Simple database programs, such as the Database component of Microsoft Works, can store information in only one table, which is often referred to as a flat file. These simple databases are often called flat databases. More complex database programs, such as Microsoft Access, can store information in multiple related tables, thereby creating what are often referred to as relational databases. If the information in a relational database is organized correctly, you can treat these multiple tables as a single storage area and pull information electronically from different tables in whatever order meets your needs.

A table is just one of the types of objects that you can work with in Access. The following graphic shows all the Access object types:

Of all these object types, only one—the table—is used to store information. The rest are used to manage, manipulate, analyze, retrieve, display, or publish the table information—in other words, to make the information as accessible and therefore as useful as possible.

Over the years, Microsoft has put a lot of effort into making Access not only one of the most powerful consumer database programs available, but also one of the easiest to learn and use. Because Access is part of The Microsoft Office System, you can use many of the techniques you know from using other Office programs, such as Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office Excel, when using Access. For example, you can use familiar commands, buttons, and keyboard shortcuts to open and edit the information in Access tables. And because Access is integrated with other members of the suite, you can easily share information between Access and Word, Excel, or other programs.