Definition of MS Access
Microsoft Access is a database management system (DBMS) that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools.
Uses of MS Access
MS Access can be used to develop application software and is usually used by data architects, software developers and power users. Following are the main uses of MS Access:
Manage accounts and bills
Store data in the form of tables and edit or customize them later as per the condition of the user
It can be used to make our websites
Comparing data or finding a relationship between the existing data can be done using Access
Major Components of MS Access
The major components of MS Access are as follows:
Tables
Queries
Relationships
Macros
Forms
Reports
Module
Types of databases in MS Access
There are two types of databases in MS Access:
Flat File Database:
When the data is stored in the form of a plain text file and cannot incorporate multiple tables.
Relational Database:
When the data is stored in a form that the data items are related to one another. It supports multiple tables which organize the text in rows and columns.
The above-mentioned details will help one understand the basics of Microsoft Access. One must know that generally, it is not pre-installed in the computer, however, the option to download it from Microsoft website is always available.
Also, there are various computer terms and programs which have either been considered the same or the difference between them has not been studied by one. Thus, given below are a few differences between articles for reference:
Components of MS Access
The main usage of MS Access is for accounting. Since it is Microsoft’s primary accounting database, it can be used to manage invoice/bills, manage accounts, keep an eye on credit and debit, etc.
When we create a document of Access, data can be stored and accessed easily through multiple components. There are seven major components of MS Access database. Discuss below are the same in brief:
Tables: A table in Access is similar to any other tabulated data in the form of rows and columns. However, when adding data to a program to create a table, all the information entered must be correct as if any incorrect data is entered the processing may become slow or may not give the correct answer. The appearance of the table may look similar to the one formed in Excel with column heading and titles
Queries: Once a table is created and the user or programmer is looking for a calculated output, then it is called queries. This may include filtering, calculating, sorting, updating, etc.
Relationships: As the name suggests, when more than one table is added, the relation or connection between them can be achieved. There three ways in which the connection between the tables can be determined:
One to one
One to Many
Many to Many
Macros:
The tool using which predefined actions which can automate tasks on an Access report is called macros. Multiple tasks can be assigned and they will function whenever the macros option is selected on a report
Forms:
A user interface for a database application can be created using forms. Forms can further be divided into two: bound and unbound forms
Report:
Once all the information is entered into the database, it can be reviewed or analyzed using a report. A report can then be customized or modified as per the user’s requirement
Module:
This allows a set of pre-defined instructions to be created by a programmer in the database. They can be used throughout the database.
It was Microsoft’s first database software, and came along with a lot of advantages and convenience for its users.
Benefits:
Easy to create database within lesser time duration
Used a very comprehensive programming language which made it user friendly
It is easy to install and then easy to understand its working
Importing data was easy
Graphical user interface made it easy to use.