Access Quick Tips

Get quick tips for making the most of Microsoft Access.

Microsoft Access is a powerful tool for collecting, querying, and reporting data. This series provides tips on how to do all that more effectively. Laurie Ann Ulrich—author of Access for Dummies—provides solutions and shortcuts for making your database more logical, your form and queries more useful, your reports more informative and engaging, and your workflow more efficient. From storyboarding your database to setting up input masks and parameter prompts, these tips are perfect for novice and experienced users alike.

Introduction

• Making the most of Access

1. Planning

• Storyboarding
• Planning table and field names

2. Building a Table

• Quick table setups
• Effective naming conventions

3. Field Properties

• Using input masks
• Making validation rules
• Building lookup tables

4. Relationships

• Creating one-to-many relationships
• Type mismatch errors
• Editing relationships

5. Data Entry

• Fast forms with subforms
• Creating read-only forms
• Find your way with navigation forms
• Create combo and list boxes
• Make bigger buttons to speed data entry
• Adding forgotten fields to an existing form
• Adjusting tab order in forms

6. Queries

• Playing Go Fish with your data
• Finding missing data
• Updating records with a query

7. Reports

• Aligning form and report content
• Resizing field boxes and labels
• Distributing form and report content
• Creating labels for forms and reports
• Drawing straight lines