Tuesday, November 9, 2010
MS Access All Chapters
Many of you may not have had the need to use MS Access in the past, so this would be a good opportunity for you to post comments, feedback, share your thoughts, etc. as you progress through your learning experience. This will be the only post space for all of the Access chapters that you will be completing as part of this course. Although this will be the only post space, I do expect you to make a constructive post each week.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I have never used access before. What is the advantage of using access vs entering information into excel? Would you use the excel information an export it into access or the other way around?
ReplyDeleteAccess is a much better data management tool than Excel...
ReplyDeleteForms make data entry a breeze and queries & filters make searching for relevant data, creating custom lists, etc much easier than in Exel where you have to CTRL+F (search/find) or manually lookup information.
I used Access to manage my DVD collection and I can filter by genre, actor, etc. Took a whle to setup but if you have data that you're constantly searching through it's a big help (although self admittedly I went a wee bit overboard on my DVD database lol).
So I started the Access today, I like how the professor gave us the assignments early.
ReplyDeleteSo I find that access is much harder than Excel. I like how you can make different tables and reports from one data table but it is difficult.
Im going to start lab 2 tonight, I hope it goes well.
Kristin
I have never used Access.
ReplyDeleteI did my first assignment after reading and understanding the chapter and I thought It was pretty easy but I'm sure It gets more complex.
I believe I have learned a few things already since I had no knowledge of MS Access.
I completed the first lab and found it to be easy. Being new to access, I am learning this as I am going along. I liked the report wizard. The only thing I found cumbersome was the need to save the table before changing the primary key and always using the down arrow and rename column feature to enter a column name.
ReplyDeleteJust completed my first Assess SAM assignment... my biggest downfall? Over confidence. My first submission grade? 11!! Yes that does mean the only thing I got correct was my name that is already automatically entered for you. I reviewed the assignmnent and found I had no "Access" errors, but lots of typos. For those who haven't submitted the assignment yet, remember they are not just grading Access knowledge, but also attention to detail.
ReplyDeleteI've also found that the SAM grading continuing to be clearer and clearer. When I did my first SAM assignment for Word, I had no idea what some of the errors were talking about. As we've moved through Excel now into Access I thing the SAM system is great!
ReplyDeleteI have finished all 3 Access assignments.
ReplyDeleteI have had a good amount of experience with Access so they did not take me too much time to quickly read through the book & complete the assignments.
This was a good refresher for me since I haven't used Access much over the last couple years.
I have done the first assignment and found that its wasn't too bad. I did have an issue with the theme. SAM marked me wrong though I did change the theme to "Module". I think it is because I have Office 2010 and it is different. I'm hoping the professor will give me the points I lost. I hope this doesn't keep happening. Does any one else have 2010, and have this problem?
ReplyDelete2nd assignment:
ReplyDeleteI found that this assignment was much harder than the first. I did figure everything out but I wish there was maybe a list of how to do certain "criteria" that was easy to find on access itself.
I can see why someone could have difficulty with this lab.
Kristin
This was my first time using MS Access and for my opinion I feel like it's a lot more different than excel. And it's more harder than using excel. Some of the things I find different from Excel was that on top of excel it has letters A to O going straight across and numbers going down on the side 1 to 27, and MS access don't have that. On MS access the format looks alot different than excel,
ReplyDeleteI have finished all my assignments for MS Access and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I had some issues on lab 2 but the step by step from the book helped.
ReplyDeleteI have never used Access before so this should be interesting.
ReplyDeleteOver the years I have create complex Excel spread sheets that that manage everything from materials management to financial performance, but when it comes to multi-user and standard data entry Access is the best tool for the task. Things like efficiency data bases, where large quantities of data are collected in a standard set of data points and inquires are done on the data set, Excel doesn’t have the reporting and query power of Access.
ReplyDeleteWell, I was able to complete Lab1 I was struggling to figure out a few things but I received a 89 on 2nd attempt and 100 for the 3rd so I guess its not as bad as I thought.
ReplyDeleteThe second Access assignment went okay it took me two tries but I received a 100,it was pretty easy, I didn't have any style issues this time which was nice, so its on to the last access chapter.
ReplyDeleteI'm ready to start the 3rd access lab. Has anyone had any issues with this lab or was it understandable as long as you go along with the book. I noticed this one doesn't have any pictures so that you can see if you did a step correct.
ReplyDeleteKristin Cunha
Being partial to Excel, I went into Access a little weary. It seems the database options are more user friendly in Access now. Both still portray limitless options that I'm eager to see work in conjunction with one another.
ReplyDelete@ Kristin-
ReplyDeleteThe only real issue I had with the 3rd lab was with the "Marketing Split Filter By Form" that you are supposed to save. I didn't notice originally that the filter results were saved as a query, so when I went back over the instructions to verify I had all reports, forms, etc I deleted that query not really thinking it through. I realized on my 2nd submission.
So basically I'm just trying to say if you put a filter on a database & save the results that will be saved in the query section.
I completed going through the 3rd chapter and realized how much access can do with the filters and searches. Is there a limit to how many tables can be joined?
ReplyDeleteAgain I don't really see the benefit of using access vs excel. I guess its nice to be able to put everything together in one workbook but in my past experiences most of the places I have worked have specialized software developed to do the same type of jobs. I guess it could be used by smaller companies that don't want to spend a lot of software.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else have problems with 2010 version vs 2007 with sam assignments? I had a theme issue that was set properly but SAM didn't recognize it. I am assuming that it is because I have Office 2010.
Hope,
ReplyDeleteI just saw your post about the 2010 version. I had the same problem. I rechecked it and resubmitted it but it didn't recognize the theme. I emailed Prof. Ferro in hopes of getting the points added on but have not yet heard anything.
@Derek
ReplyDeleteSmall corporations truly benefit the most from Access in my opinion. I have only used it professionally once, I worked a company that repaired medical devices and they used one Access file for inventory, purchase orders, employee records, etc.
EVERYTHING went thru this one file (that coincidentally was always "locked" meaning already in use by someone on the network). It proved to be inconvenient on some level because the company had grown bigger than the file over time.
However it was really neat to see Access in action like this... it has ALOT of capabilities. Each table & any maintenance on them, required separate passwords. It was a really secure, efficient, & most likely an inexpensive system to install comparatively speaking.
However I'm sure that there was some upgrading that was needed so that multiple employees could access the file at one time. It's been about 6 yrs ago since I worked at this place though so there may be a fix from Microsoft for an issue like this already...
I am now finished with all the access chapters I found the 3rd chapter to be a little more challenging than the others, I wish the instructions were clearer, or followed the book better, but I got through it.
ReplyDeleteDerek
- its good to know I'm not the only one who had that issue, and to know that it wasn't my mistake. I have yet to hear from the professor about this issue, and looking into PowerPoint I'm afraid of having this problem in this chapter as well, but we shall see.
I think that the second assignment was more harder than the first one because there was more steps that needed to learned than the first assignment in order to do the homework.
ReplyDeleteI have finished all the Access. I found the second one to be the hardest also.
ReplyDeleteI like Excel a lot better still but I like how you can have multiple tables, reports, and queries all in one project.
I wish Access had a better help menu because when I was trying to figure out some steps I used our book but if we didn't have that I don't know how I would have figured it out.
Kristin
I also only had a real problem with the "Marketing Split Filter by Form." I tried to correct it on all 3 submissions, but still never got it right.
ReplyDeleteI was going to begin skimmin Power Point for the next assignment, but.... am I going crazy?? I don't have chapter 2 in my book for Power Point. It starts with chapter 3??
No. My textbook starts with chapter 2 on the Power Point section. There must be something wrong with your book. Maybe the edition or just printed incorrectly.
ReplyDeleteI know the advantages of using Microsoft Access but does anyone else besides me use excel for similar functions that Access provides. I still use Microsoft Excel and even Word for lists and such. I thought all Access assignmenst were around the same level of difficulty with assignment number two being a but more challenging. I am happy that I took this course. I agree with Kristin, I also wish Access had a more helpful help menu. I look forward to powerpoint.
ReplyDeleteI liked learning about Excel more than what I learned about Access. I imagine I would use access if I didn't have application software to run reports from a database. I liked what Excel had to offer with all the different functions.
ReplyDeleteHi Krystel, I just opened my book for powerpoint and it starts with Chapter 2. On the bottom of the page it has PPT 82
ReplyDeleteHas anyone finished the power point assignment yet. I have used power point a lot in college all ready so I found it very easy to complete.
ReplyDeleteKristin
i had a problem with the ppt. it said I did not format the picture right but it looks just like the example. I don't know what is wrong with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy! Unfortunately my book is missing the chapter. I will have to contact the book store tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThis was the third Microsoft access assignment I did. At first I got a 67% on it and then I tried a second time and I got a 100% on it. It took a while to do because every time you make a mistake you would have to mostly restart the whole access over.
ReplyDeleteThis was the last Microsoft access assignment I did. The first time I did worse than the second time. I got a 67% on it the first time and then I tried a second time and I got a 100% on it. It took a while to do because every time you make a mistake you would have to restart the whole assigment over
ReplyDeleteI found the PowerPoint assignment to be easy. I figured out the questions better on my own than using the book. I didn't find the book all that help-full for this chapter luckily I have used PowerPoint before which was a big help.
ReplyDeletePower Point went well for me. I had no issues with the 2010 version. I think this was the easiest assignment we have had to date! I hope the rest of them are are easy!
ReplyDeleteI have never used Access before and found it a bit difficult, but can see how useful it is by using queries and forms.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem I had in Power Point was my graphic. When I saved it, I lost the transparency. Did this happen to anyone else?
I got a 73% the first time I did the PowerPoint assignment. The second
ReplyDeletetime I did it I got 100% on it. I think that power point is easier to
use than the Microsoft access. Because I am more familiar with power
point.
Well after no success in solving the issue of not have the Power Point CH 2 in my book (contacted the professor and book store), I went a head with the assignment to see how I could do with just the knowledge I have of the 2003 version and managed a 91% on my first try. 1 mistake that I don't understand would probably make sense if I had the book, but I'm extremely happy with my 91% concidering the situation.
ReplyDeletekarolyn, i lost the transparency also. Not sure why because I simply saved the download file.
ReplyDeleteWendy