Access 2010: The Missing Manual

The Modern Face of Access

Ever since Microsoft Office conquered the world (way back in the 1990s), programs like Word, Excel, and Access haven’t changed a lot. Although a genuinely useful new feature appears once in a while, Microsoft spends more time wedging in odd gimmicks like a talking paper clip. But after spending far too long trying to simplify the haphazard, toolbar-choked interfaces in most Office applications, Microsoft finally worked up the courage to redesign it all from scratch, throwing out the menus and toolbars and replacing them with a slick new ribbon.

Access 2010 inherits the revamped user interface from Access 2007 and adds a few refinements of its own. Chief among them is something called backstage view, a central hub for creating, opening, and saving database files.

Word To The Wise: When Access Isn’t Enough

If you’ve picked up this book, you probably have a good sense that Access will meet your needs. But if you’re in any doubt, a quick reality check will confirm whether you’re on the right path.

The following list describes a few warning signs that suggest you and Access just aren’t a good fit. If you don’t fall into any of these categories, congratulations—you’re ready to use the most straightforward and productive database software anywhere!

• You need to store huge volumes of information (more than 2 gigabytes of data). You’re unlikely to hit this mark unless you’re storing large pictures or other types of digital content inside a database. Even a big Access ...