Features of Ms Access
MS Access is a popular Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) which lets you manage all your information from a single database.
The various features that MS Access offers to manage your data include:
- Tables: A database looks like a table of information. You can create one table for each type of information. Tables are used to store data pertaining to each type of information.
In the above table, employee details are represented by individual records.
Components of a Table
Byte: A byte is a series of eight bits that represent a single character.
Data Item (Field): A data item is the smallest unit of named data. It may consist of any number of bytes. A data item represents one type of information and is often referred to as a field of data element. For example “First name” or “Last Name”
Record: A Record is a named collection of data items which represents a complete unit of information. For example Record No 5 Contains all the information related to Tom.
- Forms: A form is a card-like window that shows each database record one by one. It makes the database easier to read. The form has spaces for each field and a set of arrows at the bottom that lets you go from one record to the next. Since forms are more like traditional paper database cards (like the library card catalogue) people find it easier to work with them. Forms display only one record at a time.
- Queries: Queries are created to find and retrieve the data that meets the conditions that you specify. Queries can access data from multiple tables. A query can also update or delete multiple records at the same time and perform predefined or custom calculations on your data.
- Reports: You can create reports to analyse the data or present it in a certain way in print.
- Data Access Page: To make data available on the internet or intranet for interactive reporting, data entry and data analysis you may use a data access page.
