Access Front Ends

Here are links to a tutorial on setting up user-friendly "front ends" to databases using Microsoft Access 97. A front end allows reporters and editors who know nothing about Access, databases or CAR in general to search for information by filling in forms and clicking buttons.

By setting up front ends to commonly used databases, such as campaign contributions and property tax records, you can make the information available to your entire staff, save yourself a lot of routine lookup work and convince everybody that you’re a genius. The amazing thing is that you can do it all without writing a line of code.

To create an Access front end, you'll have to be come familiar with queries, forms and reports. There's a bit of a learning curve (most folks have never dealt with Access forms and reports), but once you've created a couple, you'll find that they require more perspiration than inspiration.

There are two ZIP files here. They're based on actual campaign contributions to Dutch Ruppersberger, the Baltimore County Executive, whose job is equivalent to being mayor of a city of 700,000.

The tutorial file consists of an instruction manual in Word 97 format and two Access databases. The first is the "before" file, a raw database with no front end attached. The second shows what the database should look like once you've finished the tutorial. Before you start, make a copy of the untouched database so you can start over if something goes awry. The manual will walk you through the process step-by-step.

The finished database file is a more polished version of the same database which shows what you can do with the application of some finishing touches.

Although Access 2000 and XP have different file structures and slightly different procedures, you should be able to import these databases into newer versions. Just make sure you import everyting -- including forms, queries, reports and macros.

If you have any questions or problems, give me a call or send e-mail to mike.himowitz@baltsun.com.