Access Tips
Read these 43 Access Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Microsoft tips and hundreds of other topics.
Action Query
Action query finds designated records and performs a sort of action on those records.
Back Style
Back Style option allows you to determine whether the color of a control will be visible or transparent.
Grouping Objects
Grouping objects combines multiple objects into a single object with its own selection handles.
Filter By Selection
A Filter By Selection lets you designate the records you are seeking simply by clicking the value you are looking for within the form or datasheet.
Relational Database
A relational database management system is an application that allows you to organize, manipulate, query, and view your data, while building links between related topics.
AutoReports
AutoReport is a quick report that includes every field from the table or query on which it is based.
Marquee-select
Marquee-select is the process of clicking-and-dragging the mouse pointer over a group of objects until a dotted line forms a box around it.
Field List
The field list appears at the top of the Query design window when you add a table to a query. It lists all of the fields in the table, and you can use it to add fields to the query design grid.
Tick Marks
Tick marks are small marks that divide the sections of data along the axis of a bar chart.
Unbound Control
An unbound control in a form or report is not linked to a table or query and is usually a label, line, or graphic.
Single-column Report
A single-column report prints all the data in one column. The quickest way to produce one that allows you to choose your fields is to use Report Wizard, then select Vertical under layout options.
Make-Table Queries
A Make-Table Query takes the selected records and creates a new table with them.
Bound Control
A bound control in a form or report is one that is used to show or edit information from a table or query, such as a text box.
Copying, Moving, Changing, or Deleting Text
The shortcuts for copying, moving, changing or deleting text are:
CTRL+C = Copy
CTRL+X = Cut
CTRL+V = Paste
BACKSPACE = Delete to the left of the cursor
DEL = Delete to the right of the cursor
CTRL+Z = Undo typing
ESC = Undo changes in current field or current record
Groups/Totals Report
A Groups/Totals report, which can be created, using Report Wizard, organizes data in a row-and-column format, grouping records based on specified fields. Totals and grand totals may then be calculated for each grouping.
Primary Key
The primary key is the unique identifier for each record, such as an employee number, a product number, or a customer number.
Normalization
Normalization is the process of splitting a table into related tables, in order to eliminate wasted space, redundancy, and keying errors.
Relationships
Relationships are ties that are created between tables in the database so that Access can combine data from more than one table to create reports.
Criteria Row
The Criteria Row is the design grid to specify parameters that desired records must meet. For example, a criterion might tell the query to select all customer records having zip codes 08520. A criterion is usually entered using an expression.
Moving the Cursor in a Field
The shortcuts for moving the cursor in a field are:
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW = Move one word to right
END = Move cursor the end of the field
CTRL+END = Move cursor the end of the field
HOME = Move cursor the beginning of the
CTRL+HOME = Move cursor the beginning of the field
Summary Report
A summary report takes all of the records in a table or query and summarizes or condenses them.
Referential Integrity
Referential integrity is a system of rules that Access uses to make sure that relationships between records in related tables are valid, and that you don't accidentally delete or change related data.
Input Mask
An input mask helps to control the values that are entered into a field and might include dashes, spaces, or parentheses. Then fill in the blanks.
Ungrouping Objects
Ungrouping objects allows you to work with each part of a grouped object individually.
Entering Data in Datasheet or Form View
The shortcuts for entering data in a datasheet or form view are:
CTRL+SEMICOLON = Insert current date
CTRL+COLON = Insert current time
CTRL+APOSTROPHE = Insert the value from the same field in the previous record
CTRL+PLUS SIGN = Add new record
CTRL+MINUS SIGN = Delete current record
SHIFT+ENTER = Save changes to the current record
SPACEBAR = Switch between values in check box or option button
CTRL+ENTER = Insert a new line
Design Grid
The design grid is a graphical tool that creates a query by placing fields from the upper half of the Query window into the lower half of the window.
Filter By Form
A Filter By Form lets you designate the records you are seeking by opening a blank view of your datasheet or form and letting you type in or select from a drop-down list the data you are seeking.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Joe Wallace |
