Microsoft® Access Advanced Training Courses

DMW's Advanced Microsoft Access courses are for anyone wishing to further their ambition to set up a fully functional, relational database, possibly to be used concurrently by colleagues.

Also, the courses should suit anyone who’s inherited a database and who needs techniques for understanding how the database works and for assessing what it might take to revise or extend it.

Course Content

Every course DMW presents is tailored to our client's needs. At the advanced level, topics are likely to be drawn from those in this list.

Development Considerations Addressing issues database developers often have to face; separating needs from wishes; naming conventions.

Referential Integrity Relationship design; cascading updates; cascading deletes.

Multi-user Databases Setting up a database for multiple users on a LAN (local area network—split FE (front end) and BE (back end) databases.

Linking Databases Linking database with other databases and other sources of data.

Maintenance and Structuring Strategies Maintaining and updating databases; structuring large databases.

Select queries Advanced techniques; managing query joins; criteria and sorting; using forms to apply criteria.

Functions Special functions for use in query expressions; construction of complex expression fields.

Sub-queries SQL technique for extending query design.

Nested queries Mining for data by basing one query upon another.

Action queries Further techniques for exploiting make-table, delete, update and append queries.

Cross-tab queries Creating cross-tabulations for data analysis.

Union queries Amalgamating data from two or more queries using a single query

Avoiding Data Duplication Managing duplicate records in multiple data sets.

Queries behind forms Using queries as record sources for forms.

Query optimisation Techniques for improving performance of queries; application of indexes.

From design Advanced techniques for designing forms; the tab control; use of functions as control sources; nesting forms; pop-up forms.

Report design Advanced techniques for designing reports; grouping; data sorting; nested reports; filtering data; use of functions as control sources; e-mailing.

Macros A first look at creating and editing macros. Access's support for macros has been extended with each new version. However, if you are serious about programming your database, please consider DMW's Access VBA training: this introduces the comprehensive power of the VBA language.

Ribbon customisation Customising ribbons requires an understanding of the XML mark-up language. Another skill you need to master if you the benefits of customisation. DMW will give you a start.

Maintenance Compacting and repairing databases.

As appropriate, the training may include topics not listed above. Please discuss ahead of any training the plans you have for your database so that DMW is aware of topics that are likely to be of most relevance.

Course Duration

A typical course lasts for a day, usually between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM, but some clients like to add more days, particularly when they are building their own databases.

Some clients opting for more than a day like a gap between days so that they can apply what they have learnt.

Course Prerequisites

Completion of DMW's Intermediate course or practical experience of applying the skills covered in that course to the creation of your own database.

You might find benefit from taking a look at DMW's page on How to Create a Contacts Database in Microsoft Access. You’ll find something on planning that’s likely to set you thinking about your design of your own database.

Certificates

On completion of a training course, each attendee receives a Certificate of Attendance, which contains details of the topics covered during the training.