Microsoft Access

Microsoft Access (MS Access) is a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that allows the users to create a database and store the data in the form of rows and columns i.e. in the form of tables. MS Access comprises of a database engine known as Microsoft Jet Database Engine and a GUI. It also supports various tools that help the users in creating and managing databases. MS Access is used by business organizations and programmers for creating an organized database system.

Accessing MS Access:

For working in MS Access, we need to install first install MS Office in our computer system. After installing MS Office, we can start MS Access using any of the following two ways:

• Start menu
• Run command

Using Start Menu:

• Select Start ⇒ Program ⇒ Microsoft Office
• Select the Microsoft Office Access option to display the GUI of MS Access

Using Run command:

 We can also start MS Access by performing the following steps using the Run Command:

• Select Start ⇒ Run to display the Run dialog box
• Type msaccess in the Open text box and click OK to display the Microsoft Access window.

In Office Access 2007 the default file format is Access; however, users of Office Access 2007 can directly open and use Jet databases created in Access 2003/2002/2000. Jet databases created with Access 97 or earlier must be cither enabled or converted for use in Office Access 2007. When an older database is enabled it is made compatible with Office Access 2007 so that you can make changes to the data. However, any design changes must be made in the version of Access that was used when the database was first created. When you opt to convert an Access 97 or earlier database to the Access 2007, Access file for­mat, you must first convert it lo Access 2003, Access 2002, or Access 2000.

Questionnaire:

• What is Office Access? Explain.