Let me just check the database (MS Access 97)

Member Name: johnsy32

Product:	MS Access 97
Date:	22/02/05 (693 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: can be put to many uses, great support online

Disadvantages: hard to learn

Microsoft Access is an application for making databases. It is the most overlooked program in the list of Microsoft Office 97 programs as when you open it to see how it works, it is very daunting and even after reading the help files it is still very daunting! But, if you want to go on and try and use this application, you will find that it can be a powerful tools and some of the tasks it can carry out can be used for spreadsheet work and be more efficient and have more accurate results. There are so many features of Access, that I wouldn't be able go through them all but I have outlined my experience with the program. Hopefully this will help you in making that decision to buy or use the program for yourself or in your business. I was lucky because I was able to have training when working towards my advanced GNVQ
Information Technology course, but I never thought I'd ever use it again.

-- What is a database? --

A database is a collection of information related to a particular subject.

-- Why choose Microsoft Access 97 --

Microsoft Access is of course from Microsoft who is the leaders in developing software. This program was a trend setting program because of the complexity and the amount of tasks that it can do. It can be expensive but now this is an older version of Access that comes with the Microsoft Office 97 package, you can buy it quite cheaply, especially if you are buying from Ebay.

Because of the popularity of Access there is a wide range of courses on offer so you can learn how to use the program, they are loads of online sources for information. Including message boards for any information you might need because there are a lot of professionals online who are willing to lend a hand. There are tutorials available, plus numerous books that can be used for reference.

The only down side is that it is very hard to learn and understand what happens and when you have someone telling you why you have to do something and why you don't, which makes things a lot easier. This is the downside of the program. Once you can understand the basics you can go on to try out different things and use some trial and error to find what you need to do. If you read on with this review you can read about some of the pre-programmed databases that come with the package, plus the ones I have made so you can see the sort of ranges of jobs you can do.

-- What is Access Used For --

This is a list of templates that come with the program, showing what can be done when
working directly with databases.

Address Book
Asset Tracking
Book Collection
Contact Management
Donations
Event Management
Expenses
Household inventory
Inventory Control
Ledger
Membership
Music Collection
Order Entry
Picture Library
Recipes
Resource Scheduling
Service Call Management
Students and Classes
Time and Billing
Video Collection
Wine List
Workout

As you can see there are a wide range of templates reading for you to use. You just need to enter the details in each and you have a database already made. These are also great for when you want to develop you own database, as they act as a great reference.

Here are the databases I have made

Video Shop Customer and Rental Database
Template Register Database
Order Tracking Applications
Order Processing Applications

The databases I have used include a system called A.I.S., which is a company database
that we use. It is very sophisticated and I have explained more about this one below. This will show the amount of things that Microsoft Access can do. It is quite amazing in a geeky kind of way.

--My Experience --

I first used Access in the sixth form at school and was needed so that I complete that part of my course. Database development was never something I was interested in, but by using Microsoft Access and creating tables, forms and macros, I could create a professional looking database with the minimum of effort. Which the forms option in Access, you can create lovely looking pages that you enter data into, you can add company logos, and customise colours, plus loads more.

I use Access now to use the databases that I have developed at work, the main thing is the processing of orders. The old system involved using a spreadsheet and then running up to thirty queries on the data entered. I knew that Access can save queries and with a click of a button you can sort through data and have reports views at the end. I was able to use
Access to automate this task, saving about 78 hours a year, which is a lot of time. On the back of this database the company wanted an order tracking database, and I was able use access to use the same data entered for the order processing, and by including queries again, I could insert the data into another database. This was more efficient than the old system, now you could search on all the data in the database using a customer name or order number etc to find the required information quickly, instead of having to manually go through orders. Plus, you I didn't have to enter the same data from orders twice. You can implement two databases together. This saved about 30 hours a year. I am just trying to prove the point that Access can be great value for money because it's such a powerful, and useful application. The best is still to come! There is so much on offer.

I work in a comfort foam cutting and baby mattress manufacturers, and we have recently had a database installed called A.I.S. Foam is automatically cut to shape on machines and there is a computer system to do this. The Microsoft Access database was brought in to speed up the process and save on the amount of scrap by entering parts and then telling the
database how many are required of each part. It then will look at all the different ways of cutting to shapes to make the most of the available foam. It then creates a program that the cutting machine can understand and then it can be put through and the job done. It's amazing that these two programs can work hand in hand even though they are totalling different. Access can be put to lots of uses, but it all comes back to understanding how to use the application.

-- Overview of the main areas --

Tables
Queries
Forms
Reports
Macros
Modules

-- Database Programmer Point of View --

This is the choice of many database programmers, and a lot of people are making a lot of money from this application. The possibilities are endless.

-- Database User Point of View --

With the use of Access you can create data input screens that are a lot better and easier to use than entering data straight into a table like you would need to with spreadsheets. Buttons can be added to automated procedures and are accessed just by clicking. A pre-programmed database can be very easy to use.

-- Conclusion --

I've gone over a lot of what it can do for me, but this shows how many different things it can do for me and the company I work for. It can be adapted in lots of different ways. I am lucky I had some training to learn how to use access, because before I would look at it and have no idea of what to do. It is hard to understand, but is worth putting the time in to learn how to do it. I don't think anyone can ever know everything that can be done using access, because programming codes can be incorporated and there is so much that can be done with programming.

The Internet and Internet communities dedicated to this program are a great resource and offer extra information if you want to purchase this, newer version of Access offer even more but this is the one I use most often. You will be surprised what this can do for you.

Summary: