Getting to Know MS Access 2003 - Open a File, Explore the Sample Database
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The My Recent Documents folder, located on the left of the Open File dialog box, is used to access databases you have worked on recently. The Files of type menu, at the bottom of the dialog box, allows you see types of files other than the typical Microsoft Office Access file types, which can sometimes be advantageous. You may also choose to search for a file if you don’t know what it is called. To do this, select the arrow next to the word ‘Tools’, in the upper-right corner of the dialog box, and select ‘Search’ from the resulting menu.
Assuming you don’t currently have a database created in Access, you can use the Northwind sample database that comes with Access 2003, to explore the capabilities of the software. The Northwind sample database is typically located in the following folder:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Samples
Double-click the sample database in the \Samples folder to open the Northwind database. Alternatively, you can open the Northwind database by selecting it from the Help | Sample Databases | Northwind Sample Database menu.
When opened, Northwind displays a welcome screen – you’ll learn how to make these in a later lesson. For now, click the Display Database Window button, in the welcome screen, to get rid of the welcome screen, and to display the Database window. Your screen should now look similar to the following:
See that little window inside your main window? That is, for all intents and purposes, the database. Let’s quickly review what’s in the Database window. It has a title and it has standard windows buttons to maximize, minimize, or close the window. It’s also got several buttons in a toolbar that includes a button to open an extant object, a button to create new objects, and a button to delete extant objects. Finally it’s got several options for changing the views of the objects on the screen. Click each of the views to see which one you like best; I prefer the list view.
The Database window consists of multiple ‘pages’. You display a page by clicking the appropriate object button listed underneath the Objects title button. When opened, each object page replaces the current object page you are viewing.
Next: Objects: Tables, Queries, Forms and More >>
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