To open a database when you start Access

·         From the opening dialog box, select the Open an existing file option, select the file required, and then click on the OK button.

To open an Access database , once Access has already started

·         From the File menu choose Open  

Note : Recently used databases may be listed at the bottom of the File menu.  If the database you require is included in the list, click once on the list entry.

OR click on the Open icon on the Standard toolbar.  

·         Select the File name from the list on the left-hand side of the box.  You might need to change folders in order to find the required database.

·         Click on Open to complete the operation.

To add a database to your 'Favorites' folder

·         Start Access and display the Open dialog box.  Locate and select the item that you wish to add to your Favorites folder.  In the example below the Northwind database file has been selected.

·         Click on the Tools drop down menu (in the Open dialog box toolbar) and then select Add to Favorites command.  

The item is now contained within your favorites folder.

Opening a database from your ‘Favorites’ folder

·         To open a file contained within your favorites, first display the Open dialog box.

·         Click on the Favorites icon displayed down the left hand side of the Open dialog box.

·         Any items that you added to your Favorites will be displayed within the dialog window, as illustrated.

 

·         Click on the required item, in this case Northwind.mdb , and then click on the Open button to open the file.

The Access Database Window

The Access Database Window appears within the Access application window when a database is opened.  It provides an easy way of accessing all database objects. 

Icons down the left hand side provide access to tables, queries, forms, reports, macros and modules.  We shall examine some of these, in detail, later on in this course.  You can select an object by clicking once with the mouse pointer.  An object can also be selected by choosing it from the View drop-down menu.