| Microsoft Access is a database management | | | | your print settings. The solution is to use the |
| system that allows you to create and process | | | | TEXT function to convert the value returned by |
| data in a database, which has rapidly become the | | | | the NOW function to text. |
| database of choice for Windows based database | | | | Text, as opposed to a number, will stretch into |
| development. If you are self taught and have not | | | | the next column. There are two arguments in the |
| had any Microsoft Access training you are | | | | TEXT function. The first is the value to convert |
| probably unaware of the many shortcuts available | | | | to text, the second is the format to show it in. |
| within Access. This article aims to provide some | | | | Custom number codes in quotation marks should |
| useful tips and shortcuts to help you when using | | | | be used to specify the format. For example, |
| Access. | | | | TEXT(NOW(),"ddd dd/mm/yy hh:mm") will return |
| Tips | | | | the current date and time in the format MON 09 |
| Here are a few simple tips to make using Access | | | | 10/06 11:38. |
| easier: | | | | Archiving data |
| Importing a Microsoft Word table | | | | If you can't bear the thought of deleting obsolete |
| To import a Microsoft Word table into Access | | | | records you can instead flag them with a Yes/No |
| follow the steps described below: | | | | field. You can then use the value in this field to |
| -In Word select the table you wish to import, click | | | | determine whether to show records. For |
| on the Table menu, select Convert and click Table | | | | example, you could only display records with a |
| to Text | | | | Yes value in your queries, reports, forms and so |
| -Copy your selected table into a new document | | | | on. |
| and save it as a text file | | | | Automatically compact and repair |
| -In Access use the Get External Data command | | | | To ensure optimum performance you should |
| to import the contents of your newly created | | | | compact and repair your Microsoft Access files |
| text file | | | | regularly. In the Tools menu select Database |
| Use wildcards in the search text box | | | | Utilities and then click on Compact and Repair |
| You can use wildcards such as question mark (?) | | | | Database. You can simplify the process and get |
| and asterisk (*) in the search text box. The | | | | Access to do this for you automatically by |
| question mark will match any single character, for | | | | completing the following steps: |
| example, s?t will find "set" and "sat". The asterisk | | | | -Open the Access database or project you want |
| will match any number of characters, for | | | | Access to compact automatically |
| example, s*d will find "sad", "started" and | | | | -On the Tools menu select Options |
| "standard". | | | | -Click on the General tab |
| Display current date and time in a column of any | | | | -Select the Compact on Close check box |
| width | | | | Shortcuts |
| The function =NOW() will return the current date | | | | It is true that the keyboard is faster than the |
| and time, but when entered in a column which is | | | | mouse for a number of commonly used tasks |
| not wide enough to display the returned value the | | | | because you don't have to go through the point, |
| cell displays 3 hash symbols. You could get round | | | | select and click sequence. Here is a list of speedy |
| this by widening the column but this is not always | | | | keyboard shortcuts that you can use to save |
| convenient, the column may already be at its | | | | you time when working with your Access |
| maximum width to be able to see all the columns | | | | databases. |
| on one screen or it may force you to change | | | | |