Getting Started in Access

[PY_]

Hi all,
I am looking at learning Access 2013 in my spare time. I see there are tons of online videos about it but there are almost too many to choose from. Does anyone have a recommended online video series to learn Access 2013 starting at the beginning? Also, i absolutely love this forum when it comes to getting Excel help. Is there a similar forum anyone would recommend for Access related questions besides this one? I see this forum does not have many posts in the Access section so i am guessing there are more popular ones out there?

[MarvinP]

Hi PY,

I believe you learn to use tools (Access is the tool here) to solve problems. You need a problem, that would be a database you want to study or solve, to learn with/on. If you want to learn how to saw something, you need the wood to cut to practice using your saw.

Pick a database that has lots of data in it and start learning Access using it. Watch any videos and see if it can help understand your database.

I believe this is the best way to learn how to use Access.

[PY_]

Thanks for the reply MarvinP. I actually already have a database to play with. A while back i developed an Excel "database". It consisted of a few input/output forms plus some reports. Those forms all pointed to a separate excel workbook that was my database table. They quickly opened copied or updated the data on the table and closed table file again. To get around the read only problem when two people try to access the table at the same time, if the table was open, the form workbook would wait 3 seconds and try to open the table again. After about 4 attempts it gives up and tells the user to try again.

Moving forward, i had someone on Fiverr.com convert one of my forms, reports, and my database table to a real access database. So i have something to play with which is great. The problem is, i am lost. I understand the concept of a database but navigating around, modifying the form, creating new forms, adding tables, etc. all of that is a bit confusing.

Was checking to see how others have learned it and see if any specific video series and helpful forums that really stick out above the rest.

[Kyle123]

I disagree with Marvin, to understand a database, you really need to do a bit of reading first. Databases will make no sense whatsoever unless you understand relational principles and Normalization. For a link to understand this, have a look in alansidman's profile, he's got a pretty good introductory document in his signature.

Databases aren't really like Excel, you can't really have a play with no knowledge and work things out unfortunately.

The thing to remember about access, is that it isn't just a database; rather it's a database with a full suite of GUI tools that provide a front end. Databases typically do not have a GUI; they consist of tables, views, and procedures - that's about it. Access is different to most other databases since it has this database layer and then adds a further layer - the bit you can actually see so the forms, the queries, the editable tables, dropdowns etc.

So in summary, first learn about relational databases - it doesn't have to be access, any will do. Then learn how the tools in access work - otherwise you'll make life very difficult for yourself since they are designed to be used in the context of given relational concepts.

Good luck

[biocentrism]

I am currently in the process of trying to learn VBA and integrate Excel and Access. Let me tell you it feels like a daunting task, but I am making slow progress everyday.

I have looked around for many tools, and what I highly would recommend is the book Access Step by Step. It has a lot of colorful and clear pictures to guide you step by step through each screen. I was able to go through the book in a few days and it has really accelerated my learning of how to use Access. I also have done some background reading before on relational databases, primary keys, foreign keys, etc. which are pretty basic concepts.

As for the VBA side, I am still waiting for Morpheus to drop by and plug in my brain for a download...