Transcript axs97intro - Birkbeck College

Building Applications with
Microsoft Access
Vivien Hall CCS
Timetable
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Tue 5-6-01 14:00 - 17:00 Workshop 1
Tue 12-6-01 14:00 - 17:00 Workshop 2
Tue 19-6-01 14:00 - 17:00 Workshop 3
Tue 26-6-01 14:00 - 17:00 Workshop 4
Break about 15:30 15:45
Aims
• Build a simple database
• Introduce database concepts
• NOT ‘how to use a database’
About the workshop
• Self paced with help from tutors
• Case study to build a simple database
• Material in 3 parts, split to cover a logical
group of tasks rather than equal time on
each part
Workshop Material
• Doc 5.69 - Part (1) Introduction to Access
• Doc 5.70 - Part (2) More Access
• Doc 5.82 - Part(3) Designing the User
Interface.
Document 5.69 Introduction to
Access
• Probably complete during 1st session
• Simple database - list of names &
addresses
• Form to enter data
• Report to list the data
• Query to find required data
Document 5.70 More Access
• Probably start in first session & complete in
2nd/3rd.
• Add more objects to the database
• Join tables
• Mail Merge Example
• More advanced - Add a new requirement
Document 5.83 User Interface
• Probably start in 3rd session and complete
in 4th.
• Additional exercise for fast workers
• Make the database easier for users
• Macros
• Event procedures
What is a database?
• Collection of structured data
• Need to do system analysis before building
a database
• More complex than designing a document
Business analysis
• Why are you doing it?
• Does anything similar exist?
• Does it fit College’s Communication,
Information and Learning Strategy?
Logical Design
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Analyse data structure
How much data?
How robust - can you work when it fails?
How secure? - Data Protection Act?
Physical Design
• How will you store it? Spreadsheet?
Database?
• Local database?
• College MIS system?
• Alternatives to using Access?
Mail shots
• Simple list of names & addresses
• Could use a Word Data source
Tables of numeric data
• Consider Excel for charts & calculations
Bibliographic data
• Specialist packages e.g Endnote
Databases for Birkbeck Staff
• Room booking system (web based)
• CHAOS - Corporate Higher Education
Administrative On-line Support System
Build
• Workshop is about building a database
• The analysis has been done for you
• Learn technical skills of using Access
Basics
• Analyse the requirement (data structures)
• Build the foundation (tables)
• Add more features
Hints
• Read the background material
• Do exercises in the order that they come
• If you are short of time skip mailmerge in
Doc 5.70