MOS Access Expert key terms

A settings area that controls security and privacy behavior for Access, including whether blocked content such as unsafe expressions or disabled macros is allowed to run when a database opens.

A folder path registered in Access options so that databases stored there open without blocked-content warnings, letting code and macros run automatically.

The setting that determines whether VBA code and macros in a database are enabled, disabled with a warning, or disabled entirely when the file is opened.

A maintenance command that rewrites the database file, reclaiming space left by deleted objects and fixing minor corruption, optionally saving a backup copy first.

A command that saves a copy of the current database file to a chosen location, preserving data and objects so they can be restored if something goes wrong.

A wizard that divides a database into a back-end file holding only tables and a front-end file holding queries, forms, reports, and code that links to those tables.

A table whose data lives in an external source, such as another Access file, so Access stores only a connection and the field definitions rather than the rows.

The ribbon tab used to import or link data from other formats, including Excel workbooks, text files, and other databases, and to export Access objects outward.

A saved set of options describing how a delimited text file maps to fields, including delimiters, text qualifiers, and data types, reusable on later imports.

The panel listing database objects such as tables, queries, forms, and reports, allowing grouping, sorting, filtering, and opening of those objects.

A task pane view that shows which objects rely on a selected object and which objects the selected object relies on, helping assess the impact of changes.

A tool that prints or exports detailed documentation of selected database objects, including properties, field definitions, and code, for review or archiving.

The property that determines what kind of values a field stores, such as Short Text, Number, Currency, Date/Time, Yes/No, or Attachment, and how much space they use.

A property limiting the maximum length of Short Text values or the range and precision of Number values, affecting storage and allowable input.

A pattern of placeholder characters that guides and constrains how data is typed into a field, such as a phone number or postal code format.

An expression evaluated when data is entered or edited, rejecting values that fail the test and optionally showing a custom validation message.

The message displayed to users when entered data violates a field's or record's validation rule, explaining what is required.

A property that supplies a value automatically for new records or new fields, reducing typing when most entries share the same starting value.

A field setting that prevents saving a record when that field is left empty, enforcing that every row has a value for it.

A field or set of fields whose values uniquely identify each record in a table and cannot be duplicated or left empty.

A field that stores the primary key value of a related table, creating the link used to enforce referential integrity between the two tables.

A relationship rule ensuring that a foreign key value matches an existing primary key value, preventing orphan records and blocking invalid edits or deletes.

A relationship option that automatically deletes related child records when their parent record is deleted, keeping referential integrity without manual cleanup.

A field setting that builds a lookup structure to speed sorting and searching, optionally forbidding duplicate values in that field.

A field that displays a list of values from a table, query, or typed list, storing a value while presenting choices to the person entering data.

A setting that controls how stored values are displayed, such as date patterns or currency symbols, without changing the underlying data.

The most common query type, which retrieves records from one or more tables and displays the chosen fields in a datasheet without altering stored data.

A query that changes data rather than only displaying it, including Append, Update, Delete, and Make Table queries that modify records or create new tables.

Expressions entered in the query design grid that filter which records are returned, using operators, wildcards, and field references.

A character such as an asterisk or question mark used in criteria to match any number of characters or a single character within text values.

A query that prompts for input values at run time, using bracketed prompt text in criteria so the same query can return different results on demand.

A query that groups records and calculates aggregate values such as sum, count, average, or maximum by using the Total row in design view.

A query that summarizes data in a grid, placing one field's values as row headings, another's as column headings, and an aggregate in each cell.

An expression added in query design that derives a new column from existing fields, such as multiplying quantity by price or joining text values.

A dialog for constructing expressions from fields, operators, and built-in functions, with lists and help to reduce syntax errors.

The setting that determines which records a relationship returns, including inner joins and outer joins that keep unmatched rows from one side.

A view for forms and reports that shows actual data while letting you move, resize, and arrange controls directly, without the full detail of design view.

An object placed on a form or report, such as a text box, label, combo box, or button, that displays data or performs an action.

The property that binds a control to a field, expression, or nothing at all, determining what data the control displays or where entered data is stored.

A control whose control source is a table or query field, so it displays and edits stored data rather than a fixed or calculated value.

An arrangement that keeps controls in a single column so they align and resize together, common for forms viewed on narrow screens.

An arrangement that places controls in rows and columns so labels sit beside their fields, letting the group resize and align as a unit.

A saved set of fonts and colors applied consistently to forms and reports, changing the look of many controls at once.

A rule that changes a control's appearance, such as font color or background, when its value meets a specified condition.

The report pane where you define levels that organize records into groups and set sort order, enabling subtotals and group headers or footers.

A calculation such as Sum, Count, or Average applied to a group or to the whole report to summarize values rather than list them individually.

The bands that make up a report, including report header and footer, page header and footer, group header and footer, and detail, each printed at set times.

Settings that determine the order in which report records appear and which fields define groups, controlling where breaks and subtotals occur.

The dialog that controls margins, orientation, paper size, and columns for printing a report or form.

A view showing exactly how a report or form will appear on printed pages, allowing checks of pagination and layout before printing.