                             ķ
                              Microsoft 
                                Access  
                             Ľ
                             by Tony Curro


    Microsoft has entered the Windows database market. They recently
    purchased FoxPro, and they released Access.

    MS Access is a full-feature multiuser  relational database for MS
    Windows. It requires 13MB for a full installation, and wants 4MB RAM
    (but will work in 2MB RAM).

    In other applications Microsoft introduced 'Wizards.' Wizard is the
    ability to have the program design the page for you. With Access you
    have Form Wizard and Report Wizard. In addition you can use a blank
    page, and create your own page. You use Wizards by going through
    several options, then sitting back while the program creates.
    Selecting a Wizard brings up a box that shows, buttons, and
    selections. One thing I did not like was the inability to see which
    form I was selecting. In other MS applications, the screens change
    to show you how the page looks as you go through each option, and
    reflects changes immediately. With Access this is not an option. You
    see the form or report only when it is already designed. Changing it
    requires you to go through the whole design process again.

    MS Access can access data from dBASE III+, dBASE IV, Paradox, and
    BTREIVE. You do not have to create a database. Just select, OPEN NEW
    DATABASE, give it a name, and select ATTACH TABLE. When you select
    ATTACH, you are taken to another menu, where you tell it which
    format you have, and select the file from its location. It is
    automatically read in, and the table is created with fields and all
    other information. All data can be sorted and grouped using
    drag-and-drop technology. The table view that is your main screen,
    is a spreadsheet like table, with rows and columns. You cannot sort
    in this format. To sort your data you must create a query or form. I
    was not too fond of this. I want to open one window and have the
    information there, as I want it. Having to go through several
    windows is time-consuming. True, you can create macros, as Access
    has  powerful macro capabilities. It  uses Access Basic, a
    full-featured modern programming language, based on the core
    language of the Microsoft Visual Basic programming system.

    Whenever you get stuck in performing a task, bring up Cue Cards. Cue
    Cards contain brief explanations and step-by-step instructions on
    how to complete your task.

    Queries, and almost everything else done in Access can be handled
    using drag-and-drop. You can join tables across multiple database
    formats with ease. MS Access Query Tool allows you to connect to
    local and remote tables simultaneously. These tables can be stored
    in many formats -- dBASE, Paradox, MS Access, SQL Server and others.
    You create relationships between the tables by simply drawing lines
    with your mouse between the fields you want to join. After you
    create your query, you can use ReportWizard and GraphWizard to
    transform it into a high-impact, professional report.


    MS Access comes with 6 manuals. I was working with the Getting
    Started Guide and came across something that may confuse users new
    to database programs. One of the pages showed how to create a Table.
    In the manual it showed the last column carried over to three lines.
    When I tried to duplicate the book, I kept getting an error. I
    realized that it belongs all on one line, regardless of how the
    example is. This was not explained. It has been said that Access if
    for those with no programming knowledge, and little or no database
    knowledge. A novice would have been stymied at this page. Regardless
    of what has been said, you should have some knowledge of database
    programs before you purchase Access or any other database, even
    those that profess no knowledge needed.

    Many PC developers use Xbase. For them there is FoxPro for Windows.
    Others, or those developers wishing to look at something different,
    there is MS Access. Integrated database objects, a full-featured
    programming language, fast incremental compilation and so forth, are
    several reasons why you should look at Access.

    With the built-in object linking and embedding (OLE) capability,
    users can insert fully editable bit mapped images, sounds, video
    clips, MS Word for Windows documents, or other binary objects
    created by OLE servers, directly into their database.

    This program came on the market with an introductory price of $99.
    through January 31, 1993. Microsoft has also released FoxPro 2.5 for
    Windows and FoxPro 2.5 for DOS.

    Microsoft Access comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee. You can
    also get unlimited no-fee support from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST,
    Monday through Friday. This is NOT a toll-free call.


                       ķ
                         Product Information  
                       Ķ
                           Microsoft Access   
                       Ķ
                          List Price -- $495  
                       Ķ
                           Microsoft Corp.    
                           1 Microsoft Way    
                          Redmond, WA 98052   
                             206-882-8080     
                       Ľ
