Microsoft access Help??

Question

Help. I need help! I have to take a microsoft access test for a new job tomorrow and I have never used it. I can teach myself practically anything the only problem is I don't have access. I have word and excel, but not access. Are there any free online practice versions of it? and a real good tutorial???

Answer 1

Access is much more complex than most people realise.



You need to build tables, link tables together after determining their relationships, design and run queries (you will need to learn SQL), build forms including drop down lists and lookup fields, use expressions, write reports and macros and write some Visual Basic for Applications (very similar to Visual Basic) to make it all hang together, look pretty and protect the database (and the user) from amateur tinkering.



Next is testing and debugging.



Then there are database administration tasks such as backing up and repairing the database, normalising the structure, ensuring data integrity, reorganising the database as it and its usage grows, providing network and internet access, security (sometimes down to user level security) etc.



In my case, I studied relational database theory in 1981, did a Jill Luha course ("Access to Access 2.0") in 1995 and designed and developed database application systems for 9 years. I am now getting to grips with it.



You may have left your run a little late.



If you are a programmer, you will probably be able to pick it up quickly. I learnt programming as I went along.



Here are a couple of links you could try:



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



http://cisnet.baruch.cuny.edu/holowczak/classes/2200/access/accessall.html



You will be able only to scratch the very surface in the time available and the best course of action is to "come clean". You will not be able to bullshit your way through.

Answer 2

Access and Excel are very different from Word and Powerpoint. You will NOT be able to fake knowing how to use them. If the job requires someone who is up to speed immediately, you may not be qualified. It's a good thing to know before you get hired and lose credibility (and most probably your job) within a very short period of time. However, you can certainly let them know your current MS Office experience and your skill in Word and Powerpoint. Then state that you are willing to learn the other two as quickly as possible. Some employers (like General Motors) provide MS Office suites for as little as $10 for their employees use AT HOME. This is so they can practice using it and keep up with what is used on the job. (This is MS way of making sure that everybody else keeps paying through the nose the rest of the time.) Anyway, the employer you are looking at may also be willing to hire you for your other qualifications if you are willing to take classes and are a fast learner. You can look online and find a course available that starts soon (or immediately) and is as comprehensive as possible in as short a time as possible. (More on that below.) Then be prepared by rehearsing something to say when this comes up in the interview. For example, state honestly (and succinctly) that you are not familiar with Access and Excel, but you are a fast learner, are have checked into and are willing to take a course (name it specifically) to bring you up to speed as quickly as possible. State that you believe your other qualifications would make this mutually beneficial employment and that you came to the interview hoping to have the opportunity to prove that. I've included a link for Microsoft Office's own FREE online self-training site. You may also want to look up paid services before tomorrow, so you can refer to these if asked. Remember that if they outright state that you aren't qualified for that position, you can still ask if they have another position that would better suit your skills, and to keep you in mind in the future. Even a referral to another company or a suggestion on a job better suited is a precious commodity these days. And I do hope you can get the job.

Answer 3

1) No.



2) I doubt you could teach yourself enough Access in one night to impress anyone. You first have to learn SQL and VBA - and that would take weeks if you're a very fast learner. Then you have to learn the program itself.