Course Overview
This course teaches programming concepts and how to add simple functionality to a Microsoft Access 2002 database by using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications.
Audience
Those who require the fundamental skills to create useful and powerful VB applications.
Skills Gained
After completing this course, students will be able to:
- Use the programming capabilities of Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications in Microsoft Access 2002 applications to write custom functions and event-driven procedures.
- Validate data.
- Find and trap errors.
- Gain access to and manipulate data in tables by using Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) and the Structured Query Language (SQL).
- Create a custom switchboard for an Access application.
Prerequisites
The course assumes that students have the following skills:
- Ability to design a relational database - we recommend completion of three levels of Access training - version 2000 or later.
- Ability to use Microsoft Access to create a database with multiple tables, forms, and reports, and to create queries
Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Programming
The following topics are covered in this module:
- Using Visual Basic Help
- Writing Procedures
- Working with Variables
- Controlling Program Flow
- Calling Procedures
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Use Visual Basic Help.
- Use the Visual Basic Editor to add code to applications.
- Declare and use variables.
- Use built-in functions to obtain values from users.
- Create and call Sub procedures.
- Use conditional statements to control the flow of programs.
Module 2: Responding to User Actions
The following topics are covered in this module:
- Overview of the Class Application
- Adding Event Procedures
- Working with Events
- Using Objects, Properties, and Methods
- Using the DoCmd Object
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Create an event procedure.
- Add an event procedure to a form.
- Respond to user actions programmatically.
- Perform specific tasks by using the DoCmd object.
Module 3: Validating Data
The following topics are covered in this module:
- Overview of Data Validation
- Validating Data Without Using Code
- Validating Data by Using Code
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Differentiate between data validation at the table level, form level, and code level.
- Use the built-in validation tools in Microsoft Access.
Module 4: Using Functions and Understanding Scope
The following topics are covered in this module:
- Using Functions
- Understanding Scope
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the appropriate use of functions.
- Call built-in and custom functions in an application.
- Create a custom function.
- Describe the different levels of scope available to variables and procedures.
- Define variables at the appropriate level of scope.
- Define procedures at the appropriate level of scope.
Module 5: Using Debugging Tools
The following topics are covered in this module:
- Stepping Through Code
- Viewing Variables
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Set breakpoints to stop program execution.
- Run selected portions of code.
- Test data and procedures in the Immediate window.
- Monitor variable values in the Locals window.
- Add and edit watch expressions.
Module 6: Handling Run-Time Errors
The following topics are covered in this module:
- Types of Errors
- Adding Error Handlers
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Trap run-time errors.
- Create error handlers.
- Use the Err object.
Module 7: Looping Through Code
The following topics are covered in this module:
- Overview of Looping Structures
- For Loops
- Do Loops
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- List the different looping structures available in Visual Basic for Applications.
- Write a For...Next loop to perform execution of code statements a fixed number of times.
- Write a Do...While and a Do...Until loop to perform execution of code statements a variable number of times.
- Describe the difference between beginning-of-loop and end-of-loop evaluation methods, and write code statements to accomplish each type of evaluation.
Module 8: Working with Records
The following topic is covered in this module:
- Overview of Recordsets
- Retrieving Data
- Structured Query Language (SQL)
- Manipulating Data
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Define recordsets.
- Access data in tables by using ADO recordsets.
- Retrieve data by using SQL and ADO recordsets.
- Manipulate data by using SQL and ADO recordsets.
Module 9: Working with XML
The following topics are covered in this module:
- About XML
- Importing XML
- Exporting XML
- Transforming XML
- Modifying XML using the DOM
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe XML and related technologies.
- Import XML into Access.
- Export XML from Access.
- Transform XML by using the Extensible Stylesheet Language for Transformations (XSLT).
- Modify XML by using the DOM.
Module 10: Finalizing Your Application
The following topics are covered in this module:
- Reviewing Your Application
- Enhancing the User Interface
- Packaging for Delivery
- After completing this module, students will be able to:
- List four good coding practices and describe why you should use them.
- Describe the testing criteria for an application.
- Customize a switchboard.
- Hide code by creating an MDE file.
- Describe how to use the Compact and Repair utility to maintain your database application.
- Describe why and how to use the Database Splitter utility.
- Describe when and how to use the Packaging Wizard to prepare an application for distribution.
