Access Introduction to Microsoft Access
Topic 2 - Creating an Access Database


2.1 Creating an Access Database from Scratch

From scratch: Click on File/New/Blank Database. Access will prompt you for a location to save (and create) the new database. Then the new database will open with a database window with no objects.

With other Microsoft Office applications, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can start working on it before you save the file. In contrast, when you're working with Access you need to save the database before you start working on it.


Access 2007

Click on the Office Button/New

Click on Blank Database in the middle of the Access window

Click on the folder after the file name on the right side of the Access window

Access prompts you for the location to save the database

Note that you can save the database in various Access formats.

This creates a blank Access database with no objects.

2.2 Creating an Access Database from a Template

2.2.1 On Your Computer

There are several Microsoft Access Database Wizard Templates that install with Access on your computer. Access 2003 has the following: Asset Tracking, Contact Management, Event Management, Expenses, Inventory Control, Ledger, Order Entry, Resource Scheduling, Service Call Management, and Time & Billing. The Wizard will ask you a series of questions and then create the database.


Access 2007

Click on Local Templates on the left side of the Access window

The choices display in the center of the Access window

2.2.2 Online

There are several Access template databases available online from Microsoft. Go to office.microsoft.com, then click on the Templates link and search for or browse them. When you download them, they save to your My Documents folder. These are completed databases - that is, there is no wizard to walk you through the process.


Access 2007

Choose a template to download from the Featured Online Templates

2.3 How Access Saves Your Data

Understand the difference between Access database objects (like tables, queries, and reports) and data

When you're using Access you have to save the database objects, but you never have to save the data

Why you can't run an Access database from a CD-R

2.4 Maintenance

2.4.1 Copying and Transferring

remember where you saved your database when you created it

2.4.2 Backup

make sure you have a backup routine in place

2.4.3 Compact and Repair

Tools/Database Utilities/Compact and Repair (note the file size differences)


Access 2007

Office Button/Manage/Compact and Repair Database

2.4.4 Work Copy Suggestion