Category: Databases

SQL Server for Beginners: Part III – SQL Server Management Studio

April 18, 2014December 30, 2025 Andrew Comeau

On request, I’m reposting this series of articles on SQL Server. I have reviewed them for any obvious issues but please remember that these were written in 2014 and may not always reflect the current technology. See the official Microsoft page for more information on the latest version.

Once you have SQL Server and all the necessary updates installed, the next step is to learn how to create databases and work with them. The easiest interface available to the beginner is Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), a graphical environment where you can view and manipulate all of the databases and other objects on your SQL Server instance and perform other advanced functions.

If you installed the Express edition with Management Tools or Advanced Tools as detailed in the last chapter, you should have SSMS installed and showing in the Program Menu under whichever version of SQL Server you have installed. Just click on the program to open it.

Articles, Database Design, SQL

SQL Server for Beginners: Part II – Installing SQL Server Express

April 18, 2014December 30, 2025 Andrew Comeau

Just like with any software, SQL Server uses a standard installation program to install its components on your system. Depending on the edition that you’re using, you will be installing it from media that you purchased or from the free install packages that you can download from Microsoft’s website. Unlike other installs, the SQL Server installation can be a long process as there are a number of components, requirements and options to consider, many of which I’ll be detailing in this article.

Articles, Database Design, SQL

SQL Server for Beginners: Part I – From Desktop to Network

April 18, 2014December 30, 2025 Andrew Comeau

In an earlier series of articles, I wrote about getting started with Microsoft Access, which is one of the foremost desktop database packages available and an excellent tool for small to mid-size database projects. While it was not the first database software that I used, it was the one that took me from novice to professional status. Once I reached that level, however, I had to start learning more advanced tools in order to advance in my career and take on new projects. One important set of tools was Microsoft SQL Server which remains one of the most popular network database systems on the market.

Articles, Database Design, SQL

On software design …

September 18, 2013November 8, 2022 Andrew Comeau

In my upcoming book, Your First Guide to Database Design, my goal is to provide a clear guide for users at all levels of experience on how to organize their data into an efficient database, regardless of whether they’re using a desktop database like Microsoft Access or a network software such as MySQL. The first chapter…

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Database Design, Programming, Reviews

Removing Duplicate Records in Microsoft Access

May 26, 2013November 6, 2025 Andrew Comeau

Occasionally, you might have a table in Access that contains duplicate records. Fortunately, Access offers a couple of options that you can use to remove the duplicates from your table quickly and easily.

Databases, Microsoft Access

Data Analysis with Microsoft Access

May 26, 2013December 30, 2025 Andrew Comeau

Tackling the Data One of the strengths of Microsoft Access is its ability to import and link to data from different sources. With Access you can also query and report on the data in ways that a spreadsheet program like Excel doesn’t readily provide. This can come in handy as part of a database application…

Articles, Microsoft Access, SQL

Bringing things up to date …

April 6, 2012November 8, 2022 Andrew Comeau

Every so often, I remember that I have a blog attached to the site and I make new promises to myself to keep it up to date but it doesn’t seem to happen that often. 2011 was a busy year for me which was one reason I didn’t update the blog much. It’s easier to…

Careers, Microsoft Access, Programming

Switching between Access 2010 windows

November 17, 2010November 8, 2022 Andrew Comeau

A visitor to the site asked about using ALT-TAB to switch between open Access windows. This refers to the “Windows in Taskbar” feature which was available in Access prior to Access 2007. You could set Access to display a button for every open Access window on the Windows Task Bar and use the standard ALT-TAB…

Microsoft Access