Nice when is included
We needed a lightweight solution that could be easily integrated with our SQL server and could be installed on the user's computers
Starting at $139.99 per PC
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What is Microsoft Access?
Microsoft Access is a database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools.
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Microsoft Access
$139.99
On Premise
per PC
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- No setup fee
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- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Use a File Dialog in Microsoft Access
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Open Source Simple LIMS Software for Small Lab Demo
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Microsoft Access Electronic Signature Capture Database Template
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Microsoft Access Database Tutorial - User form Login Security Demo
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Microsoft Access Project Management Database Template
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What is Microsoft Access?
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Microsoft Access Technical Details
| Deployment Types | On-premise |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Windows |
| Mobile Application | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Microsoft Access is a database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools.
Claris FileMaker are common alternatives for Microsoft Access.
Reviewers rate Usability highest, with a score of 10.
The most common users of Microsoft Access are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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January 03, 2020
Microsoft Access Positive Aspects
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Microsoft Access is being used only by a department of the company, which is responsible for working with the information databases. It has not presented problems.
The grouping of data in an organized way adapts to the company designed a set of real strategies aimed at improving the profitability of the company. To date, the results have been positive because since they agreed it was implemented, the company's profit has improved. Microsoft Access adapts well in departments where databases do not have much content, or where we do not have to have completed programs or require working with many variables. It is a program that has all the work tools required by the organization to function properly and fulfill the planned tasks.
The grouping of data in an organized way adapts to the company designed a set of real strategies aimed at improving the profitability of the company. To date, the results have been positive because since they agreed it was implemented, the company's profit has improved. Microsoft Access adapts well in departments where databases do not have much content, or where we do not have to have completed programs or require working with many variables. It is a program that has all the work tools required by the organization to function properly and fulfill the planned tasks.
- Ability to manage all information
- Tables to store data
- Consult to search and retrieve only the data you need
- Forms to view, add and update or analyze the internet data
- Volume of data or users
- Among its biggest drawbacks are that it is not multiplatform
- The access databases work very well with many of the programs for Windows-based software development. You can also use your tables in products such as Microsoft SQL Server and in others not based on Microsoft such as Oracle and Sybase.
- Easy to install and use: To create access databases, just install Microsoft Access and this is something that any database administrator can do in just a few minutes, leaving a fully functional relational database management system. Like many other Microsoft applications, Access contains wizards that guide you through every step of the way. The user interface is intuitive, speeding up data recovery.
- It can be placed online: Although it still has limitations on the number of users with simultaneous connection, when there is a need for remote users, it can give full control and functionality to an access database so that teleworking can become a viable option for database administrators.
You save money: Microsoft Access is hundreds of dollars cheaper than other larger systems; offering similar functionalities and usage.
It is a program that has all the work tools that the organization requires to function properly and fulfill the planned tasks.
In the company it is necessary to continuously import data to perform the respective data analysis for decision making, and access offers an easy-to-use and pleasant option that matters without difficulty.
50
1. Access, fast and simple storing, managing and sharing data. The interface of Access, Microsoft Office Fluent, is designed so that any user without specialized knowledge of databases, can work professionally. Many times the information we handle has to transcend our local hard drive to be shared with other users, a task for which Access is specifically designed to solve very easily its connection with Microsoft Office SharePoint, being able to easily share files, perform audits and consultations , or backup copies.
2. Start quickly using predesigned solutions. Access comes with a complete library of predesigned solutions that will allow us to track the immediate information, without the need to design the forms and reports, valuable Access tools. Once we have gained access to Access, we can modify these templates and create our own. The learning process is natural and brings great benefits.
3. Different formats of the same report for different recipients. Access allows us to present information in very different and personalized ways, an advantage from which we will derive much benefit when we want to present a group of data in different ways for different recipients. The possibilities here are very broad, which guarantees that it will meet practically the total of our needs.
10
Make your data more attractive, Having advanced knowledge of Excel can help you make more powerful spreadsheets and one of its most important features is the creation of graphics to visualize information in a simple but attractive way, with Power Graphics.
Solves complex problems. A data analyst has so much information available that they have an unprecedented ability to solve even the most demanding challenges. Mixing tools such as Power BI, Excel Power Add-ons, Macros and advanced functions in Excel can help you obtain the information and reports needed to make simpler decisions in a short time.
Learn advanced techniques. Even if you have basic knowledge of Microsoft data services, a tool like Access can teach you the best practices for data management and the basics of managing a database to be more efficient.
Solves complex problems. A data analyst has so much information available that they have an unprecedented ability to solve even the most demanding challenges. Mixing tools such as Power BI, Excel Power Add-ons, Macros and advanced functions in Excel can help you obtain the information and reports needed to make simpler decisions in a short time.
Learn advanced techniques. Even if you have basic knowledge of Microsoft data services, a tool like Access can teach you the best practices for data management and the basics of managing a database to be more efficient.
- Use Access forms with Excel data.
- Reason Filtering, sorting and queries in Access are similar to Excel. 3. Perform a mail merge or create labels
- Perform a mail merge or create labels
- Anticipate that many users will work in the database and want robust options that securely handle data updates, such as record locking and conflict resolution.
- Anticipate the need to add more tables to a data set that originated as a flat or non-relational table.
- Want to execute complex queries.
- Want to create different reports or postal labels.
- Create a database using a template
- Create a database without using a template
- Copy the data from another source into an Access table
No
- Product Usability
They work very well with many of the Windows-based software development programs
I would evaluate the application and the importance of it
- Implemented in-house
No
Change management was a small part of the implementation and was well-handled
That it is an easy-to-use and important tool for a company, since databases are managed
- there were no problems during the implementation
No
The Online Technical Support Service can help you resolve, by remote and real-time control, any questions or problems related to the routine use of any electronic device without having to move from home or office.
- Capture, management, communication of data in a professional manner and for the administration of databases
- It provides a series of easily accessible work tools that staff can quickly understand their tools
- Organization of the information, homologation of the information for the analysis of data necessary for the decisions that facilitate the growth and development of the company.
- Microsoft access does not adapt well in organizations that require the handling of large information content or where many variables have to be included, or large companies that require continuous results management.
- I believe that they can extend the option of the amount of user allowed so that large organizations can use it.
- Microsoft access is not the best database tool for immediate use but for long-term jobs.
We get data from a lot of different sources for reporting purposes. MS Access helps us bring the data files into a proper relational table structure, link it and output it for reporting purposes. In other cases, it is used as our query and reporting tool linked with our data warehouse kept in SQL Server. In such cases, MS Access is used as a middle layer of data manipulation before pushing it to Excel for data visualisation.
- Imports data from almost every common data format. Custom import specification allows more flexibility.
- Excellent forms and report writer together query designer. Complete collection of tools in one place.
- VBA allows complex manipulation of data and automating it to cut down repetitive work.
- Data in MS Access can be linked directly with MS Excel, combing the powers of data management in MS Access and data visualisation in MS Excel.
- Overall capacity, such as file size (currently 2GB max) and the number of fields allowed (currently 255) needs to be increased.
- Needs significant enhancement to address file bloating issues.
- It's an excellent RAD tool. Haven't been overhauled in the last 10 years or so. It's about time that Microsoft commit more resources to this brilliant product
- Automating data through MS Access database has saved us heaps of times on a daily basis.
- Producing descriptive reports which virtually looks like a Word document has vastly improved our reporting capability and saved time.
- Linking MS Access with MS Excel has made it very easy to push data to end-users in an easy to manage spreadsheet style.
Unlike enterprise-level databases, MS Access doesn't require setting up a complex server environment with user security schemes. It's an excellent tool for small scale databases where purchasing and setting up a product like MS SQL Server could be an overkill. Unlike enterprise-level databases, MS Access has all the necessary tools for a complete database application development such as form and report designer, programming modules and macros. No other database application tool comes close to offering all-in-one product. You often have to use third party products to meet your needs of developing a professional GUI.
October 18, 2019
Robust, simple, and best of all, probably already there!
Access is used on a 1 by 1 basis, dependent upon the person, their department, and their work. Predominantly, the tool was used with Sales Ops or Marketing for territory analysis, sales insights, product penetration in new markets, and other market research use. We did not have a lot of "cool new" data tools to use because the organization was locked into enterprise-level agreements. Typically, Access came into play when the data needed for manipulation surpassed Excel's capabilities.
- Intuitive tool for anyone comfortable within the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Life saver when Excel kept crashing, but you'll need to understand databases first so beware.
- Amazing tool within existing product suite at work, meaning no cumbersome management approvals needed to use!
- This doesn't have to do with the core function, but I wish it felt better aesthetically to use. I saw a lot of people moving toward tools like Tableau simply because they looked cool even though the user essentially only used it for basic functionality that would be better serviced in Access.
- Having in-app tutorials would be really nice, especially for further education and better use of the tool.
- Given that I did not need additional budget to get this going, every insight I got or every process I could streamline by using this tool essentially became an immediate return on investment! Love that.
Tableau is not even a 'switch-out' tool, it's for visualization so it's not a fair comparison. Against other databasing tools, MySQL is still my favorite may be simply due to being a creature of comfort because that's where I first learned to manage DB. However, Microsoft Access was the best tool because it existed on my laptop from Day 1 on the job so instead of configuring anything new I simply got into using it right away and that was that.
September 12, 2019
MS Access: a hidden gem in database design
Microsoft Access is being used to organize data collected using Excel spreadsheets as well as through direct input using MS Access form features. I find the reporting feature of MS Access very useful in displaying the data in a professional and uniform way to communicate information and provide statistical data to colleagues including management, peers, and customers. I get the best performance when used in a client/server environment. I create input forms for users to easily input data and provide links to a dashboard to easily access reports and to run queries. Queries are excellent for filtering information and allowing the use of parameters to extract data. In addition, users can see real-time information because the information can be generated instantly.
- Importing data from external sources such as MS Excel and creating tables for use in queries and reports.
- Linking to external data sources so that users can use existing data entry tools and MS Access can pull that information to instantly query or generate reports.
- Creating queries using wizards - allows even novice users to create desired results when running a query.
- Reporting - made easy using the wizards and is easily edited using the built-in design tools.
- Forms - creating dashboards to easily access different views of data including queries and reports.
- Not as accurate with calculating numeric values using decimals - when dealing with financial data, it is not as accurate as MS Excel. I have to calculate in Excel and only use Access for generating the report.
- When using wizards to design reports, it is difficult to remove some of the default properties easily.
- I preferred the navigation panes in earlier versions of MS Access that had a straightforward view of tables, queries, etc. I find it difficult navigating to only see tables.
- Access is very sluggish over a network and it gets bloated the more you open and close objects. It should have a way, or at least a setting , that automatically compacts to get rid of excess memory usage
- Improve security to prevent data from being compromised. There should be a way to prevent users on the client-side from seeing the database objects and changing settings. Maybe prompt for a password or set the application to identify the owner/creator automatically.
- Allowed me to present reports in a professional way that was easy for the reader to understand.
- Create and design a data entry tool quickly for distribution over a LOCAL AREA NETWORK.
- Easily use queries to quickly manipulate data through the use of filters, queries, calculated fields, etc.
- Create different form views using wizards and display different data depending on user input.
MS SQL is a more powerful tool but I love the reporting feature in MS Access. MS Excel is useful for complex calculations but to me, MS Access helps me organize that data. InfoPath is similar to MS Access in that you can create forms for data entry, but it does not include methods for presenting data. It needs a separate application to do so.
December 20, 2018
The best friend of people who are not IT professionals, but suddenly need a relational database to be mastered, designed and implemented by yesterday!
I utilize Access databases frequently, ignoring 'weird looks' given to me by IT professionals who consider anything less than Oracle not a true database, but some sort of a 'toy'. However, Access fits the bill perfectly in some cases. Back in 1996, I had to resolve a problem very quickly, by creating a 'tool' to keep track of problems encounters by buyers from the procurement department in ordering certain parts, like parts for old designs and currently unavailable due to obsolescence, or parts having an unacceptable long lead time. The need was for a relatively simple and small database, allowing recording of such problems, recording of the progress made by the Component Engineering department in finding a solution and the recording of the solution itself, when one was found. I selected Microsoft Access as a platform, since it appeared relatively simple compared to more powerful databases, and my proficiency in other members of the Office suite making the learning curve shorter. And it worked very well. The implementation took only three weeks and the results were very much appreciated by its users. I believe this database it is still in use.
- An Access database can be designed and put to use rather fast, in order to answer an immediate need, even if the design must be done by someone with no previous exposure to Access. It can be modified/improved later on, without much impact on the users.
- A relatively simple Access database does not require knowledge of any programming language. It can be implemented by using 'macros', which are of a 'point-and-click' type.
- If a more complex application is required, Access is fully compatible with Visual Basic for Applications language, which is a object-oriented, even-driven programming language, designed by Microsoft specifically for utilization by all modules belonging to the Office suite.
- Since the commonality of VBA across Office, Access databases can be made to interface with other Office applications, and in particular with Excel.
- Access is easy to master, cheap, and allows easily the construction of aesthetically pleasing interfaces with the user, while remaining quite powerful. Due to these reasons, it yields itself to be sometimes used for the design of non-database applications, but specialized calculators.
- It cannot accommodate as many records or as many concurrent users an Oracle or similar database can.
- It is not as reliable as a database of 'industrial strength' is.
- It does not work fast, particularly when when large amount of code was used for its design or when a relatively many users attempt to utilize it simultaneously.
- On my first experience with Microsoft Access, the database I created answered a very specific and urgent need: support to Purchasing Agents (Buyers) which often encountered difficulties in procuring certain parts, due to obsolescence. Since these parts were required in order to complete contracts signed with various clients, a lack of solutions meant inability to deliver goods, therefore loss of revenue. So, the impact of the database which I successfully designed and implemented was highly positive.
- An attempt initiated by me in order to prevent obsolescence by taking a proactive approach, as opposed to a reactive one, went not so good. My idea was approved and I designed and implemented the Access database required by my approach. However, no further progress was made, since beside the database, additional manpower was required on a daily basis. Since no funds to support this daily activity could be found, the project was abandoned. Therefore, it should be considered as having a negative impact, since my time spent in designing the database was a loss.
- A mini-project was fun, successful and highly appreciated by users. A certain department needed identifiers for reports written in Word, according to a certain scheme, involving date and serial number of the memo in that specific year. I was requested to design an Access application which will keep track of the identifiers, open programmatically every new memo submitted to me, generate and insert a new identifier as per the rule, save the Word document and return it to the originator. Here, the impact on the company measured against my time spent on the project was positive.
- The implementation in Access of a specialized calculator, designed to verify the match between the size of certain components, as recorded in my company's documentation, and the sizes indicated in the datasheets provided by actual manufacturers of the parts worked very well. I will consider it as having a positive impact. Again, it worked well and users were very satisfied.
- To conclude, I would say that the utilization of Microsoft Access was beneficial to my company at the time, as long as requirements were well defined and funding was provided adequately. I would add that most of the benefit was achieved when Access was used on 'small caliber' taskings, and not so successful when more ambitious results were anticipated.
I do not have experience with any other database having capabilities and cost similar to Access.
23
Access was introduced
by myself around 1997, as a solution to an immediate problem,
affecting the Planning Department, Procuring Department and Component
Engineering (myself). Standard parts procurement was initiated by planners,
via the creation of Purchase Requisition Requests for specific part
numbers and quantities. The requests were passed to Procurement,
where buyers were issuing ‘Requests for Quotation’ to part distributors. Some
time, the RFQs were returned stamped with a 'NO BID' inscription on them,
meaning: 'This part is obsolete'. In such cases, a document called 'Problematic
Part Investigation Request' (PPIR) was issued by the buyer affected and sent to
Component Engineering (myself) for resolution. Up to my arrival in Component
Engineering, the PPIR forms were filled by hand on a paper form. A
number was assigned to each PPIR and entered by pencil into a notebook,
sometime in error... The PPIR was then sent to me via inter-departmental
snail-mail. Faced with this situation, I saw as my first priority not to
resolve any specific case, but to create a 'tool' capable of:
1. Standardizing the generation of PPIRs
2. Ensuring timely transmittal of the problem to Component Engineering, therefore allowing an early start of the requested investigation.
3. Ensuring timely transmittal of the solution found to the buyer affected.
1. Standardizing the generation of PPIRs
2. Ensuring timely transmittal of the problem to Component Engineering, therefore allowing an early start of the requested investigation.
3. Ensuring timely transmittal of the solution found to the buyer affected.
2
- PPIR
Not Sure
No
- Chronologically, the first integration was between ACCESS and WORD. My efforts in developing an ACCESS database as a tool used by Component Engineering were well known to my superior, which was also in charge of the Material and Processes department. This department needed some automation for the generation of memorandums, issued in WORD.
- I integrated ACCESS and EXCEL several times on different projects, since they blend very well together. ACCESS is a very efficient tool for the rapid construction of aesthetically pleasing 'screens' (or forms, as they are called by ACCESS itself), while EXCEL is very good for mathematical calculations.
- I integrated ACCESS with OFFICE itself several times, with ACCESS being the 'main engine', while OFFICE providing a folder/sub-folder repository for various items, such as engineering drawing or component specifications, stored as ADOBE files (.pdf).