Mastering Microsoft Access 97 Development
Course No.    Course Length:	1200 5 days
This course will provide developers with a foundation in application development using MicrosoftÆ Access 97. After completing this course, students will be able to design, build, and distribute database applications developed in Access 97. At Course Completion At the end of the course, students will be able to: Create powerful applications using the programming capabilities of Microsoft Visual BasicÆ for Applications and data access objects (DAO) within Microsoft Access; Extend the capabilities of Access through the use of ActiveXô controls and Automation; Use Access as an Automation server; Extend applications using the dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) of the Microsoft Windows operating system; Use database replication to enable data synchronization within a multiuser environment; Describe the process of securing an application and implement security programmatically; Use Setup Wizard to distribute all files required for a stand-alone application. Prerequisites Use the Microsoft Windows operating system and programs designed for this environment. Use Microsoft Access to create tables, queries, forms, reports, and macros. (Three to six months of experience recommended.) Use a modern procedural or object-oriented programming language (required) or an event-driven programming language such as Visual Basic (suggested), including the ability to program the following constructs: loops, arrays, and decision structures (If...Then, for example). (Minimum of six months of experience recommended.) Design a relational database, or explain and apply relational database design concepts.
Course Outline
Chapter 1: Introduction to Visual Basic for Applications in Microsoft Access
Topics: Working with code Procedures Variables Control structures Getting Microsoft Visual Basic Help Labs: Creating both Sub procedures and Function procedures Declaring and using variables Working with scope of variables Using program control structures Skills: Interpret and edit Visual Basic for Applications code. Describe the difference between Sub and Function procedures. Call procedures from other procedures and modules. Store data in variables. Create custom data types. Use Microsoft Office Assistant to get Visual Basic Help.
Chapter 2: Object Programming and Accessing External Data
Topics: Working with objects and collections Data access object model Tables, fields, and indexes Queries, containers, and relationships Properties collection and Property object Accessing external data Accessing client/server applications Optimizing external data performance Labs: Using DAO to write functions and modify tables Creating a Workspace object Using the Container object and Containers collection Creating a user-defined property Working with external databases Skills: Define and work with objects and collections. Describe the difference between a property and a method. Identify the purpose of the DBEngine object. Navigate within the DAO model. Identify the two different workspaces used in Microsoft Access. Programmatically create tables. Manipulate Field and Index objects. Programmatically create and execute queries. Identify two ways to access external data. Connect to an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) data source with ODBCDirect. Work with linked data in both file/ server and client/server environments. Create a  table in an external data source
Chapter 3: Debugging and Error Handling
Topics: Types of errors Using the module options Debugging tools and techniques Error handling Labs: Using debugging tools Using the Microsoft Access Err object Creating user-defined errors Creating custom error messages Using the DAO Errors collection Skills: Set breakpoints to stop program execution. Run selected portions of code. Trace the program execution sequence. Monitor variable values. Test data and procedures in the Debug window. Add and edit watch expressions. Trap run-time errors. Use the Err object in Microsoft Access. Use the DAO Error object and Errors collection
Chapter 4: Working with Record Sets
Topics: Overview of record sets Working with record sets Navigating records Manipulating data Transaction processing Labs: Creating a record set using SQL Correcting run-time errors Using Find and Seek methods Implementing transaction processing Skills: Identify and differentiate record set types. Manipulate data by using DAO. Create a record set object. Move through a record set. Find, filter, and sort records in a record set object. Edit, add, and delete records. Use transaction processing.
Chapter 5: Class Modules
Topics: Relationship between classes and objects Creating custom properties Creating custom methods Working with objects Object Browser Labs: Using objects Creating multiple instances of a form Skills: Define and create class modules. Identify the scope of a class module. Create custom methods and properties Open and refer to multiple instances of a form. Use Object Browser to view members of a class.
Chapter 6: Integrating Microsoft Office Applications
Topics: Linking and embedding Automation basics Microsoft Access as an Automation controller Microsoft Access as an Automation server Labs: Controlling an embedded object Exchanging information between Microsoft Word and Access Automating the Microsoft PowerPoint presentation graphics program from Access Using Microsoft Access as an Automation server Skills: Describe how Automation works. Use Object Browser to view an object model. Describe the purpose of an object library and how to reference an object library. Control other Microsoft Office applications through the use of Automation code. Control Microsoft Access from other applications through the use of Automation code. Share data by controlling linked and embedded objects.
Chapter 7: ActiveX Controls
Topics: Introduction to ActiveX controls Microsoft Windows common controls Registering and adding ActiveX controls Working with ActiveX controls Skills: Identify types of ActiveX controls. Add controls to a form. Define Windows common controls. Use the Common Dialog control.
Chapter 8: Dynamic-Link Libraries
Topics: Introduction to DLLs Declaring DLLs Calling DLLs Additional DLL information Labs: Declaring and calling a DLL procedure Passing strings to a DLL procedure Using the FindWindow procedure with the AsAny keyword Calling the IsIconic procedure Skills: Describe the purpose and advantages of DLLs. Identify the different types of DLLs. Use Windows API Viewer to browse DLL procedures. Map C data types to Visual Basic for Applications data types. Describe the purpose of the Any data type. Describe the difference between the ByVal and ByRef keywords. Identify the purpose of using callback procedures.
Chapter 9: Replication
Topics: Understanding replication Replicating a database Synchronization Managing conflicts and errors Replication using DAO Partial replication Skills: Define the concept of database replication. Identify the role of the design master. Identify the various tools that can be used for replication. Synchronize data from multiple replicas. Indicate the differences between direct and indirect synchronization. Identify and correct database conflicts and errors. Use DAO to replicate and synchronize a database. Create and synchronize partial replicas
Chapter 10: Security
Topics: Security basics Workgroups Permissions and ownership Securing your database Database encryption Using DAO to program security Removing security from a database Labs: Listing users and groups in the workgroup information file Associating users with their groups Creating a user and a group Assigning read permissions to a table Skills: Describe the Microsoft Jet security model. Differentiate between user-level and share-level security. List the steps for implementing security. Create a workgroup information file and a new Admin user. Use Microsoft Access User-Level Security Wizard to secure a database. Determine application access and level of access by adding users and groups. Describe the function of database encryption. Programmatically set security options
Chapter 11: Distributing an Application
Topics: Microsoft Office Developer Edition Attributes of run-time Microsoft Access About MDE files Designing run-time applications Using Setup Wizard Distributing ActiveX controls Programming the reference object Skills: Describe the contents of Microsoft Office Developer Edition. Explain the essential differences between the full and run-time versions of Microsoft Access. Describe the design process for creating a run-time application. Use Setup Wizard in Office to create a Setup program for your custom solution. Explain some of the entries that appear in the Windows registry when you distribute an application. Describe the method for distributing ActiveX controls. Programmatically create references for add-ins.