ABCD Core Part 1

Access Business & Contact Database Part 4

Welcome to ABCD Part 1: Core. Total running time is 3 hours, 27 minutes.

Lessons

This is the foundation of the database. We will construct the tables and forms necessary to store information about people, organizations, and companies (called Entities). Each entity can have an unlimited number of phone, email, and physical addresses. We will use Helper data tables to store all of the minor information like name prefixes, suffixes etc. so that we don't clutter the database with dozens of tiny tables. We will create a function to assign EntityCode values to each person so we don't expose our AutoNumbers.

Database Files

FREE Version (ACCDE)
PAID Version (ACCDB)

Resources

ABCD Home Page
Video Lessons Download ZIP File (646 MB)

Learn More

Free Access Beginner 1
Not Exposing Data to Customers (reason for the EntityCode)
Why AutoNumbers are Good
Access Expert 1, Expert 2, and Relationship Seminar
Access Developer 1 for VBA Beginners
ZIP Code Lookup Template
Access Insider Circle
Random Numbers
DLOOKUP Function

Videos

I am recording videos showing how the database is built, but mostly so that you can understand the construction and be better equipped to make any modifications or additions you may need on your own. 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 make changes yourself. 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. This is NOT a teaching database. Free Technical Support will NOT be offered.

Tech Support

There is NO free Technical Support provided on the ABCD if you have not taken ALL of my previous Developer lessons. There are a lot of very difficult, advanced programming concepts used in the construction of this database. I do not have the time to provide free support if you get stuck trying to make modifications. All I will do is point you to the appropriate Developer lesson(s) that cover the issue. There is a reason why (a) I say this is NOT a teaching database, and (b) there are pre-requisites. Feel free to ask questions, but I can't spend half an hour explaining concepts that are already covered in my other lessons.

Licensing

Unlike my other courses and seminars which provide you with royalty-free databases that you can modify and distribute yourself, the ABCD does NOT come with a royalty-free license. You may only customize the database for your business needs and for use within your organization. You may not resell or distribute it to others without express written permission. In addition, if you are using it in an organization with more than 10 users, you must purchase additional licenses. Contact me for additional information. I will post additional details when the Core database is completed.

Ordering

There are two purchase options available for the ABCD.

You can purchase a fully editable and customizable copy of the database in addition to the video tutorials that show how it was built. This is the option you should pick if you want to make changes to the database for your own business needs, and you want to learn how the database was constructed to assist you. As a reminder, these are not teaching videos. They are simply provided to show you how the database was built. Free support is not guaranteed if you have questions. I do my best to answer questions, but I can't promise anything. You must purchase any pre-requisite parts or modules required. For example, you may not purchase Core Part 4 without first having parts 1 thru 3.
Once the Core is finished, you can optionally purchase a use-only version of the database. This is the best option if you only plan on using the database for your personal or business needs, but do not intend on modifying the structure of the database. Free instructional videos will be provided to teach your staff how to use it.

Your Feedback

I will be releasing new Core features and 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.

Person Entity table Upload Images Link
Scott Axton
41 days ago

I just finished watching the Core 1 videos and I'm a bit confused. Maybe this is answered in future videos but...

It's kind of sounding like the intention is to have all entities in one big table rather than several. Such as customers, vendors, others...? Read More...

Richard Rost
40 days ago

Scott, you're correct. An entity can be designated as being part of one or more groups (Part 2). You can have vendors, employees, sales reps, parents, softball team, customer, lead, Star Trek fan, whatever you want. Then later on, if you want to make an order form where the sales rep is selected from a list of just your sales reps, you can pull from members of that group. This essentially prevents multiple tables that essentially all store the same thing: information about entities (which can be individuals, families, companies, etc.) I tried to keep it as generic and flexible as possible.

Scott Axton
40 days ago

Thanks for the clarification. Haven't had time to move on to the nest core yet.

Helper Form Upload Images Link
Joseph Messina
4 months ago

Hi Richard:

I have helperT and HelperF for my HelperType ID and I have some combo boxes in my contactf and I double click on them whhen i needd to add smething to the list is there a way i can add a button to set and close afte4r I add new item to the list?

Richard Rost
4 months ago

You want to use a button instead of the double-click event? Sure. That should work fine. Just put little buttons next to each of the fields you want to do that with. I used to use little buttons too for searching on fields until I decided I preferred dblclick events.

Joseph Messina
4 months ago

Thank you for letting me know. Can you make a helptech video how to do that with the buttons. I already have combo boxes in my form already I double click on the combo box and had item to the list and I close the helperF and tab off the field that I was adding item to. I have dbl clickk event and on got focus event for the combo boxes.

Show 2 More Replies...

Richard Rost
4 months ago

It's the exact same code. Instead of running it from the DblClick event of the text box, you add a button and put the same code in the OnClick event of that button. If you don't know how to do this, you should watch Access Developer 1. I think part of the problem is you're jumping WAY ahead of yourself trying to modify the ABCD. As I've said in every video since Lesson 1 of the ABCD, this is a Developer-Level project using the most advanced techniques, and it's NOT a teaching database. You've got a lot to learn yet before you start modifying it successfully. You're still in the Expert classes. Finish those. Get some Developer lessons under your belt. Then come back to the ABCD. You're just going to get frustrated. That would be like me trying to learn how to fly a 747 before a little single-engine. :)

Joseph Messina
4 months ago

I truly understand what you are saying. I know I'm still learning and still in expert level. I know i will get up there to developer. I undwerstand that I'm in the middle of expert level then will be advanced the developer. I truly, definitely understand. I was just curoius when I do get more adavanced I just wanted to know it work. I got the next level of expert going to start watching. I trust you what you are saying to me explaining to me about learning. I know you are not be rude and trying to explain to me. I undwerstand where you are coing from. I know that as I learn I will ove up.

ABCD Part 1 Upload Images Link
Michelle Maughan
9 months ago

Hi Richard, I bought and completed part 1 yesterday.
Love it! When is part 2 coming?
Cheers
Michelle

Richard Rost
9 months ago

Thanks. Shooting for this weekend.

ABCD Addressee Lines Upload Images Link
Richard Wilson
9 months ago

Rick, I have built a database with several hundred academic institutions in it. The addressees would be Name, University, School/Department, Department, Street1, etc. There may be as many as four or even five different Addressee lines. I know that is customizable, but I hope you are going to show us how to fill those lines without having to type them in every time.

Richard Rost
9 months ago

My thinking is that the Addressee lines will only be used if you want to change the way correspondence is printed. For example, you're a school, and you've got Joe Smith as the Entity. However, as a matter of courtesy, he would like printed correspondence to come to the house as "Joe and Sue Smith," or even "The Parents of Bobby Smith."

Another example: you have Peter Williams as a contact for XYZ Company, but he has requested that printed correspondence come to him as "Peter Williams, Accounts Payable."

Addressee1 and 2 will override the default setting which is going to be the person's name followed by the company name. We haven't gotten that far yet to do anything that involves printing (letters, invoices, etc.)

Richard Wilson
9 months ago

OK. Look forward to it. Thank you.

Lessons

Contents

Database Files

Resources

Learn More

Videos

Tech Support

Licensing

Ordering

Your Feedback