Appendix D: Function Reference for Data Analysts
IN THIS APPENDIX
Looking at functions commonly used in data analysis
Familiarizing yourself with a variety of functions
This appendix is designed to provide a solid reference to the functions that are most relevant to the realm of data analysis. Several of these functions are covered in detail throughout this book.
Tip
You can learn more about the functions that are not covered in this book by using the Access Help system.
Abs
Purpose: The Abs function is a math function that returns a value that represents the absolute value of the number (that is, the magnitude of the number without the positive or negative sign). For example, Abs(-5) would return 5.
Arguments:
Abs(Number)
Number (required): This is the numeric expression you're evaluating. In a query environment, you can use the name of a field to specify that you're evaluating all the row values of that field.
Asc
Purpose: The Asc function is a conversion function used to convert a string to its ASCII code. For example, Asc(“A”) would return 65 because 65 is the ASCII code for the uppercase letter A. If you pass a whole word to the Asc function, it will return only the ASCII code for the first letter of the word.
Arguments:
Asc(String)
String (required): This is the string you're evaluating. If the string you're passing to the function contains no characters, the function will fail and produce a runtime error.
Atn
Purpose: The Atn function is a math function that allows ...
