Part I - Organizing the Data - Using the demo database as an example, this section provides a practical guide to building a system of tables within your database that conforms to the rules of data normalization.

Part II - Building the Tables - After you've organized the data into a system of tables, you need to design those tables for maximum efficiency.  Access table design may seem complex but this chapter breaks it down by setting and explains the concepts behind all those choices.

Part III - Writing the Queries - In this chapter, I show how to use queries to retrieve data from tables and provide a very brief introduction to the SQL language which Access uses to manipulate data. (Republished on Microsoft Office Online .)

Part IV - Designing the Forms - Now that you have tables to store the data and queries to pull the data, you need forms to help ensure quick and accurate data entry.  In Part IV, I talk about the principles of designing a user interface and some of the creative tools you can use to design a great looking application.

Part V - Generating the Reports - A well designed system compiles and summarizes information in a way that can be easily understood.  One of the strengths of Microsoft Access is its built-in reporting tool.  With Access, you can design a variety of report types, including charts and graphs, as easily as you would design a form.

Advanced Form Design - Additional features that you can use to add power to your forms.

Using Lookup Fields - Save time and increase accuracy by using lookup fields in your tables and forms.

Access Security - Keeping your data safe in Access goes far beyond throwing a password on the database.  It's important to understand the capabilities ... and the limits ... of Access security.

"Where do I go from here?" - Advice for those who want to become experts with Microsoft Access.

Database Normalization - A companion slideshow for Part 1.  Explains the first three steps of database normalization while showing the practical steps for changing the original Excel file into an Access database.

Glossary - A glossary of terms used in this series.

Search Manager 1.0 - Search Manager is a database program that I designed to track job leads and job search activities.  You can use the program to track the progress of individual leads, company information and contact names and phone numbers.  The program will also generate activity reports on single or multiple leads.

This program also serves as an example of the sophistication you can build into an Access application.  It demonstrates all of the principles discussed in the Microsoft Access for Beginners series and more.

SM2002.zip (Access 2002 or later) 104.5 KB ( Download ) Manual  ( View online )

Microsoft Office Online - Microsoft's site for everything related to its Office suite.  This site features a searchable collection of helpful articles and samples for Office 2000 through Office 2007.  Resources include how-to instructions, clip art, templates and access to Microsoft Office Live, the online version of the suite.

Allen Browne's Access Tips - Articles for beginners and advanced users of the Microsoft Office Access database. Examples and solutions to implement. Bugs and traps to avoid. Sample code and utilities to download. All free.

Access-Freak.com - This is a resource site for Access 2007 and the new features it introduces.  The site offers a comparison between the newest version and the previous 2003 version.

Microsoft Access Security FAQ - This FAQ contains essential information for securing your Microsoft Access applications.  The FAQ officially covers versions 2.0 through 2000 although the principles remain the same through version 2003.

Data Modeling Overview - The University of Texas at Austin's I.T. Services department has a detailed, easy to read introduction to the concepts involved in organizing data.

Database Normalization - From Wikipedia.  This advanced article explains several rules of normalization, providing examples.

Introduction to Web Enterprise - John Valentino provides an overview of web technologies including databases such as Access and SQL Server.  His article provides summaries of various concepts and a host of useful links to additional information.

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