For Dummies Access 2010 978-0-470-49747-0 User Manual
Product codes
978-0-470-49747-0
Chapter 1
Getting to Know Access 2010
In This Chapter
▶
Deciding when to use Access
▶
Discovering what’s new in Access 2010
▶
Unlocking the basics of working with Access
▶
Figuring out how to get started
A
ccess 2010, the most recent version of the Microsoft Office database
application, is a very robust and powerful program. You probably
application, is a very robust and powerful program. You probably
already know that, and perhaps that power — or your perceptions of all that
Access can do — is what made you reach for this book. We applaud your
wise choice!
Access can do — is what made you reach for this book. We applaud your
wise choice!
For all of its power, Access is also very — pardon the expression — acces-
sible. It’s pretty easy to use at the edges, where a new user will be; you don’t
have to venture all the way in to its core to get quite a lot out of the software.
In fact, with just the basic functionality that you’ll discover in this book,
you’ll be able to put Access through many of its most important paces, yet
you’ll be working with wizards and other on-screen tools that keep you at a
comfortable arm’s distance from the software’s inner workings, the things
that programmers and serious developers play with. Feel better now?
sible. It’s pretty easy to use at the edges, where a new user will be; you don’t
have to venture all the way in to its core to get quite a lot out of the software.
In fact, with just the basic functionality that you’ll discover in this book,
you’ll be able to put Access through many of its most important paces, yet
you’ll be working with wizards and other on-screen tools that keep you at a
comfortable arm’s distance from the software’s inner workings, the things
that programmers and serious developers play with. Feel better now?
You don’t have to use every feature and tool and push the edges of the Access
envelope. In fact, you can use very little of everything Access has to offer and
still have quite a significant solution to your needs for storing and accessing
data — all because Access can really “do it all” — enabling you to set up a
database quickly, build records into that database, and then use that data in
several useful ways. Later on, who knows? You may become an Access guru.
envelope. In fact, you can use very little of everything Access has to offer and
still have quite a significant solution to your needs for storing and accessing
data — all because Access can really “do it all” — enabling you to set up a
database quickly, build records into that database, and then use that data in
several useful ways. Later on, who knows? You may become an Access guru.
In this chapter, you’ll discover what Access does best (and when you might
want to use another tool instead), and get a look at what’s new and improved
in Access 2010 (compared to Access 2007). You’ll see how it does what it
does, and hopefully you’ll begin to understand and absorb some basic termi-
nology. Now, don’t panic — nobody’s expecting you to memorize long lists
want to use another tool instead), and get a look at what’s new and improved
in Access 2010 (compared to Access 2007). You’ll see how it does what it
does, and hopefully you’ll begin to understand and absorb some basic termi-
nology. Now, don’t panic — nobody’s expecting you to memorize long lists
05_497470-ch01_2.indd 11
05_497470-ch01_2.indd 11
6/9/10 12:06 PM
6/9/10 12:06 PM
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL