Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

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Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

Table of Content
S#

Question

1.

Does a database created using Access 2013 have a size limit? If yes, what is
it? How can the limit be circumvented?

2.

Is it possible to upgrade databases created using earlier versions of Access

to Access 2013 format? If yes, how successful is the upgradation?

3.

Can more than one version of Access be run on a single computer at the
same time?

4.

What is the difference between a master table and transaction table?

5.

What is referential integrity?

What are specialized filters?

7.

What is an Append Query?

8.

What is a make-table query?

9.

What are the advantages

parameterized query?

of

parameterized

query

over

non-

10.

What is a modal form?

11.

What is a split form? Is it possible to make an existing form a split form?

12.

What is a Web Browser Control?

13.

Is it possible to generate reports using Access for data stored in databases

created by other software such as Oracle, SQL Server, Paradox, and so on?

14.

Can SQL Server Reporting Services be used in conjunction with Access 2013
databases?

15.

What is an AutoExec macro?

16.

What is an embedded macro?

17.

What is a user interface macro?

18.

What kind of security does Access 2013 offer for data stored in databases?

19.

How does Access 2013 secure Web apps from accidental modifications and
deletions?

20.

How can Web apps be distributed?

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Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

Does a database created using Access 2013 have a size limit? If yes,
what is it? How can the limit be circumvented?
Yes, a database created using Access 2013 does have a size limit. The maximum
size permitted is 2 GB. There are two ways to circumvent the size limit:
Splitting the database: The frontend database object, that is, forms and reports
may be separated from the backend database i.e. tables and queries.
Upsizing the database: The backend database object, that is, tables and queries
may be upsized to SQL Server.

Is it possible to upgrade databases created using earlier versions of

Access to Access 2013 format? If yes, how successful is the
upgradation?
Yes, it is possible to upgrade databases created using earlier versions of Access to
Access 2013 format using the converter tool. But its success depends upon what
the database contains and in which version it was created.
The .accdb format for databases was introduced with Access 2007. This new
format does not support many features of the previous versions of Access.
Therefore, the success of conversion depends upon the version in which the
database was created and the version to which it needs to be converted.

Can more than one version of Access be run on a single computer at

the same time?
Yes, more than one version can be run on a single computer at the same time. To
do so, the different versions of Access must be installed on the computer starting
from the oldest version to the latest. If a newer version is already installed on the
computer and installation of an older version is attempted, the installation is likely
to fail. In such as case, the newer version must first be uninstalled, then the older
version is installed and finally the newer version is reinstalled.

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Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

What is the difference between a master table and transaction

table?
Master table is a table that contains records pertaining to a particular entity such
as customer, employee, and so on. Each record is uniquely identified by a field
called primary key.
Transaction table is a table that contains records of transactions involving an
entity such as purchase of goods by customers, payment of salary for employees,
and so on.

What is referential integrity?

If a table is referenced by another table, the primary key of the referenced table
acts as the foreign key of the referencing table. If every value in the foreign key
field of the referencing table exists in the referenced table, referential integrity is
enforced.

What are specialized filters?

Specialized filters are filters that restrict data display based on certain conditions.
The following are the different types of specialized filters:
Text Filters:
Equals, Does Not Equal, Begins, Does Not Begin With, Contains, Does Not Contain,
Ends With, Does Not End With
Number Filters:
Equals, Does Not Equal, Less Than, Greater than, Between
Date Filters:
Equals, Does Not Equal, Before, Greater than, Between, All Dates in a Period

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Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

What is an Append Query?

An Append Query is also known as the Insert Query. It is used to add records to
a table from another data source. The SQL command corresponding to it is INSERT
INTO.
Access 2013 allows Append Query to be based on multiple tables. It is possible to
add criteria to Append Query to restrict data selected for appending.

What is a make-table query?

A make-table query is a query that is used to create a new table using data
present in other table (s). The new table so created has no relation to the original
data source.

What are the advantages

non-parameterized query?

of

parameterized

query

over

Parameters are inputs that are provided to a query at the time of its execution. A
parameterized query is more flexible than a query that does not take parameters.
The latter yields the same results irrespective of how many times it is run.
However, different values provided to the same parameterized query during
execution yield different results.

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Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

What is a modal form?

A modal form is a dialog box that disables access to other windows in Access 2013
until it is closed. Other applications can, however, be accessed. A form can be made
modal by setting its Modal property to Yes. To create a modal form, the form must
be opened in Form View.

What is a split form? Is it possible to make an existing form a split

form?
A split form is a feature that was introduced in Access 2007. It provides two
different views, that is, Form View and Datasheet View, of a form at the same
time.
Both views are based on the same data source and are related. Editing a field in
one view reflects the changes in the other view as well. Yes it is possible to make
an existing form a split form by setting the Default View property of the form in
the Format tab to Split Form.

What is a Web Browser Control?

Web Browser Control is a control like any other control such as text box, option
button, and so on.
However, unlike other bound controls, it is associated with the URL of a Web page.
The moment a Web Browser Control is placed on a form in the Layout View,
Insert Hyperlink dialog box opens up.
Once the user specifies the URL of a Web page in the dialog box, the same gets
associated with the Web Browser Control.

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Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

Is it possible to generate reports using Access for data stored in

databases created by other software such as Oracle, SQL Server,
Paradox, and so on?
Yes. Tables created in Oracle, SQLServer, Paradox, and other databases can be
linked to Access 2013. Linked tables are considered a part of Access 2013 and
reports can be generated on data contained in linked tables in exactly the same
way as reports on data contained in Access 2013 tables.

Can SQL Server Reporting Services be used in conjunction with

Access 2013 databases?
Yes, it is possible to use SQL Server Reporting Services along with Access 2013
databases. There are two ways of doing so. They are as follows:
Generate the report in Access 2013 first. Transfer the Access-generated
reports to SQL Server to take advantage of its superior reporting features
such as viewing the reports in the browser and many more.

Generate reports in SQL Server if the latter is already being used as the
backend to store database objects such as tables and queries.

What is an AutoExec macro?

An AutoExec macro is a macro that executes automatically when the user opens a
database. It is also known as On Start macro. The start-up action performed by the
macro can be opening a particular table or minimizing the database window every
time the database is opened, and many more. When the macro is created and the
required actions are associated with it, it must be saved with the name AutoExec.
This ensures that the macro runs every time the database is opened.
Keeping the Shift key pressed while opening the database does not execute the
AutoExec macro and bypasses it.

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Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

What is an embedded macro?

An embedded macro is a macro that is associated with a particular event of an
object. For example, it is possible to associate a macro with the click event of a
command button. Whenever the command button is clicked, the macro executes.
Macros can be associated with specific events of object in the following manner:
Select the object.
Open the Property Sheet pane.
Click the Event Tab.
Select the event.
Select the macro to be associated with the event.

What is a user interface macro?

A User Interface (UI) macro helps carry out actions such as adding a blank record,
filtering data, and so on. UI macros are of two types:
Standalone UI Macro
Embedded UI Macro
A standalone UI macro is created and stored as a separate database object. Actions
are then added to the macro.
An embedded UI macro is associated with UI objects such as command buttons, list
boxes, option buttons etc. It is executed when the user clicks the command/option
button or selects an item from the list box to which the macro is attached.

What kind of security does Access 2013 offer for data stored in
databases?
Microsoft has done away with user-level security feature with the release of Access
2010. Instead, Access offers security in the form of the following features:
Encryption: Access requires user to provide a password to access a database.
Database Server: Microsoft encourages database users to create and store
backend databases in SQL Server and access them through frontend databases
created in Access.
SharePoint Site: Microsoft encourages users to store databases on SharePoint site
to avail its superior security features.
Web Databases: Microsoft allows Access databases to be published on the Web
and shared with remote users.

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Data Management with Access 2013

FAQ

How does Access 2013 secure

modifications and deletions?

Web

apps

from

accidental

Access 2013 provides users superior control over their Web apps. Permissions to
access and edit databases are organized at three different levels in SharePoint:
designer, author, and reader. A designer can make changes to tables and views
created in a Web app. An author can edit the data contained in a database, but
cannot modify the design of the database. A reader can view but not change either
the data or the design of the database.

How can Web Apps be distributed?

Access 2013 allows Web apps to be first saved as package files. These package files
are later added to the Corporate Catalog or Office Store that help integrate the
power of the World Wide Web, Access 2013, and SharePoint 2013. Such packaged
Web apps are, then, made available to users free of cost or at a price.

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