Introducing the ABCD

The Access Business & Contact Database (ABCD) is designed to be a professional, full production-quality database to cover all of your information management needs. I have been building and teaching Access databases for over 25 years. Now, I'm finally building a solid, professional database system that you can use to run your business.

Resources

• ABCD Core Database
• Download the FREE Version (ACCDE)
• Modules Coming Soon

Videos

I will record videos showing how the database was built, but mostly so that you can understand the construction and be better equipped to make any modifications or additions you may need. This will be marketed as a finished database without the need for any enhancements, but, of course, one of the main reasons to use Access is so that you can easily make changes. The videos will be a quick run-through of how each feature is built, as I'm building it. I will be using advanced features like SQL and VBA from the start, so you may want some SQL or VBA Developer Lessons under your belt if you're going to try to follow along.

ABCD Part 1: Core Database

The first release is the ABCD Core Database, which is now available along with over three hours of video. This is the "heart" of the database and will include tables, forms, and everything else needed to track people and organizations/companies called Entities, which are at the heart of the database. Unlike the simple databases I've built in my classes, each person will be able to have multiple unlimited phone numbers, addresses, and email accounts associated with them. And of course, these will be properly normalized one-to-many relationships. 

Something new I'll be building in the ABCD Core that I've never done in any of my classes is something called a Helper Data table. This will replace having dozens of small tables in your database to store things like name prefix (Mr., Mrs., Miss), suffix (Sr, Jr, III), gender, marital status, relationship type, phone number type (cell, home, work), and so on. Instead, all of this "helper" data will be stored in a single table. This will make our database more organized and keep the overall number of objects in our database to a minimum.

ABCD Add-On Modules

After the Core package is finished, I will be releasing new Modules on a regular basis. These will be designed so that you can pick and choose which features you want and don't want in your database. Install only what you need. Some of these will include:

• Contact Management
• Groups & Lists
• Letter Writer (Bulk Email, Print)
• Task Management
• Schedule & Calendar
• Importing & Tracking Leads
• Orders, Quotations, Invoicing
• Recurring Memberships
• Employee Time Tracking
• Inventory & Barcoding

Plus, the ABCD will eventually have full enhanced search capabilities, split database options, possible cloud-based data storage, and full security to lock the database down. I'll be adding these and a lot more features - pretty much everything I've covered in my classes - to the system, eventually.

I'll even be adding custom Modules for specific vertical markets like insurance (tracking clients, leads, policies), automotive (vehicle & fleet maintenance), schools (students, attendance, grades), budgeting, and lots more. 

Your Feedback

The ABCD Core Database package is now available. I will be releasing new modules on a regular basis. You can see the list of features that are scheduled for development on the Coming Soon page. I would very much like your feedback on what features you think should be available. If you have a specific interest for your business type, let me know.