Microsoft Access Database is a program that allows you to enter information into a database that can be used to organise data. Accordingly I dug out the 1911 census that has featured in earlier posts in my blog. Access allows you to import information into the database from outside programs such as Word or Excel. Since I already possessed the 1911 census in Excel spreadsheet format, it was relatively easy to import this information into Access. The initial database, which was going to act as the starter information for Access’s other features looked like so. 
As you can see, the format of the initial database is very similar to Excel. Information is divided into columns, with each column having a heading which explains what kind of information is in each column. As I said, all very similar to Excel so far. Where Access differs is in the other features it allows the user to quickly generate forms, reports and queries using the information provided to the initial database. Creating a form is likewise a relatively easy experience. Firstly the database from which the pertinent information is to be drawn is selected, then by clicking the create tab and selecting form the form is automatically generated using the information provided. The forms seem to me to be similar to flash cards that one could use as an assistance to teaching or giving a presentation. They also can be used to create a record of the individuals entered into the database. 
In the image to the right you can see an example of what a form would look like, using the information from the 1911 census. As you can see, the information regarding each individual is inserted into the form format, allowing the user to quickly access information pertaining to a specific individual. This is an excellent way to breakdown surveys, censuses etc. into component individual cases, with all the necessary information organised into the form for easy retrieval.
Access also allows the user to generate reports from information provided to the initial database. Reports function as a method of presenting all the information in a handy printable format that can allow for such information to be displayed in a common location for those working on a group project or otherwise. In other words, a report is a hand kind of thing to thumb tack to a noticeboard. 
Various editing techniques can be applied to the report, such as the insertion of a company or university logo to give the report a more professional appearance, should you wish to do so. There is also an option to link tables in the initial database together, meaning that such information will always be related to other information that can help make sense of the information provided. Technically this has very little to do with the report but for the sake of aesthetics I felt I should leave a bit of space or text before I inserted the n
ext image, which is of the query form. Here it is. Query is one of the shining examples of how useful a database can actually be. Queries are created in a similar way to forms and reports, by accessing the create tab and selecting query. Doing so will open the query wizard, which will ask you to select the fields of data relevant to your query. I wished to find out which Roman Catholics in the data provided were Irish speaking. Therefore the pertinent fields were first name, surname, religion and Irish speaking. The first two fields I left alone: These were the fields whereby the program would provide the information to answer my query. In the third field I set the criteria to Roman Catholic, and in the fourth the criteria was set to yes. This ensured that the program would gather all details of Roman Catholics who were also Irish speakers. As you can see the query was a resounding success.
Microsoft Access is a tool which I could see myself getting good use out of. As a way of collating information from spreadsheets it is unparalleled. It’s manner of presentation and the theory function mean that it is tidier then Excel. Information is easier to find and as a result easier to work with. The query function allows for time consuming research to be done quickly an efficiently. The information provided may not necessarily be census like. Lists of military purchases from one state to another for example could be quickly analysed or the membership of a historical group or organisation quickly arranged to allow easy access for a research project. With Access the clue is in the name. It simply makes accessing uploaded information so much easier.
