Introduction

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Launch the Database Wizard
• Create a database using the Database Wizard tool

Launching the Database Wizard

The Contact Management database was created using the Microsoft Access Database Wizard. We will briefly review the steps involved in creating this database.

Microsoft Access 2003 is equipped with a Database Wizard that can be used to create any of 10 simple databases: Asset Tracking, Contact Management, Event Management, Expenses, Inventory Control, Ledger, Order Entry, Resource Scheduling, Service Call Management, and Time and Billing.

In this lesson, we will briefly review the steps involved in creating the Contact Management database.

How to create a Contact Management database using the Database Wizard:

• Choose FileNew from the menu bar.
• Click once on the Databases tab near the top of the New window.
  
  
• If the Templates window does not show, you may need to select On my computer from the task pane on the right side of your screen.
  
• Click once to select on the Contact Management icon.
• Click the OK button to launch the wizard.
  
  
• Specify the location where the database will be saved.

Verifying the intent of the Contact Management database

The first screen of the wizard verifies the type of information that will be stored in the Contact Management database: Contact information and Call information.

• Click the Next button to continue.

Selecting tables and fields for the Contact Management database

The second screen of the wizard identifies the tables to be created. Three tables were created: Contact information, Call information, and Contact Types.

Click on any table to display the fields connected to it in the Fields in the table column. Click on a different table and other fields used by that table will replace the ones displayed for the table selected.

• Accept all other default field selections by leaving these check boxes marked by a check.
• Click the Next button to continue.

Defining the format of the screen display

The third screen asks the question, What style would you like for screen displays? Microsoft Access provides 10 screen displays for your use. A thumbnail picture is also provided for each format listed.

• Click through the different format options displayed on the screen—Blends, Blueprint, Expedition, etc.—to display a picture of each format on the left side of the wizard screen. Highlight the desired format—the Contact Management database uses the Standard format—to be used.
• Click the Next button to continue.

Defining the format of the report display

The fourth screen asks the question, What style would you like for printed reports? Microsoft Access provides six report displays for your use. A thumbnail picture is also provided for each format listed.

• Click through the different format options displayed on the screen—Bold, Casual, Compact, etc.—to display a picture of each format on the left side of the wizard screen. Highlight the desired format—the Contact Management database uses the Corporate format—to be used.
• Click the Next button to continue.

Naming the database

The next step is to assign a name to the database.

• Assign a name to the database by typing a file name in the What would you like the title of the database to be field.
• Click the Next button to continue.

Finishing the wizard

The final step asks whether the database being created is to be opened after it is built by the wizard. It has no bearing whatsoever on the actual building of the database. If you don't want to open the new database at this point, you can always return to it later and open it in Microsoft Access.

• Leave or remove the check mark that appears in the check box associated with the Yes, start the database prompt.
• Click the Finish button to initiate the database build.
  
  

Challenge!

• Review the Database Wizard screens shown in this lesson. These are the same screens used to create the Contact Management database.
• Open Microsoft Access.
• Choose File and then New from the menu bar.
• Select On my computer... under the Templates section of the task pane.
• Select the Expenses database. This is a good example of a database that could be used by a business to track expenses.
• Follow the steps indicated by the wizard to create the database. Make sure the box beside Yes, start the database is checked on the screen of the wizard.
• Navigate through the database by selecting various forms and tables.
• Save and close the database.