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Intro

In lesson 308 you will learn how to work with external data in Microsoft Access, including importing and exporting data, linking data between different databases, and connecting with Excel spreadsheets. We will also cover how to handle both delimited and fixed width text files. This lesson uses Microsoft Access XP 2002, but the techniques apply to most versions of Access.

Transcript

Welcome to Microsoft Access 308. Access Developer Level 8 brought to you by AccessLearningZone.com. I am your instructor, Richard Rost.

In today's class, we are going to focus on working with external data. We'll learn how to import and export data. We'll also learn how to link data between two different data sources.

We'll see how to import, export, and link data between our database and another database. We'll do the same thing with an Excel spreadsheet, and then we'll learn how to work with delimited and fixed width text files.

This class follows on Microsoft Access 307. However, you should be able to pick up and work with this class even if you did not take 307. The material in this class is pretty much standalone.

In this class, I'll be using Microsoft Access XP 2002, along with Windows XP. However, this material should be the same for almost every version of Access.

You can find a copy of the database files, as well as the sample spreadsheet and text files that I use, on the website at AccessLearningZone.com/access/308.

Quiz

Q1. What is the main focus of Microsoft Access 308?
A. Working with external data
B. Creating custom reports
C. Building advanced queries
D. Managing user security

Q2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a data source you will work with in this class?
A. Excel spreadsheets
B. Text files
C. SQL Server databases
D. Other Access databases

Q3. What types of text files will you learn to work with in this class?
A. Encrypted and compressed
B. Delimited and fixed width
C. PDF and XML
D. Binary and HTML

Q4. Do you have to take Access 307 before taking this course?
A. Yes, it is required
B. Only if you are new to Access
C. No, this class is pretty much standalone
D. Only if you are using Access 2016

Q5. Where can you find the sample files used in the course?
A. On a USB drive provided by the instructor
B. In the Microsoft Access installation folder
C. On AccessLearningZone.com access 308
D. At your local library

Q6. What version of Access does the instructor use for this class?
A. Access 2016
B. Access 2013
C. Access XP 2002
D. Access 2007

Q7. Is the material in this class only applicable to Access XP 2002?
A. Yes, it is version specific
B. No, it applies to almost every version of Access
C. Only applies to Access 2019
D. Only usable with Office 365

Answers: 1-A; 2-C; 3-B; 4-C; 5-C; 6-C; 7-B

DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.

Summary

Today's video from Access Learning Zone explores how to work with external data in Microsoft Access. In this lesson, I will cover how to import data into your database and how to export data out of it. Additionally, I will demonstrate how to link data between two different data sources, so changes in one place can be reflected in another.

We will start by looking at importing, exporting, and linking data between our database and another Access database. Then, I will show you how to perform the same operations with an Excel spreadsheet. After that, I will explain how to manage text files, both in delimited and fixed width formats, so you can handle a variety of real-world data scenarios.

While this class builds on the material from Microsoft Access 307, you do not need to have completed that course to follow along with today's lesson. Everything is designed to stand on its own so you can jump right in.

For this tutorial, I am using Microsoft Access XP 2002 and Windows XP, but you will find that almost everything we cover works the same way in most other versions of Access.

If you would like to get hands-on experience, you can download the database files, sample spreadsheets, and text files used in these lessons from my website.

You can find a complete video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on everything discussed here on my website at the link below. Live long and prosper, my friends.

Topic List

Importing data from another Access database
Exporting data to another Access database
Linking tables between Access databases
Importing Excel spreadsheet data
Exporting data to Excel spreadsheets
Linking Excel spreadsheets as tables
Importing delimited text files
Importing fixed width text files