lab 3

Unit 3: Lesson 7 Alternative Lab 7.41

Lesson 7.4 Alternative Written Lab Instructions It is required that you install and use Microsoft applications throughout

your degree. It is also helpful to be aware and know how to use an alternative if needed.

Purpose

In this lab, you will use a Microsoft Access database and identify information by navigating built in forms. The objective is for you to become familiar with a Microsoft Access database. Additionally, you will learn how to navigate the use of forms to locate and identify requested information.

Lab Instructions

You’ve been given the task to use a pre-built Microsoft Access database to locate and identify specific information in an orders database called Northwind.

On uCertify, in section 7.4 for the Lab or below, follow the instructions for the setup of the Northwind template, review the database objects, and provide your written responses for each of lab questions.

Submission requirements: o Answer each of these topics/steps with a written paragraph of 2-3 sentences o Add an image (snip-it or screenshot) showing what you found

Creating your own database can take a lot of time and effort. Fortunately, if you have LibreOffice Base, there are free sample databases that you can use to practice the skills learned in Lesson 7. The purpose of this lab is to get you more comfortable with a relatively simple database, including tables, forms, and queries. Use this time to play around—the data is not for a real company, so you can do whatever you want to it with no repercussions!

The sample database you will use in this lab is called Northwind. To find Northwind. Here’s how to install it:

1. Download LibreOffice: https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download/ 2. The MS Access database template can be located on Brightspace, Unit 3 Learning

activities, Alternative Lab Instructions. Download this to your Downloads folder or Desktop as you will need to import data from it to LibreOffice Base.

3. Open LibreOffice Base

Unit 3: Lesson 7 Alternative Lab 7.42

4. At the following dialog box click “Connect to existing database” and choose Microsoft Access 2007* and click Next.

*If Microsoft 2007 is not listed, click “Open an existing database file” which will then trigger the Microsoft 2007 in the list. Go back to “Connect to an existing database and click “Microsoft 2007”

5. Navigate to the location where you saved the MS Access version of Northwind, select, and click Open, then Finish at the final dialog box.

Unit 3: Lesson 7 Alternative Lab 7.43

6. A “Save As” file box will open, you will need to assign a name. Choose something like New Database 1 and complete the save.

7. Your database will now be open, and you can choose various tables by clicking or double-clicking.

8. Answer the same questions from uCertify, in section 7.4, but reference the LibreOffice Base database. Note this version of the database contains tables and you will need to perform some cross referencing when determining the answers to the questions.

9. When LibreOffice Base opens the database, you might get a security warning across the top of the page. If so, click Enable Content.

10. On the login page, select an employee to log in as. Using the default of Andrew Cencini is fine. Click Login.

Now that you have logged in, it’s time to explore the Northwind database. The page that opens is the main window. Click on Tables and adjust the bottom window size by moving the separator sliding the line up with the two arrows. Next, click on the box to the right-hand side that is titled None and choose Document. This will give you the option to see the tables in the right pane. You can double-click the Table for it to open in another window.

Unit 3: Lesson 7 Alternative Lab 7.44

On the left is the navigation pane, you will see several categories of tables, queries, forms, and reports. Click Customers & Orders to expand the categories in the right pane; double-click for a new window with more information.

You will see two different types of objects—they have different icons. There are tables and queries. Double-Click the query called Top Ten Orders by Sales Amount and the query opens in a new window.

Open the Customers table. It will open a window showing a customer’s information. Using this table, someone could modify the information for a customer, which will be saved to a table. To enter information for a new customer, click Save and New in the top menu bar of the Customer Details form. Feel free to do it if you’d like!

Unit 3: Lesson 7 Alternative Lab 7.45

Figure 7.14: Customer details

In the left pane, click the Customers table to open it in the right pane. Change the “None” button on the right-side of the right pane to Document. You can also double-click to open into a new window. Can you find Elizabeth Anderson? Try to create a query of information needed from other tables. *Be aware that double-clicking will show more information than in the right-hand pane!

Feel free to click whatever you’d like now. I recommend spending about 30 minutes looking around, familiarizing yourself with the objects and data available. For example, if you find data in a table, see whether you can sort the information listed. Here are the specific questions for you to explore. Build queries for some of the answers. (Ideally if Microsoft doesn’t change the data in the template!)

Submission requirements for both parts: o answer each of these topics/steps with a written paragraph of 3-4 sentences o add an image (snip-it or screenshot) showing what you found

1. Who is the Sales Coordinator for Northwind Traders?

2. How many orders has Company F placed, and how much have they spent?

3. How many sales dollars did Northwind generate from Coffee in 2006?

4. How many dollar sales did Northwind generate in 2004?

5. In 2006, what were the three items that Northwind sold the most?

6. How much chai does Northwind have in inventory, and how much of it is available?

7. What was order number 39 for?

Unit 3: Lesson 7 Alternative Lab 7.46

References