 365 you can still work through the course, but be aware that some features are different. We will discuss the major differences for you so you know what to expect.
• Optional Recommended Books
  I recommend two books to assist you as you work with Access. One is a quick reference since it gives instructions on how to complete tasks but does not delve much into why or when you might need to do the task. The other is a more complete reference with lots of explanatory text and examples. If you decide to buy a text book, you should buy the version of the book that matches your version of the software. The following book is recommended to go along with this course: MS Access 365 .
• Course downloads
  You will need to download a copy of the Consulting database to work on throughout the course. Additional versions of the database that include the results of the exercises in each module are also available. You may want to download them if you want to check your answers with an actual database (as opposed to an image that I provide on the exercise results pages), or if you somehow wreck your database and do not want to repeat earlier exercises.

Click the Exercise link below to proceed with downloading the Consulting database you will need for the course.
Consulting Database - Exercise