Free online course MS Access Training: Databases, Queries, Forms and Reports
Duration of the online course: 5 hours and 22 minutes
New
Build real database skills fast with this free MS Access course—create tables, queries, forms, and reports, plus useful automation for work-ready results.
In this free course, learn about
Navigate Access 2016 interface, orientation, and use the Tell Me box to find help/commands
Create simple databases and tables; define fields, data types, and properties in Design view
Use primary keys and validation rules to ensure unique records and control allowed field values
Sort and filter records/datasheets to view subsets of data that match specific criteria
Create lookup fields to choose values from lists and reduce entry errors/inconsistency
Build queries with joins, criteria, totals, calculations, subqueries, and parameter prompts
Create action queries to append/update/delete/make-table for bulk data changes
Design forms for data entry; use Form vs Design view; add controls and calculated fields
Create reports and format/layout them; use Layout/Design/Print Preview for printing readiness
Apply relational design: normalization, junction tables, and relationships with referential integrity
Use subdatasheets, subforms, and subreports to show related records within forms/reports
Automate tasks with macros and event-driven data macros; build and edit switchboards/startup options
Import/export data with Excel and text files; export to Excel; run Mail Merge from Access data
About the free online course
Turn scattered spreadsheets into a reliable database you can trust. This free online course helps you build practical Microsoft Access skills for organizing information, reducing errors, and producing clear outputs that teams can actually use. Whether you manage office records, customer data, inventory, projects, or reports, you will learn how to structure data so it stays consistent as it grows.
You will start by getting comfortable with the Access interface and the core idea behind relational databases: data works best when it is stored in well-designed tables connected by relationships. As you progress, you will practice creating tables with appropriate data types, setting primary keys, and applying validation rules that prevent inaccurate entries. You will also see how lookups can speed up data entry while keeping values standardized, a key step for building clean datasets.
From there, you will use queries to transform raw tables into meaningful answers. You will learn how to join information from different tables, sort and filter results, build calculations, and summarize totals in a way that supports day-to-day decisions. You will also explore parameter and action queries, useful when you want Access to prompt for criteria or update data efficiently.
To make your database friendly for real users, the course focuses on forms and navigation. You will create forms for smooth data entry, add controls and calculated fields, and introduce subforms and tab pages to keep complex information organized without overwhelming the screen. You will also work with conditional formatting and validation techniques to catch mistakes early and improve data quality.
Finally, you will learn to produce polished reports suitable for sharing and printing, refine layouts for readability, and add calculated fields or subreports when needed. The course also covers essential workflows such as importing from Excel, exporting data, and using Mail Merge—capabilities that help you connect Access with common office tools. By the end, you will be able to design, build, and maintain an Access database that supports efficient work and professional reporting.
Course content
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Course Overview04m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, what is the primary purpose of a form?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Orientation05m
Exercise: Which feature is highlighted as something Microsoft Access can do that goes beyond simply storing data like Excel?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Simple Database12m
Exercise: What is the main purpose of a primary key in an MS Access table?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Get Help02m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access 2016, what replaces the traditional Help tab for finding assistance and commands?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Table11m
Exercise: Which view is used to create the structure of a table by defining field names and data types in MS Access?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Modify Table Data07m
Exercise: Which set of rules should be checked when modifying a table to control what data can be entered into fields?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Sort and Filter Records07m
Exercise: What is the main purpose of applying a filter to records in Microsoft Access 2016?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Lookups04m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, what is a lookup field primarily used for?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Join Data from Different Tables in Query06m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, which tool is primarily used to combine fields from two different tables into a single result set?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Sort and Filter Data in Query07m
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Perform Calculations in Query04m
Exercise: In Access Query Design View, which feature is used to calculate the sum of a field like Quantity grouped by a product field?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create a Form06m
Exercise: In MS Access, what is the main purpose of using a form?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Modify the Design of Form09m
Exercise: Which view should you select in MS Access to modify the design of a form (e.g., add buttons and change structure)?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - View and Edit Data in Form07m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, which view is primarily used to enter or edit records in a form?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create a Report05m
Exercise: Which view is used to adjust column widths while creating a report in Microsoft Access 2016?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Add Controls to Report04m
Exercise: In MS Access, which control is generally used to add a specific or calculated field to a form or report?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Enhance Appearance of Report07m
Exercise: To apply formatting changes to a report (such as changing fonts and field appearance), which view should be used?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Prepare Report for Print05m
Exercise: Which view mode is recommended to use before printing a report in Microsoft Access 2016?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Relational Database Design12m
Exercise: Why is relational database design used in Microsoft Access?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Table Relationships08m
Exercise: When creating a relationship between two tables in MS Access, what is the purpose of selecting Enforce Referential Integrity?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Parameter Queries04m
Exercise: What happens when you run a parameter query in MS Access after entering criteria in the parameter prompt?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Action Queries05m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, what is the main purpose of an action query as described?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Unmatched and Duplicate Queries06m
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Summarize Data03m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access 2016, what feature is used in Query Design to summarize a numeric field like Quantity by calculating its total per customer?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Import Data into Access04m
Exercise: Which sequence correctly starts importing an Excel file into Microsoft Access 2016?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Export Data to Text File Formats04m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access 2016, which path is used to start exporting a table to a text (.txt) file?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Export Access Data to Excel02m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access 2016, which tab do you use to export an Access database table/query to an Excel (.xlsx) file?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Mail Merge07m
Exercise: In MS Access 2016, which tab is used to start a Mail Merge to create letters/envelopes for all records in a table or query?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Data Normalization07m
Exercise: What is the main goal of data normalization in Microsoft Access?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Junction Table05m
Exercise: What is the main purpose of a junction table in Microsoft Access?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Improve Table Structure06m
Exercise: Which view is used to improve a table structure by changing field data types and properties in MS Access?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Query Joins04m
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Join Tables That Have No Common Fields07m
Exercise: What type of join uses comparison operators to join tables that have no common field in MS Access?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Relate Data within Table06m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, what does enabling Enforce Referential Integrity in a relationship help ensure?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Work with Subdatasheets05m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, what is the main purpose of a subdatasheet?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Subqueries03m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, which option in the Totals row should you choose to find how many orders each customer has placed?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Organize Report Information04m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, which view is used to reorganize and adjust a report (e.g., column widths, sorting, filtering) while seeing dotted layout guides?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Format Reports06m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access 2016, which view should you switch to when you want to format a report (themes, fonts, colors, and layout changes)?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Include Control Formatting in Report06m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access 2016, where can you find the Control Formatting group to format controls on a report in Layout/Design view?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Add Calculated Field to Report03m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, where do you enter the expression for a calculated field in a report?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Add Controls to Forms05m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, how do you create a Total Price field on a form that calculates Quantity × Price?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create Subforms04m
Exercise: What relationship must exist between the main form data and the subform data to create a subform in MS Access?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Add Subreport to Existing Report04m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, why would you add a subreport to an existing report?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Organize Information with Tab Pages05m
Exercise: What is the main purpose of using a Tab Control (tab pages) on an MS Access form?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Enhance Navigation of Forms06m
Exercise: Which feature in Microsoft Access 2016 lets you access multiple forms, reports, tables, or queries from one place without repeatedly using the Navigation Pane?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Apply Conditional Formatting06m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access 2016, what is the first step before creating a conditional formatting rule for a form in Datasheet view?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Field and Record Validation08m
Exercise: In MS Access, which validation would you use to ensure the Service Date is always after the Purchase Date?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Form Validation08m
Exercise: Which event property is used to validate a form field before a record is saved in MS Access?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create a Macro04m
Exercise: What is a macro in Microsoft Access used for?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create an Event-Driven Data Macro04m
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Create a Database Switchboard09m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access, what is a key difference between a switchboard and a navigation form?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Modify Database Switchboard05m
Exercise: In Microsoft Access 2016, what tool is used to modify a database switchboard (e.g., change button labels or actions)?
Video class: MS Access 2016 - Set Startup Options02m
Exercise: Which setting makes a Switchboard open automatically when an Access database starts?
