Wiley Access 2007 Workbook For Dummies 978-0-470-17953-6 Benutzerhandbuch
Produktcode
978-0-470-17953-6
Chapter 1
Getting Started with Access
In This Chapter
What is a database?
Opening Access
Checking out the Access interface
Exploring Office Online
Finding help on Access topics
M
icrosoft Office Access 2007 — which I refer to as Access throughout this book —
is the database component of the 2007 Microsoft Office System. If you’re familiar
is the database component of the 2007 Microsoft Office System. If you’re familiar
with other programs in the 2007 Microsoft Office System — such as Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, and Outlook — you might already be familiar with the interface in Access.
However, Access contains many components not found anywhere else within the
Microsoft Office System.
PowerPoint, and Outlook — you might already be familiar with the interface in Access.
However, Access contains many components not found anywhere else within the
Microsoft Office System.
In this chapter, you learn the very basics of databases, how to start and navigate Access,
and how to find help both online and offline.
and how to find help both online and offline.
Understanding What a Database Is
A database is just a collection of related information. The library’s card catalog, your
grandmother’s recipe cards, and the phone book are all examples of databases. Even if
they aren’t on the computer, they contain information you can retrieve relatively easily.
grandmother’s recipe cards, and the phone book are all examples of databases. Even if
they aren’t on the computer, they contain information you can retrieve relatively easily.
Putting these manual databases on the computer speeds up the retrieval of information.
You may have begun keeping lists in Excel (Microsoft’s spreadsheet application). Or
perhaps you maintain your contacts in Outlook (Microsoft’s e-mail application). And
you’ve no doubt used an Internet search engine to look up information online. These are
all computerized databases that harness the power of the microprocessor to organize
and retrieve the information you need.
You may have begun keeping lists in Excel (Microsoft’s spreadsheet application). Or
perhaps you maintain your contacts in Outlook (Microsoft’s e-mail application). And
you’ve no doubt used an Internet search engine to look up information online. These are
all computerized databases that harness the power of the microprocessor to organize
and retrieve the information you need.
Defining two types of databases
A database management system (DBMS) is a computer software package designed for
managing databases. A DBMS controls the organization, storage, and retrieval of data
from a database. A DBMS contains data structures optimized to deal with large amounts
of data — some DBMS’s handle this data better than others.
managing databases. A DBMS controls the organization, storage, and retrieval of data
from a database. A DBMS contains data structures optimized to deal with large amounts
of data — some DBMS’s handle this data better than others.
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