Can you help a complete beginner to understand Microsoft Access?

What exactly is it designed to do?





What types of information is it designed for? (eg names, addresses, phone numbers and dates).





What advantages does Microsoft Access offer over and above what is available on Excel?

Can you help a complete beginner to understand Microsoft Access?
Easy - get a tutorial


http://databases.about.com/od/tutorials/...





2nd answer - Access is primarily designed as a database application





Excell is a spreadsheet application.
Reply:First and foremost, Access is a database application.


Excel is a spreadsheet application.


A lot of people use Excel instead of Access because they think it is easier. However, when you get the hang of it, Access is much better at handling information.





I would suggest that you go online for tutorials or sign up at a local education authority class.
Reply:A database can do more with the information you give it, but you have to know how to set up a database properly in the first place.





Excel is simpler to use and more within the reach of the average user.
Reply:Access is a very sophisticated relational database program whereas Excel is mainly for manipulating and calculating figures although you can do a pretty good FLAT database only but really perform only fairly basic queries on perhaps 3 criteria. In Access you can perform multiple, complex criteria based queries and create from those well structured reports, sub reports and also forms, and macros. To go into the basics even of Access would take up far too much space here. Look at Microsoft's tutorial on it with especial attention to relationships, primary and foreign candidate fields etc.
Reply:Here try this


http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access...