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Intro

In lesson 323, we will learn about ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) in Microsoft Access and how they compare to Data Access Objects (DAO) when working with recordsets. I will show you how to build a sample student test taker database, demonstrating new techniques and functions related to recordset management. Even if you do not need a student test taker, the tips and methods covered will be useful for any database project. This lesson uses Microsoft Access 2003, but the material is applicable to earlier versions as well.

Transcript

Welcome to Microsoft Access 323, brought to you by accesslearningzone.com. I am your instructor, Richard Rost.

In today's class, we are going to learn about ADO, ActiveX Data Objects, which is a different way of working with recordsets, slightly different from DAO, and it has its own uses. We will talk about those in today's class.

We are also going to build a sample project, a student test taker, where we will do lots more with recordsets, and we will learn lots of new techniques and functions.

If you start building this student test taker and think to yourself, I do not need a student test taker, please stick with it, because even though it is just a sample database, the tips, techniques, and methods that I am going to show you will work for pretty much any kind of database you are going to build. There is a lot of good material in today's class. It is just a sample database. I strongly recommend you build it and watch these lessons.

This class follows Access 320 through Access 320 2. I strongly recommend you take those classes before this one.

In this class, I will be working with Microsoft Access 2003. However, most of the material should be backward compatible with all previous versions of Access back to about Access 2000.

I strongly recommend you sit back and relax, watch the lesson one time through, then watch it a second time following along with the examples, and build the database that I build in class.

Do not try to apply what you learn immediately to whatever other databases you might be working on.

The database files for this class can be found online at accesslearningzone.com/students. You will find a list of all the sample database files there. Again, it is strongly recommended that you build the databases in class that I am building.

If you have any questions about the material covered in today's class, please feel free to post a note in the student interaction forums. You will see the student interaction forums next to the video window.

If you are watching this class on our website or you are using our video player software and you are connected to the internet, you should see the little student interactive forums pop up right next to the video player.

If you have any other Access questions, please visit the forums on the website at accesslearningzone.com/forums.

We have brand new interactive forums. As of October 2008, I created all brand new forums, and you can log on, check them out, and chat with me, other students, and other Access experts.

And of course, I cannot stress enough again: do the examples yourself. You will benefit the most by building the databases that I build in class.

Quiz

Q1. What is the primary focus of this Microsoft Access 323 class?
A. Learning about creating reports in Access
B. Learning about ADO (ActiveX Data Objects) and working with recordsets
C. Building advanced forms only
D. Database security features

Q2. What is the sample project mentioned in this course?
A. Employee timesheet manager
B. Student test taker
C. Inventory management system
D. Customer order tracker

Q3. What should you do even if you think the sample project does not apply to you?
A. Skip the project entirely
B. Only watch the lessons, do not build the sample database
C. Build the sample project because the tips and techniques apply to other databases
D. Try a different unrelated project

Q4. Which classes are recommended as prerequisites before taking this course?
A. Access 100 and 200
B. Access 320 through Access 320 2
C. Access 2000 only
D. None are required

Q5. What version of Microsoft Access is primarily used during this course?
A. Microsoft Access 2019
B. Microsoft Access 2010
C. Microsoft Access 2003
D. Microsoft Access 365

Q6. What does the instructor recommend you do when watching the lessons?
A. Watch the lesson once, then try to build the database while watching it again
B. Immediately apply the concepts to your own unrelated database
C. Skip building the example database
D. Only read the course notes

Q7. Where can you find the database files for this class?
A. Only on a USB drive mailed to you
B. On accesslearningzone.com in the student section
C. Nowhere; you have to create them yourself from scratch
D. In Microsoft Access built-in templates

Q8. How does the instructor suggest you get help if you have questions about the material?
A. Email the instructor directly only
B. Call technical support
C. Use the student interaction forums or the forums on the website
D. Try to solve all issues alone without help

Q9. What significant update regarding the forums does the instructor mention?
A. Forums are only available on weekends
B. Brand new interactive forums were created in October 2008
C. Forums are now closed
D. Only paid members can access the forums

Answers: 1-B; 2-B; 3-C; 4-B; 5-C; 6-A; 7-B; 8-C; 9-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 ADO, or ActiveX Data Objects, which is another way of working with recordsets in Access. ADO is similar to DAO, but it has its own unique applications and benefits, which I will discuss throughout the lesson.

To illustrate these concepts, I will walk you through the process of building a sample project—a student test taker database. This project will provide numerous opportunities to dig deeper into working with recordsets, as well as teaching you several new techniques and functions.

If you start working on this project and think you do not need a student test taker database, I encourage you to continue anyway. The skills and methods you will learn here can be applied to almost any database project you might build in the future. There are a lot of valuable lessons in today's material, and although the database we are building is just a sample, it serves as an excellent learning tool. I highly recommend that you follow along and build it yourself as we move through the lessons.

This class is a continuation of the content covered in Access 320 and Access 320 2, so I strongly advise you to complete those courses first if you have not already done so.

I will be demonstrating using Microsoft Access 2003, but most of what we cover today should work with older versions as far back as Access 2000.

For the best results, I suggest you first watch the lesson all the way through at your own pace. Then, watch it a second time, following along with the examples and building the database step by step as shown in class. Avoid the urge to immediately apply these new techniques to your own existing databases until you have completed the examples here.

All of the database files used in this lesson are available online at accesslearningzone.com for students. There you can find a listing of all the sample files for this class. Again, I strongly recommend you actually build these databases yourself for maximum benefit.

If any questions arise while you work through today's material, please post them in the student interaction forums, which you will find beside the video window if you are watching on our website or in our video player software while connected to the internet.

For any other Access-related questions, you can also visit the forums on the website at accesslearningzone.com.

The forums have been recently updated, and you are welcome to log in, participate, and connect with me, as well as other students and Access professionals.

Lastly, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to complete the examples yourself. The best way to fully learn and absorb the material is by getting hands-on experience with the database projects covered in class.

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

This is an introductory message for the Microsoft Access 323 tutorial covering ADO and a student test taker sample project.