Everything You Need to Know About Microsoft Access 2010

Access 2010 is exceptionally wonderful in database operations. It’s a better advanced package when compared to the previous versions of this application. This makes it user friendly and with adequate knowledge of its operation, any database functioning can be enhanced. The limits of what this application can achieve are quite commendable. Though some of the users may find it challenging to establish a Microsoft Access 2010 database, some basic concepts can help a great deal. Here are a few basic tips that would help any user in improving his or her experience on this.

On starting the application

The first milestone to using this application is, starting the application. Normally, the Startup utility is employed in opening preferred Forms as welcome screens. This is not the standard navigation pane or window for the database. Exclusively, this feature has enhanced Access Operations including the attaching modules or macros also known as Visual Basic Access Codes, better security and even loading of a Form to enrich it for the end user. To start the application, one is supposed to hold down the SHIFT button while initiating (launching) a database file.

Objects and properties

The Object Properties Dialog Box is another milestone to Access experience. When this tool is mastered, one is able to add narratives while hiding the object from view. This is because the MS Access 2010 navigation pane has Properties view that is hidden. Access to this feature can is possible through the right click the mouse on the selected item. One can also choose to press ‘ALT’+ ‘Enter’ buttons on the keyboard. Hiding the objects will make it disappear. However, if the access option 'show hidden objects' will be turned on, the objects will be visible. This feature is very vital in hiding objects such as the Action Queries.

Data in Access

Data Entry Tips are equally enhanced in Microsoft Access 2010. Data can be entered directly to a table. Master on a couple of shortcut to this feature will be a milestone. CTL+ is a shortcut to adding a new record. CTRL' is employed in copying a value in a previous field record to the current field. This is quite useful while dealing with repetitive value(s) across a couple of records. While updating bulk data, Update Query is very efficient. This is for many records that follow a pattern or criteria. Some of such criterions may include calculations, where one is able to calculate as a formula in a given field and running the update action query in order to apply it globally. This saves one a great deal of time from manual operations.

Reporting

Microsoft Access Reporting is also enhanced in Microsoft Access 2010. This package is used to generate an array of reports. This has been enhanced by the Pivot Tables that can be exported to Excel spread sheet or linked. The standing merit for this feature is the ability to make a separate 'single' file that one can easily send as an attachment via email. Another tip is the Input Mask tool that is employed while entering very sensitive values. This is also used to trap mistyped data that may lead to difficulty in controlling the characters that can be keyed into a field. It visibly masks values of passwords integrating the password setting in a form or a table.

There are other techniques that can help the user in navigating through the navigation panel of Access 2010. However, having the basics is a milestone to great exploration of the limits of the application.