Access Unit B

Save As command

A command on the FILE tab that saves the open file in a new location and/or with a new name; in Access, used to save the entire database (and all objects it contains) or only the current object with a new name.

Is Not Null

A criterion that finds all records in which any entry has been made in the field.

Is Null

A criterion that finds all records in which no entry has been made in the field.

SQL (Structured Query Language)

A language that provides a standardized way to request information from a relational database system.

field lists

A list of the available fields in the table or query that the field list represents. Also, a pane that opens in Access and lists the database tables and the fields they contain.

wildcard

A special character used in criteria to find, filter, and query data. The asterisk (*) stands for any group of characters. For example, the criteria 1* in a State field criterion cell would find all records where the state entry was lA, lD, IL, IN, or Iowa. The question mark (?) wildcard stands for only one character.

Filter By Form

A way to filter data that allows two or more criteria to be specified at the same time.

Filter By Selection

A way to filter records for an exact match.

filtering

A way to temporarily display only those records that match given criteria.

query

An Access object that provides a spreadsheet-like view of the data, similar to that in tables. It may provide the user with a subset of fields and/or records from one or more tables. Queries are created when the user has a "question" about the data in the database.

Simple Query Wizard

An Access wizard that prompts you for information it needs to create a new query.

Like operator

An operator used in a query to find values in a field that match the pattern you specify.

AND criteria

Criteria placed in the same row of the query design grid. All criteria on the same row must be true for a record to appear on the resulting datasheet.

OR criteria

Criteria placed on different rows of the query design grid. A record will appear in the resulting datasheet if it is true for any single row.

criteria

Entries (rules and limiting conditions) that determine which records are displayed when finding or filtering records in a datasheet or form, or when building a query.

criteria syntax

Rules by which criteria need to be entered. For example, text criteria syntax requires that the criteria are surrounded by quotation marks (" "). Date criteria are surrounded by pound signs (#).

query design grid

The bottom pane of the Query Design View window in which you specify the fields, sort order, and limiting criteria for the query.

field selector

The button to the left of a field in Table Design View that indicates the currently selected field. Also the thin gray bar above each field in the query grid.

logical view

The datasheet of a query is sometimes called a logical view of the data because it is not a copy of the data, but rather, a selected view of data from the underlying tables.

join line

The line identifying which fields establish the relationship between two related tables. Also called a link line.

Query Design View

The window in which you develop queries by specifying the fields, sort order, and limiting criteria that determine which fields and records are displayed in the resulting datasheet.