Advanced Approach

The purpose of this course is to expand on your ability to apply Approach to your day to day microcomputer work. Approach is a database management program for the Windows environment on IBM and compatible computers. Approach is produced by Lotus Corporation. Approach is compatible with most of the database programs on the market such as Access, dBase and Paradox.

This course is divided into six main sections: introduction to databases, general maintenance functions, database design, searching, sorting, and reporting. The terminology and concepts provide a base for Approach "literacy". The class exercises provide "hands-on" experience.

The course is designed for the experienced Approach user. More than 70% of the class time is hands-on use of Approach.

Objectives

 Become familiar with the terminology and major functions of a database management system (DBMS)
    1. Learn to use the Design Environment
    2. Create advanced custom Forms and Reports
    3. Make letters, envelopes and labels from Approach
    4. Join tables and establish relations, with repeating panels
    5. Customize field types and include data validation
    6. Create graphics and charts, and PicturePlus fields
    7. Use styles and the spelling checker
    8. Analyze data using crosstabs, and summary reports
    9. Create and run macros
    10. Create SmartMaster applications

 

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Chapter 13 WORKING IN THE DESIGN ENVIORNMENT

Using the Design Environment

Duplicating a View

Moving the Tools Palette

Displaying Rulers

Selecting Objects

Moving Objects

Sizing Objects

Changing the Tab Order

Using the InfoBox

Formatting Data Text

Formatting Label Text

Applying Borders

Fast Formatting

Formatting Numeric Data

Editing View Tabs

Editing Text in a Text Box

Formatting a Form

Deleting Views

Rearranging Views

Saving the Approach File

Chapter 2 Chapter 14 CREATING A CUSTOM FORM

Using the Form Assistant

Zooming the View

Adding Fields to a View

Aligning Objects

Deleting Objects

Creating Text Objects

Formatting Text Objects

Formatting Selected Text

Deleting Fields from a View

Chapter 3 Chapter 15 CREATING REPORTS

Using the Report Assistant

Creating a Columnar Report

Changing a Column Width

Creating a Standard Report

Using a Print Preview

Changing Report Properties

Changing Report Margins

Printing Report

Chapter 4 CREATING FORM LETTERS

Creating a Form Letter

Adding Text to a Form Letter

Adding Fields to a Form Letter

Chapter 5 CREATING ENVELOPES

Creating Envelopes

Adding Text to an Envelope

Chapter 6 CREATING MAILING LABELS

Creating Mailing Labels

Inserting the Current Date

Chapter 7 CREATING BASIC JOINS

Using Relational Databases

Creating a Basic Join

Using Joining Databases

Unjoining Databases

Chapter 8 WORKING WITH FIELD ENTRY TYPES

Creating a Drop-Down List

Creating a Descriptive List

Creating a Field Box and List

Filtering Values in a List

Creating a List Box

Creating Radio Buttons

Creating Check Boxes

Chapter 9 USING DATA ENTRY AND VALIDATION

Working with Default Values

Setting Date Default Values

Setting Default Values

Increasing a Field Value

Creating a Formula

Creating Validation Options

Chapter 10 WORKING WITH PICTUREPLUS FIELDS

Adding a PicturePlus Field

Setting PicturePlus Properties

Inserting Graphics in a Field

Chapter 11 USING STYLES

Creating a Style

Applying a Style

Basing a New Style on a Style

Copying a Style

Editing a Style

Deleting a Style

Chapter 12 DRAWING OBJECTS

Importing Graphics

Sizing and Positioning Objects

Drawing Shapes

Changing the Stacking Order

Creating Text Objects

Grouping Objects

Ungrouping Objects

Drawing Objects

Chapter 13 CREATING CHARTS

Working with Charts

Creating a Chart

Using the Chart InfoBox

Displaying a Chart Title

Displaying a Chart Legend

Drilling Down to Chart Data

Chapter 14 USING CROSSTABS

Using Crosstabs

Using Crosstab Assistant

Drilling Down to Crosstab Data

Filtering a Crosstab

Charting Crosstab Data

Adding Summary Rows/Columns

Changing Summary Formulas

Chapter 15 USING SPELL CHECK

Using Spell Check

Spell Checking Text

Spell Checking Data

Adding Words to the Dictionary

Deleting Dictionary Words

Setting Spell Check Options

Chapter 16 USING JOINS AND REPEATING PANELS

Using Advanced Joins

Using Repeating Panels

Creating a Repeating Panel

Manipulating a Repeating Panel

Manipulating Fields in a Panel

Adding Fields to a Panel

Creating a Calculated Field

Entering Data in a Panel

Setting Relational Options

Using Alias Joins

Chapter 17 WORKING WITH SUMMARY REPORTS

Creating a Grand Total Report

Creating a Summary Report

Creating Two Columns

Grouping using PowerClick

Summarizing using PowerClick

Adding a Title Page

Editing Headers/Footers

Chapter 18 WORKING WITH RELATIONAL REPORTS

Using Relational Reports

Creating an Outer Join Report

Making Repeating Panel Reports

Chapter 19 USING ADVANCED FINDS

Using Query by Box

Finding with and IF Statement

Finding with a Formula

Chapter 20 WORKING WITH ADVANCED FORMS

Adding a Page to a Form

Moving through Pages

Adding Fields from a Join

Inserting the Date

Inserting the Time

Showing a Form as a Dialog Box

Opening a Form Dialog Box

Chapter 21 WORKING WITH MACROS

Using Macros

Creating a New Macro

Running a Macro - Menu

Editing Macros

Running a Macros - Shortcut Key

Creating a Looping Macro

Creating a Macro Button

Chapter 22 USING CUSTOM MAILING LISTS

Defining Custom Labels

Creating Custom Labels

Editing Label Definitions

Deleting Label Definitions

Chapter 23 WORKING WITH FILES

Opening a Database File

Using Save As

Mapping Fields

Editing File Properties

Deleting File Properties

Assigning a Password

Chapter 24 USING SMARTMASTER APPLICATIONS

Working with SmartMasters

Opening a SmartMaster

Using a SmartMaster