Microsoft Access 2000

Since its first introduction in 1992, Microsoft Access has become a leader in the desktop database category among a wide variety of users. Whether users are creating a standalone desktop database for personal use, departmental use, or for an entire organization, Access offers an easy-to-use database for managing and sharing data. Access 2000 brings not only the traditional broad range of easy data management tools but also adds increased integration with the Web for easier sharing of data across a variety of platforms and user levels as well as additional ease-of-use enhancements to assist with personal productivity.

Of particular importance, Access 2000 offers additional enhancements as a front-end client to corporate-level back-end databases, such as Microsoft SQL Server. Access can now be used in two ways: as a standalone application for creating databases for individual or departmental use or as an easy-to-use interface client to a more scalable and robust back-end database that was previously available only to professional database administrators.

Hot New Features:

• Native SQL Server Connectivity. With Access 2000 and SQL Server, users can create a new SQL Server database or directly open and manipulate an existing SQL database, even performing such administrative tasks as replication, backup, and restoration. Access 2000 forms and reports can thus be used against SQL data.
• Consistent User Interface. Access 2000 has undergone a facelift in the database window to improve usability and consistency with other Office applications. It also includes an Outlook-like navigation bar.
• AutoCompact. Access 2000 automatically compresses a database when the file is closed if the reduction in disk space is significant. Access databases are thus kept as small as possible, preventing wasted space on a user's hard drive and making e-mail delivery of databases more efficient.