ACCESS 97 FOR WINDOWS FOR DUMMIES

Being a normal human being, you probably have work to do. In fact, you may have lots of work piled precariously around your office or even stretching onto the Internet. Relief is in sight because Access 97 can help you get more done in less time, eliminate the piles, and generally make the safety inspector happy. The good news is that you don't have to know (or even care) about table design, field types, relational databases, or any of that other database stuff to make Access 97 work for you.

Get the help you need with this friendly reference to all the features of Access 97. If you're confused instead of organized, befuddled instead of productive, or just completely lost on the whole database thing, Access 97 For Windows For Dummies is the book for you. This guide is for those who need to

• Save time and effort by adapting existing reports and forms for new databases
• Unearth the mysteries of solving problems with Access queries
• Glean enough about macro programming to make people think you're a certified Access guru
• Find hundreds of tips on making Access easier, more understandable, and generally less annoying

Start with an overview of both database concepts in general and Access 97 in particular, and start taking control of your data. Access 97 For Windows For Dummies also covers the following topics and more:

• Dealing with data in need of repair
• Making your table think with formats, masks, and validations
• Finding stuff in your tables
• Comparing AND to OR
• Creating an AutoReport
• Formatting a beautiful report
• Creating forms that look cool and work great

Even after you've mastered the nuts and bolts of database building with Access 97, you'll find plenty of valuable resource material in this guide to keep you coming back for more. Timesaving keyboard shortcuts, warnings for how to avoid common crises, and an introduction to the wider world of advanced Access features are all included for you in this easy-to-use book.

John Kaufeld is the author of For Dummies?? guides to Paradox and Fox Pro as well as the bestselling America Online?? For Dummies??.

Introduction.

PART I: Which Came First: The Data or the Base?

Chapter 1: The 37-Minute Overview.

Chapter 2: Finding Your Way Around like a Native.

Chapter 3: Calling the Online St. Bernard and Other Forms of Help.

PART II: Truly Tempting Tables.

Chapter 4: Designing and Building a Home for Your Data.

Chapter 5: Indexes, Keys, and Relationships: Why You Care.

Chapter 6: New Data, Old Data, and Data in Need of Repair.

Chapter 7: Making Your Table Think with Formats, Masks, and Validations.

Chapter 8: Making Your Datasheets Dance.

Chapter 9: Table Remodeling Tips for the Do-It-Yourselfer.

PART III: Finding the Ultimate Answer to Everything (Well, Not Everything).

Chapter 10: Quick Searches: Find, Filter, and Sort.

Chapter 11: Make a Simple Query, Get 10,000 Answers.

Chapter 12: Searching a Slew of Tables.

Chapter 13: Lions AND Bears OR Tigers? Oh, My!

Chapter 14: Teaching Queries to Count.

Chapter 15: Automated Editing for Big Changes.

Chapter 16: Action Queries to the Rescue.

PART IV: Turning Your Table into a Book.

Chapter 17: AutoReport: Like the Model-T, It's Clunky but It Runs.

Chapter 18: Wizardly Help with Labels, Charts, and Multilevel Reports.

Chapter 19: It's Amazing What a Little Formatting Can Do.

Chapter 20: Headers and Footers for Groups, Pages, and Even (Egad) Whole Reports.

PART V: Wizards, Forms, and Other Mystical Stuff.

Chapter 21: Spinning Your Data into (and onto) the Web.

Chapter 22: Making Forms That Look Cool and Work Great.

Chapter 23: If Love Is Universal, Why Can't I Export to It?

Chapter 24: The Analyzer: Your Data's Dr. Freud, Dr. Watson, and Dr. Jekyll.

PART VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 25: Ten Timesaving Keyboard Shortcuts.

Chapter 26: Ten Common Crises and How to Survive Them.

Chapter 27: Ten Tips from the Database Nerds.

Chapter 28: Ten Sights to See in Your Copious Free Time.

Appendix: Installing Access 97.

Index.