Introduction to Database

What is a Database

 A comprehensive collection of related data

organized for convenient access, generally
in a computer
 A collection of data, description of that
data and the relationships between those
data
 Database Management System – a
program that facilitates the storage and
retrieval of structured information on a
computer’s hard drive.
 MS Access as DbMS

 Table – a list of data held as rows and

columns
 Record – row in a table
 Field – column in a table
• Each field is represented by a FieldName
 Linked Table – a set of data that lives
outside of Access and is used within your
application
 MS Access as DbMS

 Wizards – aid you in creation of certain

objects
 Designers – provide a window in which to
work while creating Access objects.
 External Data – an information that exists
outside the Access file that you wish to
use
 MS Access Package

 A Relational Database System that

supports two industry standard query
languages: Structured Query
Language(SQL) and Query By Example
(QBE)
 Full-featured procedural programming
language – essentially a subset of Visual
Basic
 A simplified procedural macro language
unique to Access
 MS Access Package

 Rapid Application Development

environment complete with visual form
and report development tools
 A sprinkling of object-oriented extensions
 Various Wizards and Builders to make
development easier
 Good Database Design

 One of the goals of good database design

is to remove data redundancy (duplicate
data). To achieve that goal, you divide
your data into many subject-based tables
so that each fact is represented only once.
 Provide MS Access with the means by
which to bring the divide information back
together – by establishing table
Relationships
 Table Relationships

 One-To-Many
 One-To-One Enforce Referential Integrity
Data in foreign key should ALWAYS be
 Many-To-Many present in the primary key

Cascade Update
Related Fields
Any modifications or
Deletions made from
the table will
automatically be
reflected to the related
table
Table Relationships
Table Relationships
Database Normalization
MS Access Interface
 MS Access Interface

 The Ribbon
 Where all the Creation, Formatting, Database
and External Data Tools are found
 The Navigation Pane
 Holds all your Access objects including
Tables, Queries, Forms and Reports
 The Development and Work Area
 Will be filled with object designers and
developed Tables, Queries, Forms, Reports
and Macros
Objects in MS Access
Objects in MS Access
The Navigation Pane
 Naming Conventions

 With Access Objects, it is a good idea to

be concise with objects names to allow
yourself and other developers to easily
navigate the application.
 e.g. 3-letter prefixes – frm for Forms, qry for
Queries and rpt for Reports
 tbl_employees; frm_newEmployee
 Tables

Field data type

Field names

Table names

Field Properties
 Queries

Data sources

Columns to display

Sort by column
Criteria
 Forms

Design View
 Forms

Form View
 Forms

DataSheet View
 Forms

Main form

Datasheet form

Split-Form View
 Reports

Design View
 Reports

Print Preview
 Macros

Commands

Macro Names
 The Design Tools
Navigation Control Options
Button Bound
Insert Page Break Object
Button
Rectangle Frame
Link Chart
Text Box Check Box

Select Unbound
Line Object
Image
Combo Box Frame
Label Subform/
List Box
Option Group SubReport
Tab Control
Attachment
Toggle Button
Web Browser Control
The Property Sheet

Format

Data

Event

Other

All
The Property Sheet

Format Property
The Property Sheet

Data Property
The Property Sheet

Data Property
The Property Sheet

Event Property
The Property Sheet

Other Property
MS Access Commands and Functions
MS Access Commands and Functions
MS Access Commands and Functions
MS Access Commands and Functions
MS Access Commands and Functions
MS Access Commands and Functions