About this course
Access is ideal when spreadsheets start to crack: too many tabs, duplicate entries, broken formulas, and no single source of truth. This course teaches you how to build a small database that behaves like an application — with clean data, easy entry forms, and reports you can trust. You’ll begin with database thinking: what tables are, why relationships matter, and how to design data so it stays consistent over time. We build a real schema step-by-step, covering keys, data types, validation rules, and common mistakes that cause duplicates or “orphan” records. You’ll learn to normalize your data (just enough) so updates are safe and reporting is reliable. Next, you’ll learn queries — the heart of Access. We cover simple filters and sorting, then move into joins, calculated fields, criteria logic, and parameter prompts. You’ll practice building queries that answer business questions like “what changed this month?”, “which customers are overdue?”, or “which items are out of stock?”. We also discuss query performance and how to keep databases responsive. Then we build forms for clean data entry. You’ll create user-friendly screens with dropdowns, subforms, and navigation — so entering data feels guided instead of risky. Finally, we create reports: grouping, totals, print-ready layouts, and export options when you need to share results. By the end, you’ll complete a small project database and understand how to extend it: add a new table, adjust relationships, build a new report, and keep everything consistent. It’s a practical, job-ready introduction to Access that respects how real teams work.
What you'll learn
- Table design, relationships, keys, validation
- Queries: joins, criteria, calculations, parameters
- Forms with subforms and guided data entry
- Reports for summaries, totals, and printing
- Complete mini-project database
Anyone who uses Office at work or school and wants a clean, professional workflow. If you feel like you “know the basics” but your files still look messy, this course is built for you.
Requirements: Office installed is recommended. A laptop/desktop is best for hands-on practice.
Choose your plan
Monthly
- Full access to all courses
- Downloadable templates
- Email support
6 months
- Everything in Monthly
- Priority updates & new templates
- Great value
Yearly
- Everything in Monthly
- Stay up-to-date year round
- Lowest monthly cost
Course outline
- Module 1 — Setup: workspace, settings, and the “professional defaults” that save you time.
- Module 2 — Core skills: the daily features you will use constantly (with shortcuts).
- Module 3 — Workflow: templates, consistency, and how to avoid common mistakes.
- Module 4 — Project: build a realistic deliverable and polish it to a professional finish.
Instructor note
This course is designed in a UDEMY-style format: short lessons, clear chapters, and practical outcomes. The goal is not to memorize menus, but to build confidence you can apply immediately.