How to Use Microsoft Access Query

Of all the applications in the Microsoft Office suite, Access may be the most intimidating. Once you learn the basics of building a database, creating forms and reports, and the power of a good query, you will appreciate all that Access has to offer. Creating an Access query comes down to using the proper language. The Access Query Wizard can help you learn how to make and use queries to retrieve the data you need.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Access 2000-2007

Instructions

1. 

   Start Access. Open the database in which you want to use a query by going to the "File" menu and selecting "Open" in Access 2000-2003, or by clicking the "Office Button" in Access 2007 and clicking "New." Select the desired database and click "Open."

2. 

   Click "Queries" in the Objects pane of Access 2000-2003. Double-click "Create Query by Using Wizard. In Access 2007, go to the "Create" tab and click "Query Wizard." Click "Simple Query Wizard" and "OK," and then the Query Wizard will start.

3. 

   Select the table to be queried in the "Tables/Queries" drop-down list. Double-click items in the "Available Fields" list if you want to include them in the query. When all the desired fields are added, click "Next."

4. 

   Choose between a detail or summary query. If "Summary" is selected, click the "Summary Option" button to customize the selection. Click "Next."

5. 

   Enter a title for the query. Click "Finish" to run the query and view the results.

Tips & Warnings

• Run the query in Design View to further customize and change it.

Resources

• More on Access queries