Some Things to Keep in Mind

You can personalize many features of Windows so that it is set up the way you like to work. That's one of the benefits of Windows. For consistency, though, this book makes some assumptions about how you use your computer. When working through steps and especially when viewing the figures in this book, keep in mind the following distinctions:

• Access provides many ways to perform the same action. For instance, for many commands, you can select a command from a menu, use a shortcut key, use a toolbar button, or use a shortcut menu. Throughout the book, we'll try to show you the variety of different ways that you can do things in Access. Sometimes we'll tell you where to find an action on a menu; other times we might have you use the toolbar to perform the same action. As you try things out in Access, you'll find the methods that work best for you.

• Your particular Windows setup may not look identical to the one used in the figures in this book. For instance, you might have a different desktop background than the one we used in the book, or be using a different color scheme. Don't let these differences distract you; Windows may look different, but it works the same way.

• Your computer setup is most likely different from the one used in the book. Therefore, you will see different programs listed on your Start menu, different folders and documents, and so on. Again, don't be distracted by the differences.

• You might even be using a different version of Windows. We used Windows XP throughout this book. If you're using a different version of Windows, there will be minor differences in appearance, but Access will still function exactly the same way.