Ms Access Final Exam Review

Introduction to Database

RDBMS	Relational Database Management System (Ms Access, SQL Server, Oracle)
Database	The File-Level Object that we create, using an RDBMS, that allows us to store, retrieve and report on data.
Entity	A Person, Place or Thing about which we wish to store data in a database
Table	The Database Object where the actual data is stored.
Field	A field is an individual set of data items that are of the same type. (e.g. Column in Excel)
Record	A record is a set of fields with data relating to one thing, like a person or a product. (e.g. Row in Excel)
Data Type	A field's data type determines what kind of data it can store. (e.g. a text data type can store data that consists of either text or numerical characters, but a Number data type can store only numerical data.)
Transaction	A transaction is a set of one or more statements that is executed as a unit, so either all of the statements are executed, or none of the statements is executed.
Combo Box	A combo box is list of values from which the user can select a single value.
Text Box	The text box is the standard control used for viewing and editing data on forms and reports. Many different types of data can be displayed in text boxes, and you can also use them to perform calculations.
Label	Control that can be used to contain a Caption (but NOT a value) on a Form-Level Object.

Major Objects       

Tables	Store data
	A table is an Access object which is used to provide a structure for storing and/or displaying data in a system of columns (called Fields) and rows (called Records). All databases store their data in this way. Every Record should be designated with a unique ID, which we refer to as a Primary Key. In Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) like Ms Access, related records may be stored in another table. If this is done, each of the records related table will have a field which has a copy of the Primary Key from the first table. A field which is used for this purpose is referred to as the Foreign Key. In regards to Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), the object name for each Table is TableDef (for Table Definition), and it can be created, destroyed, or changes made to its property settings by using VBA code.
Queries	Organize data
	A Query is the most common way to begin to utilize the data that you have stored in the related tables in your databases. Think of it as a definition, defining what data you would like to select from which tables, and then allowing you to further use criteria and/or calculations to precisely define how the results of your query will be displayed to the user. Queries are almost always the basis for our summary reporting in a database.
Forms	Display data on screen
	A FORM is an Access object which is used to provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the users of an Access Database. A single form provides a way to display data on the computer screen, and a place for the developer to place labels, command buttons, and other devices (controls) to accommodate interaction with the user. A pre-designed group of forms may be used to provide a menu-based navigation system for the database application, with Queries, Reports, Macros, and even Printing all activated from those forms. In regards to VBA, each form comes with its own module, which can respond to events occurring on the form, and can contain VBA programming code which affects the objects or data present on the form.
Reports	Print out data
	A Report is a method of presenting data from your database, formatted for printing. I can list details of all transactions, or present summarized totals, or even a graph of your data. Reports are generally based on Queries, which do the chore of selecting exactly which data to display, and then the Report is where you can define exactly how you want the output data to look, when it is printed. We try to design reports to have high visual impact. That is, the data will be quickly and easily understood by whoever looks at the Report. When it comes to VBA Programming, a Report object is similar to a Form object, in that each Report contains a Module which can hold VBA code, which can control objects and actions associated with that Report.
Macros	Automate task
	A MACRO is an Access object which is used to provide a way for the users of an Access Database to save a number of small steps (Actions) that they would like to have occurred all at once, say when the user clicks on a command button. It is the closet that the user can get to programming, without having to write programming code from scratch. As you will see, in design view, the user simply selects actions from a drop-down list of choices. Each macro can have up to 99 actions in it, and a Database may have a number of named, saved Macros, each with a specific set of actions that will occur when that Macro is Run. There are three types of Macros: ·         AutoExec ·         AutoKeys ·         Event/Action
Modules	Programming