Creating a Database using Access 2007

Starting Access 2007

Double click on the Access 2007 icon on the Windows desktop (see right), or click-on the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen, then click-on Programs, and then click-on Microsoft Access 2007.

The Getting Started with Microsoft Office Access screen will appear (image below).

For previous Access users: The above menu screen is new in Access 2007.  Take a few minutes to peruse this screen.  You will notice that (on the top left of the screen) that the “old” Access Templates (already created databases) are still available.

As we move through this tutorial, many features of “old” Access will be familiar to you.

Left Mouse Button

In this tutorial, whenever we indicate that you need to click the mouse, it will mean to click the left mouse button – unless we indicate that you should click the RIGHT mouse button.  So, always “click left” unless we tell you otherwise.

Creating an Access 2007 Database

This tutorial will assist you in creating a database that includes the features most often used in databases.  Once you gain skill with the database you create, you will be able to use and understand the already created Microsoft Access databases mentioned on the last page.

We’ll begin with a Blank Database and increase our database knowledge with each step.

Look at the center of your Access screen.  You will see – Getting Started with Microsoft Office Access.  Below the title you will see a Blank Database button.

Click the Blank Database button

As soon as you click the Blank Database button, the right side of your Access screen will change and look like the image on the left.

Saving your work 

One of the unique things about Access database is that it requires you to save your database as soon as you enter the program.

You can save your work on a floppy diskette in the A: Drive, on a USB key/Flash Drive or on your C: Hard Disk, or in some other drive. Please save to one of these areas and substitute your Drive in the instructions.

To choose the Drive, on which you will save your Access database, click the small folder to the right of File Name:

A New File Database menu screen similar to the one below will appear when you click the folder.

In the upper left corner of the File New Database menu screen that appears, you will see a Save in: area (see upper left arrow above).  Click-on the small down arrow on the right and it will show you the various disk drives available on which you can save (see right upper arrow above). Point to the drive on which you want to save your database, and click-on it.  If you choose the 3½ Floppy (A:), make sure you have a formatted disk in the A drive.  If you choose the C: drive, choose the folder in which you want to save by double clicking on the folder.  Your selection should now appear in the Save in: area

Next click-in the area to the right of File Name:. Delete any text that is entered in the area and then type-in the word PERSON as shown at the bottom of the above image (see lower left arrow). 

Now click-on the OK button or tap the Enter key (see lower right arrow on last page).  

You will now return to the Getting Started with Microsoft Office Access screen.  On the right side of the screen you will see your database File Name and below it, the Drive on which you will create your database. 

Click the Create button