ACCESS Assignments: General Information

 

Text Information

The text for this portion of the class is “The O’Leary Series, Office Access 2003”.

Text Material Arrangement

The material in text is arranged on two types of pages. The White pages explain database concepts and theory. Throughout the white pages in each chapter are blue shaded boxes containing step by step “Hands on activities” that you will prepare you to complete the assignment. You will also find helpful hints and explanations in boxes with blue headings labeled “Additional Information” throughout the chapters.

The Yellow colored pages trimmed in Red labeled “Step-by-step” “Lab Exercises” are found at the end of each chapter.  These pages contain the assignment that you are to complete and turn in (see the lab instructions to determine the one exercise that must be completed and turned in).

You are responsible for reading the chapter before the lab.  You may be tested on the midterm and/or the final examination regarding Access concepts. HINT: you may want to do the Review of Terminology/Concepts at the end of the chapter to review the concepts covered in each chapter.  You will also be given an individual exam style lab (5) to be completed on your own in limited time period.  As such, concentrate on the learning the fundamentals.

Assignments

Prior to class you should read the chapter and complete the hands-on activities (in blue) which are embedded in the chapters.  These assignments will not be turned in, however, completion of these assignments will provide you with the necessary knowledge to complete the graded assignments.  In the lab or at home, you will complete and then turn in the assignments called out in the instructions that come from the Yellow “Step-by-step Lab Exercises”.  These assignments appear in the back of each chapter, so bring your book to class.  The links to the databases and the details of both the chapter learning exercises and the graded assignments are here.

Download the necessary databases before class to a flash drive or directly from the website in the lab.  In addition, print and bring with you the Assignment Details page so you know which “Step-by-step Lab Exercise” assignment that you should turn in. We will start these assignments together, in the lab, but you may need additional time on your own to complete them. 

Assignments are due on (see syllabus).  Each assignment is worth (see syllabus) points.

It is recommended that you try to complete each project or assignment (up to where the book tells you to close the database and exit Access) in one sitting, especially if you are using lab computers. Note: Save a softcopy of ALL of your work.  You will be responsible for your own work.

Exercise Databases

When using a lab computer, we recommend that you work directly from the hard drive by transferring your downloaded files from the website or flash drive to the desktop.  When you have completed the assignment, save the file to a floppy disk or flash drive, and then also email the files to yourself as a backup.  Floppy disks are notoriously unreliable!  Remember to save you work and then delete your files from the desktop before you leave as they may not be there when you return, and we want to keep the lab computers clean.  If it has not been said enough, SAVE YOUR WORK!!!  


Guidelines to Follow

 

  1. You may not be able to complete lab assignments in the class time allotted.  If this is the case you must complete the assignment on your own time and turn it in on the due date (see syllabus for due dates). The computer lab is available in the business building (to be announced in class.
  2. Always work off the desktop or hard drive.  Do not start working from your diskette.  It will slow your work down, and there’s a possibility of losing your information.
  3. Save a softcopy of all projects that you will turn in.  (The best way to do this is by emailing yourself the information as an attachment. i.e. Yahoo! Any email with sufficient space: see Saving Work below)
  4. Do your own work!  Copying others work can result in an automatic failure for the assignment and most likely the entire course.
  5. Read each chapter and attempt the hands-on activities before you begin working or the assignment will not make sense (unless you have previous knowledge of working with MS Access).
  6. Homework is due at the end of the beginning of class period as stated in the class schedule.
  7. Please format all work so it complete and readable – point deductions occur for things like truncated fields, word wraps, reports on multiple pages horizontally, etc.

 

Saving Work (Print Screen Technique)

 

Use the print screen technique to backup and save prints.  When you have the contents of one of your prints on the screen, follow the directions below.

  1. Open a Powerpoint or Word document and set the orientation to landscape or portrait depending on what is appropriate
  2. Press the Function key and Print Screen key (near the upper right hand corner of the keyboard) simultaneously  
  3. Position the cursor on the Powerpoint or Word document and press Ctrl and V or (Edit then Paste) to paste the screen image into the document
  4. Resize and format as appropriate so that it can be read
  5. When all prints have been added to the document, name it something you recognize and then email it to yourself using and internet email service like Yahoo Mail.  If ever needed, it is available to resubmit