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Lesson 3Microsoft Access Window
ObjectiveIdentify the uses for frequently used elements of the Access window.

Microsoft Access Window

Menus, Toolbars, and Features

Microsoft Access Window
The Access window contains a variety of menus, toolbars, and other features that allow you to create and work with your database. The major features of the window include the title bar, menu, toolbar, Database window, and status bar.
Place your mouse over the highlighted portions of the Access window image below to identify and learn more about each of these elements.

  1. The title bar displays the name of the program (in this case, Microsoft Access). In some cases, the title bar may also display the name of the open database. You can click and drag the title bar to move the Access window.
  2. The Database window is the table of contents for the database. Here you see the names of the tables in the database.
  3. Use the menu to execute Access commands. You may find you seldom use the menu since there is almost always another way (such as a button or a shortcut key) to give the command.
  4. The toolbar gives you quick and easy access to commonly used features. The toolbar displays different buttons depending on the type of object that is active.
  5. The Database window toolbar provides buttons to create new objects and change the way objects listed in the Database window are displayed.
  6. The status bar gives you some very general information about the status of the application and any keyboard options that are turned on (such as Num Lock).
  7. Use this button to minimize the Access window.
  8. Use this button to maximize the Access window (so that it takes up the whole screen).
  9. The Access close button closes Access and any open database. You will be prompted to save any changes as necessary.
  10. Use this button to minimize the Database window.
  11. Use this button to maximize the Database window so that it takes up the whole Access window.
  12. Use the Database window close button to close the database.
  13. You can choose the type of object you want to see listed in the Database window from the Objects bar.

Microsoft Access Window
This MouseOver shows the Access window with the Database window active. The Database window lists the objects in the database and it makes sense to think it as the table of contents for the database. You will learn more details about using each element in the image above as you move through this course, and work on building your own database in the course project exercises.
In the next lesson learn how to use the Access Help system.

Microsoft Access Window Elements

Click the link below to read about the Access window.
Microsoft Access Window Elements