Introduction to Microsoft Access

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Access is data management software. In this software you can store, retrieve and manipulate data. Microsoft Access is similar to excel but the major difference is that in excel all the column heading is dynamic you can make any new column for entering data and in access before entering any data you have to create the column heading along with its data type. Microsoft access is also called database software. Database means to store the data in an organised manner. The database has four components Table, Query, Forms and Reports. All the data in database are stored in tables.

Tables in Access

A table is a database object, which is used to store data in an organised manner. It consists of rows and columns. A database can have more than one table.

Components of table

The important components of a table are:

1. Fields or Attribute – The columns in a table are known as fields or attributes. The fields contain only single type of data. Every field has a data type that determines the type of values that can be stored under it.

Data types are the types of data which can be entered into the field. Once the data type is defined for the fields we cannot enter different data into it.

2. Record – The rows in a table are known as records. A record stores complete information about an object or an item.

3. Primary Key – A primary key is a type of field which represents the unique value in a field. Primary key can be applied in only one field.