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Learn Access Video Tutorials
by Crystal

The "Learn Access" series takes an idea from concept to application. Since contact information is the heart of most applications, this is where we start. You will learn, from the beginning, how to develop a useful application in Access. We spend a lot of time in the planning stage because this is often what distinguishes the master from the apprentice. Each step along the way is packed with lots of information. I did not choose to show you how to use Access by picking something easy ... but once you get done with this series (and I get done making it), you will be ready for the rest of the world!

If you are not a programmer, you will become one — because that is where the power of Access gets unleashed.
Special thanks to Arvin Meyer for setting up this site and giving Access MVPs a place to share their expertise with others.
 

Close-Caption and Translations

All of the "Learn Access" videos have Captions. On this page, you need to be watching the video to see the choices.
  • Turn Captions on or off: click the triangle button in the lower right corner of the viewing window and choose CC or the icon for Captions -- then choose the language you wish to see. English is always available, and we are working on translations to other languages.
  • There is a "Translate" feature available, but the quality of the translation is questionable as it will be literal. For those of you who speak another language, please give me feedback! Click the email link at the bottom of this page.

Learn Access -1- Perspective -- Types Of Applications (9:46)   watch on YouTube

Before we dive into Access, we will put it into perspective with other applications (thank you John Mishefske for this idea)
If you learn an application in each of the following categories, you will have a well-rounded foundation on which to build:
  • Word Processor
  • Spreadsheet
  • Database
  • Graphics and Multimedia
  • eMail and Communications
  • Web Browser
*** Translations ***
Portugese: Luiz Cláudio
French: John Viescas

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Learn Access -2A- Planning a Database (9:28)   watch on YouTube

It takes time to plan a good database. A good design is everything when it comes to Access; structuring data is the most important thing to do well. This foundation tutorial is the first of 2 parts on Planning -- what to do BEFORE you create Access objects ...
  • Prepare
  • Visualize
  • Organize
  • Design for Flexibility
  • Naming Guidelines
*** Translations ***
Portugese: Luiz Cláudio

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Learn Access -2B- Planning a Database (9:59)   watch on YouTube

Planning a Database, part B: what to know before you create Access objects ...
  • Naming Conventions
  • Questions
  • Field Names
  • Key Fields
  • Relationships

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Learn Access -2C- Planning a Database (10:00)   watch on YouTube

Planning a Database, part C. Plan fields and relationships for:
  • People
  • Categories
  • Addresses
  • Phones
  • eMail
  • Websites
  • Types
  • PAdr (cross-reference table between People and Addresses)
I have changed a few of the fieldnames from previous lessons ...

*** Translations ***
French: John Viescas

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VBA -- Winner by Random Draw (6:16)   watch on YouTube

To pick the next winner of an hour of free training, I wrote a program in VBA to determine a winner by random draw ... watch to see who won!

This is not where I intend to start teaching you VBA but, for the benefit of those who already know something about it, I do show you how I used a random number generator to pick a name.
  • Conditional Formatting on a form
  • Comment lines in code
  • Dimension a variable
  • Generating a random number in a particular range
  • Find record in a subform
  • Construct text using concatenation of literal values and a controlname


YouTube

To watch these videos in a bigger viewing window, click HERE to go to Crystal's YouTube Channel.
the videos are numbered -- be sure to watch them in order.

If the video list does not appear to the right of the viewing window, click "Uploads" in the header to see the list.

If you wish to be notified when I post new videos, watch them on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE to me ... OR send me email with this subject: "Subscribe to Videos"

To comment on a video, watch on YouTube and sign in (it is free to make an account). There is a Comments link just below the video viewing window on my channel for the featured video (which is NOT the first one in the series -- click on a video to the right to swap it).

If you want to watch in the regular YouTube window instead of my channel, click on the video title just below the video viewing window OR click on the watch on YouTube link to the right of each video title on this page.

if you do not find the help you need in Access Basics or my video tutorials and seek private help, ask me for information. I will be happy to help you &mdash I love to teach and do remote training and custom programming with great success!

I can also create custom video tutorials for your company using your data

If you have comments and ideas, I'd like to hear from you

© Copyright 2009 Crystal Long.  All rights reserved.
Last Updated:  July 19, 2009