MS-Access / Getting Started

Creating a New Database

When you first start Access 2010, you see the New tab on the Microsoft Office Backstage view.If you've previously opened other databases, you also see a most recently used list of up to four database selections by default under Close Database on the left.

Using a Database Template to Create a Database

Let's explore the built-in database templates first. If you're a beginner, you can use the templates included with Access 2010 to create one of several common applications without needing to know anything about designing database software. You might find that one of these applications meets most of your needs right away. As you learn more about Access 2010, you can build on and customize the basic application design and add new features.

Even if you're an experienced developer, you might find that the application templates save you lots of time in setting up the basic tables, queries, forms, and reports for your application. If the application you need to build is covered by one of the templates, the wizard that builds an application with one of the templates can take care of many of the simpler design tasks.

On the New tab of the Backstage view, you can access the built-in local templates by clicking Sample Templates under Available Templates in the center of the screen. You can also choose to download a template from Microsoft's website by clicking one of the options under Office.com Templates. When you click one of the options under Sample Templates or Office.com Templates, the center section of the New tab changes to show a graphic representing each of the database templates available in that category. Click the Non-Profit category under Office.com to see the list of nonprofit template options.

When you click one of the template graphics in the center of the New tab, Access 2010 displays additional information about the purpose of the database in the right task pane. Click the Home button near the top of the screen to return to the main Home page of the New tab. Click Sample Templates to see a list of templates installed locally on your computer. Click the Tasks template in the middle of the screen to see detailed information about the Tasks database template. You can work with all templates from the New tab in the same way. This example will show you the steps that are needed to build a Tasks database.

Access 2010 displays a larger graphic in the right task pane when you click a specific database template. Note that when you have selected an online template, Access 2010 also shows you the template size and the rating given this template by other users. Access 2010 suggests a name for your new database in the File Name text box and a location to save the file beneath the File Name text box. You can modify the name of this database by typing in the File Name text box. If you want to change the suggested save location, click Browse to open the File New Database dialog box.

You can select the drive and folder you want by clicking the links on the left and browsing to your destination folder. After you select the specific folder to which you want to save this new database, click OK to return to the New tab on the Backstage view. Your new folder location is shown beneath the File Name text box. If you decide at this point not to create the database, click the Home button near the top of the screen to return to the main Home page of the New tab to stop the process. Click Download when working with an online template or Create when working with a local template, and Access 2010 begins the process of creating this new database template.

The first time you choose to download an online template, Access 2010 might display the Microsoft Office Genuine Advantage confirmation dialog box. Each time you download a template, Access 2010 confirms that you have a valid and registered copy of the Microsoft Office 2010 system. If you do not want to see this dialog box again, select the Do Not Show This Message Again check box. Click Continue to proceed with the download and creation of your sample database.

A progress bar appears on the screen asking you to wait while Access 2010 creates the template. After a few seconds of preparation, Access opens the new Tasks database and displays the Task List form. Close this new database for now by clicking the File tab on the Backstage view and then clicking Close Database to return to the New tab. Note that when you browse or download Access templates from Office.com, you might see additional folders on the New tab of the Backstage view under Office.com Templates.

[Contents] [Next]

In this tutorial:

  1. Designing Client Tables
  2. Creating a New Database
  3. Creating a New Empty Database
  4. Creating Your First Simple Table by Entering Data
  5. Creating a Table Using Application Parts
  6. Creating a Table Using Data Type Parts
  7. Creating a Table in Design View
  8. Understanding Field Data Types
  9. Setting Field Properties
  10. Nulls and Zero-Length Strings
  11. Defining Simple Field Validation Rules
  12. Defining Input Masks
  13. Defining a Primary Key
  14. Defining a Table Validation Rule
  15. Understanding Other Table Properties
  16. Defining Relationships
  17. Defining Your First Relationship
  18. Creating a Relationship on Multiple Fields
  19. Adding Indexes
  20. Multiple-Field Indexes
  21. Setting Table Design Options
  22. Creating a Default Template for New Databases
  23. Printing a Table Definition
  24. Database Limitations