Access

Date & Time:

A data type that stores dates, times or both.

Relational Database:

A database that consists of a collection of tables that can be joined through a common field; each table contains information on a specific subject, stored in the same file.

Autonumber Field:

A field type that means Access assigns the value of 1 to the first record, 2 to the second record, and so on.

Database Management System:

A software program that lets you create data bases and then manipulate data in them.

Datasheet:

A spreadsheet-like grid that displays fields as columns and records as rows.

Datasheet View:

A view in Access that shows a table as a collection of rows and columns.

Unique Identifier:

A way of uniquely identifying each item in a database; also called a primary key.

Navigation Buttons:

Buttons in the lower-left corner of a datasheet or form that allow you to quickly navigate between the records in the underlying object as well as add a new record.

Field:

In an Access table or in an Excel table or PivotTable, a column containing a specific property for each record, such as a person, place, object, event or idea.

Status Bar:

The gray bar at the bottom of Office app windows that shows status information about the currently open document, worksheet, database or presentation, as well as containing commands for viewing the file in different ways and for changing the zoom percentage.

Records:

In Access and Excel, a row of data in a table, representing a complete set of field values for a specific person, place, object, event or idea; also called a tuple.

Short Text:

In Access, a data type that allows field values containing letters, digits and other characters.

Number:

In Access, a data type that represents integer values or whole numbers, such as quantities, measurements or scores.

Currency:

In Access, a numeric format within the Format property that displays numbers with a currency symbol. Also a data type for fractional values such as those that represent money.

Navigation Pane,

In Access, a pane in the program window that lets you move between objects in the database.

Caption:

In Access, a value displayed instead of a field name.

Object Tabs:

In Access, tabs at the top of open objects in the work area, such as tables and reports.

Row Selector:

In Access, the small square at the beginning of a datasheet row that you can click to select the entire row; also called the record selector.

Database:

A collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval, and use of that data.

Primary Key:

The field in a database that contains unique information for each record: unique identifier.

Data Type:

The field property that determines what field values you can enter for the field and what other properties the field will have.

Design View:

The view in which the structure of an object can be manipulated.

Access Work Area:

The work area in an Access window where you work on tables, forms and reports.