Access 97: Getting started

[1]
Starting MS-Access

There are many ways to start Microsoft Access 97, some of them are;

Using the Access icon 
  •  If the access icon  is displayed on your desktop, put the on the icon and double click the left mouse button (press the left mouse button twice in less than 1/2 a second.

The double click can pose problems for beginner users so you can

  • Put the on the Access  icon and single click the left mouse button, then press [Enter].
If the icon is not displayed on your desktop, use the Start menus. (Usually a bar displayed at the bottom of your screen)

Other ways
If you have already created a database you can use My Computer or Windows Explorer and double click the mdb (Microsoft database) file. 

Let Access teach the basics

Once you have MS-Access started, use the MS-Access Help to teach you the basics of Databases.
Access will probably show the file open dialog box (below), at this stage click the [Cancel] button to close it.


Open dialog box
Menu Help

Double click Introduction to Microsoft Access 97.

This should open the book. (below)

  • Double click Databases: What they are and how they work and let access teach you the basics.
    Work through the notes, but at this stage don't worry too much if things don't make a lot of sense.

  • Continue and review the help files on...

    • Tables

    • Queries

    • Forms

    • Reports

[Rev 27/06/00] 14/4/00 © 2000 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.