Microsoft Access 2007

Access 2007 does basically the same as any other previous versions, but they changed the screen presentation, so now everything is either hiding or in other places. It is like having bought a different manufacturer's product. (In a car, now the brake pedal would be in the steering column & the light switch would be the accelerator....)
I think I would have been better off downloading Open Office (for free.)
Also, it is very expensive.

Micrisoft Acces 2007 is a rally useful software, some people says that is much better the 2003 versions but i think that the 2007 is the best

I have been using Microsoft Access since the early 1990s, & I have been teaching it in the classroom & online 4 over a decade. I was a contract database developer 4 many years.

Access is one of my favorite programs. It has all the power that most people & small businesses need 2 create extraordinary databases, yet it's easy 2 use. You can be up & running with Access in just a few hours with the help of a good book or tutorial.

If you are new 2 Microsoft Access, & you have never used it before, you're going 2 LOVE Access 2007. The interface is clean. There are plenty of features, & you should have no problems navigating it - especially if you're familiar with the new interface in Word 2007 or Excel 2007.

If you have been using Access 4 a few years, & are used 2 previous versions, such as Access 2003 or XP, be ready 4 a new learning curve. It's going 2 take you a while 2 figure out where Microsoft put everything with the new "ribbon" menu system. Personally, I don't like it - but then again, I'm not used 2 it yet.

Do NOT purchase Access 2007 2 upgrade your business database thinking it's going be a smooth, easy transition. Unless you have a few WEEKS 2 kill learning the new interface, upgrading your database, & ironing out the rough spots. Most of my databases upgraded without a hitch, but a few of them had VBA code that just wouldn't work in the new version.

DO purchase Access 2007 if you're new 2 Access, or you want 2 take the time 2 learn the new system, experiment with it, or build NEW databases. It is a wonderful program. I just wish that Microsoft would have kept those of us in mind who have been using their product 4 the past umpteen years before completely redesigning the interface.

Richard Rost
President
AccessLearningZone.com

Author of Microsoft Access 101 Video Tutorials & eBook

P.S. I've seen some other comments on here about using a "real" database like SQL Server or Oracle. Yes, I agree that Access doesn't have the most powerful database engine, but it's fine 4 99% of small businesses. Plus, you can always upgrade later & keep your Access front-end attached 2 an SQL Server engine.

I'm pleased with Access '07. I would suggest a good manual or guide book 2 aid you through the various functions.

I am not sure what MS hoped 2 accomplish with this version of Access, other than 2 make it easier 4 most Access users, who seem 2 use Access as a glorified Excel spreadsheet. Having developed in Access 4 many years, this major revision is a little off-putting. It looks just like FileMaker, which I personally dislike.

That being said, it has all the basic functionality of the older versions, except with a very forced FileMaker interface that is hard 2 overcome. You can down-convert 2 mdb files, so that is a good feature. Otherwise, the most significant update is the menu ribbons, which are a pain 2 relearn, & the XML formatting, which remains 2 be seen if it will be useful in the Office environment. Since they are pushing SharePoint quite succesfully, I think this will pay off 4 MS in the long run, but otherwise, just be prepared 2 shell out some retraining dollars.

Microsoft Office Access 2007 helps knowledge workers start tracking information quickly, create meaningful reports with ease, & share data more securely using the Web. Its new library of pre-built solutions & new information-sharing capabilities let you track & report information with ease. The prebuilt database solutions allows you 2 modify & adapt them 2 your changing business needs. Collect information through forms in e-mail or import data from external applications. Create & edit detailed reports that display sorted, filtered, & grouped information 2 facilitate more informed decision making. Share information with others using Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services technology lists, where you can audit revision history, recover deleted information, set data access permissions, & back up your information at regular intervals. It's your all-in-one, out-of-the-box database solutions. Work with multivalue fields - Create complex data types, like columns that accept more than one value in a cell Attach multiple documents & files 2 your database, storing them 4 easy reference Interactive forms design - Design & modify the form layout in real time on the screen -- & preview your form as you build it Rich text formatting - Provides rich text support 4 data stored in tables

With its improved interface & interactive design capabilities that do not require extensive database knowledge, Microsoft Office Access 2007 helps you track & report information with ease. This all-in-one, out-of-the-box database solution helps workers track information quickly, create meaningful reports with ease, & share data more securely using the Web.

Office Access 2007 provides a library of prebuilt database solutions 2 get you started quickly. View larger.

Office Access 2007 has made it easier 2 filter data, bringing clarity 2 business questions. View larger.

Collect information from others by e-mail with InfoPath (or HTML) forms generated by Office Access 2007. View larger.

Moving your Office Access 2007 application 2 Windows SharePoint Services enables browser access 2 information. View larger.

Editing forms in interactive design mode is a true WYSIWIG experience. View larger.

Office Access 2007 provides a completely redesigned user interface & close integration with Outlook contacts. View larger.

Office Access 2007 has been updated with a fresh look so that you can easily create, modify, & work with database solutions. View larger.

Results-Oriented Interface
Access 2007 has been updated with a fresh look that makes it easier 2 create, modify, & work with tracking applications. The new results-oriented user interface (UI) is context-sensitive & optimized 4 efficiency & flexibility. The main window has a tabbed work area where all open objects reside, helping 2 keep the development area clean & tidy. Additionally, there are no windows hidden under other windows, so it's much easier 2 keep track of open documents & applications. To make things even simpler, from the nearly 1,000 available commands, the new UI displays only those relevant 2 the task you are performing at any given moment. And the new status bar, scroll bars, & title bar give applications built on Access 2007 a very modern look.

Pre-built Applications 2 Better Manage Information
Featuring pre-built applications that you can modify or adapt 2 suit changing business needs, Access 2007 gives you the option of collecting information through forms in e-mail or importing data from external applications. You can also create & edit detailed reports that display sorted, filtered, & grouped information in a way that helps you make better sense of the data 4 informed decision-making.

Getting Started Screen
The new Getting Started screen includes a variety of pre-built database solutions that you can use right out of the box 2 track contacts, events, issues, assets, tasks, & more--or treat them like templates, & enhance & refine them 2 accommodate the kind of information you want 2 track or the way in which you want 2 track it. As other application templates become available from Microsoft Office Online, they will be advertised in the Getting Started screen so you'll always be up 2 date on new technology that can help your business run more smoothly.

Quickly Create Tables
Access 2007 features a new Navigation Pane which provides a comprehensive view of tables, forms, queries, & reports. You can even create custom groups 2 organize & see all the forms & reports related 2 a single table. In addition, Access 2007 makes it easier 2 work directly within a datasheet 2 create & customize tables. Enter information into a data cell--just as you would do in Microsoft Office Excel--and if it's a new value, Access 2007 automatically adds a new field & detects the data type (for example, date, number, or text). You can even paste Excel tables into a new datasheet, & Access 2007 will build all the fields & recognize the data types automatically. To help save you even more time, design & modify the form layout in real time on the screen, & preview your form as you build it. And 4 professional-looking results, Access 2007 provides rich text support 4 data stored in tables, so you can bold & italicize key data with ease.

Editing reports in Office Access 2007 offers easy grouping & editing with interactive design mode. View larger.

Filter & Sort Data
Access 2007 makes it easier 2 filter data, bringing clarity 2 business questions. Different filter options are available 4 text, numbers, & date data types. For example, new filtering options make it easy 2 filter a date column 4 all records in Today, Yesterday, Last Week, Next Month, Future, Past, & so on. For added convenience, the filtering experience is consistent between Excel 2007 & Access 2007 so that you don't need 2 learn a new way 2 find the information you need.

Work With Multi-Value Fields
Access 2007 supports complex data types, which means you can create columns that accept more than one value in a cell. For example, if you assign a task 2 more than one person, you can include both names in the cell. Windows SharePoint Services technology is compatible with these complex data types 2 help ensure data symmetry between the local & Web-based data stores.

Attach Documents & Files 2 Your Database
Your applications can hold information that is more interesting & helpful than ever before. You can attach multiple files--such as photos, documents, or spreadsheets--to individual records within the data store 4 easy reference. If the file isn't a compressed format, Access 2007 automatically compresses it 4 you, saving hard disk space. When it comes 2 consolidating information, Access 2007 lets you import contact records from Outlook 2007.

Interactive Form & Report Design
Access 2007 features an intuitive, user-friendly, what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) forms design interface. This means you can design & modify the form layout in real time on the screen & preview your form as you build it. With the WYSIWYG design interface, you'll be able 2 build forms very quickly, spending more time doing the work & less time on design & formatting issues. You can also manipulate the report layout directly while browsing the data in the report designer, so you don't need 2 run the report 2 see how it looks on the page. This makes it easier 2 create great-looking reports in much less time.

More Accessible Reports
The new report browse mode makes reports more accessible. By using CTRL+F, you can find records, copy the data into other applications, & get 2 detailed records 2 edit the data. With the new filtering functionality, you can get clearer information on which 2 base decisions. To help keep things running smoothly, the improved Grouping Pane provides a clear display of data groupings so that you can preview changes as you are applying them 2 reports. You can easily add totals, subtotals, counts, & other elements that help you analyze the data. To help organize data, group the information in one or more layers & add subtotals.

Collecting & Sharing Information
Access 2007 simplifies the process of collecting information from others by building the data collection form automatically in InfoPath 2007 or HTML in the body of the e-mail message. You can then send that form 2 recipients, using e-mail addresses from your Outlook contacts or from Access itself. Outlook 2007 processes the incoming forms & saves the data in your Access 2007 data store, effectively updating the data in your tracking application immediately, without any need 4 retyping.

Web Collaboration With Windows SharePoint Services
By moving your Access 2007 files 2 a Windows SharePoint Services Web site, you can more readily share information, audit revision history, recover deleted information, set data access permissions, & back up your information at regular intervals. For instance, Web sites based on Windows SharePoint Services provide a place where your team can communicate, share documents, & work together on a project. With Access 2007, you can publish your Access files 2 libraries or move the application 2 Windows SharePoint Services, moving the data & front-end database 2 the server so that your team can interact with it easily through the browser. Forms & reports can then be viewed, updated, or deleted directly on the Windows SharePoint Services site according 2 the established permission settings.

Work Offline
Using Access 2007, you can work with Windows SharePoint Services offline. If you're traveling, 4 example, you can maintain a local copy of a SharePoint list on your portable computer, where you can edit & query the list as though it were any other Access table. Moreover, forms & reports that use the SharePoint list are fully interactive--and Office Access 2007 can later synchronize the local list with the online list when you bring your portable computer back online.

Integration with Windows SharePoint Services
Access 2007 authors can use business logic created with the workflow support in Windows SharePoint Services 2 build collaborative workgroup applications. Use this support 2 automatically assign tasks 2 other users, report on project status, & help ensure that tasks are completed on time. For added convenience, all Windows SharePoint Services tasks can be viewed inside Office Access 2007 or Outlook 2007, depending upon your work style. Windows SharePoint Services lists can even be accessed through mobile phones, so remote users can stay current on changing business information.

Manage & Audit Sensitive Information
To make this software even safer & more consistent with other 2007 Office system programs, Access 2007 includes improved as well as new security features. Unified trust decisions are integrated with Office Trust Center, & trusted locations mean databases in security-enhanced folders. Conversely, you can load an Access application with code or macros disabled 2 help provide a safe experience. Or you can track records & see who created, edited, & deleted them. Whichever option you choose, you can rest assured that your data is safe.