I learned by reverse engineering an Access database a few years ago, then furthered my understanding by grabbing a self paced Access book. I have also used Lynda.com and a few of the other tutorials below to help solve problems and learn a few additional cool tricks.

Now that it’s time for me to create a new database, I thought I’d share a few Access tips, tutorials and resources that I use myself.

Allen Browne’s Tips For Microsoft Access - this resource provides offers tips and tutorials for casual users (who don’t know how to write code), serious users (developers) and programmers (coding examples for VBA). The tutorials take a progressive approach, beginning with Table Design for newbies to Microsoft Access. Additional resources include downloadable tools, solutions to common problems, bugs and steps and resolutions to problems that occur when converting to another Access version.

Lynda.com’s Access Training – If you need to quickly learn Access, the best training I’ve found is through Lynda.com’s video tutorials. Unlike the other resources listed, Lynda.com will cost you $25 a month. However, the site doesn’t only offer Access training. There is an A to Z listing of software video tutorials in each subject. The videos are high quality and broken down into small bites so you can identify what you need help with and easily digest it. I typically get a subscription for just a month when I need to learn a new program in a pinch.

Microsoft Office Access 2007 Training Courses - This training section offers 35 tutorials that include sections to help you get familiar with Access, build your first database,  manage your data and more.

About’com’s Microsoft Access Tutorials – About.com has compiled this useful listing of helpful tutorials to help you grasp Access.

Baycon Group Microsoft Access 2007 Tutorials – the step by step tutorials on this page are very useful and it’s organized very well, breaking sections down by table, queries, reports, forms, etc.

Access Templates – rather than starting from scratch, you can use some of these great templates to begin your database.

Access Blog – If you want to learn how to do some cool tricks and find your way around Access, the Access Blog has you covered.

databasedev.co.uk’s Database Normalization Process - if you’ve already built your database or are in the process, this explanation will be beneficial. As the article references, “normalisation is the process of efficiently organising data in a database. There are two main objectives of the normalization process: eliminate redundant data (storing the same data in more than one table) and ensure data dependencies make sense (only storing related data in a table).” Following the normalization process will help shrink space your database consumes and store your data logically.

Microsoft’s Build & Publish an Access Database to Sharepoint - this resource has plenty of information if you want to publish your database to Sharepoint to share your database with coworkers or over the internet.

Kitebird.com’s Migrating from Microsoft Access to MySQL – if you feel your database is a little too limited, perhaps it’s time to migrate to MySQL. This tutorial walks you through the process.

Allen Browne’s Converting to Access 2007 or 2010 –  this site offers all the info you need to determine if converting to Access 2007 or 2010 is for you. They list the good, the bad, fixed and resolved bugs and plenty of other tips and information.

Access Developer Center – this site provides some programming resources and information for Access 2003, 2007 and 2010.

Do you have any favorite Microsoft Access resources you’d like to share? Feel free to mention them in the comments below.

If you’re curious about how it works, check out the short tutorial below.

I currently use Audials One, which is a combination of Tunebite, Radiotracker and MediaRaptor. Tunebite is one component of the suite I use, but for me it’s the most prominent. You can use the “Surf & Catch” feature, which removes DRM and converts video from many different sites such as Youtube, Dailymotion, etc. It has the same feature for audio and supports Last.fm, Pandora, etc.

Here’s how it works…

1. Start up Tunebite
2. Click “Add” or “Find DRM” – For “Add,” choose the Files or Folders for where your music is located. For “Find DRM,” Tunebite searches for all DRM protected files on your computer.
3. Click “Start” and Tunebite does all the work for you, removing DRM protection and converting the files into the format you specify

A few years ago, I purchased Tunebite Premium and it’s really all you need if you are mainly interested in just audio. If you want videos as well, you’ll need atleast Tunebite Platinum. AudialsOne is also very cool. I use it to record music I specify from random radio stations. From what I’ve heard, Tunebite works very well with Napster To Go and Real Rhapsody Below are the different options.

AudialsOne – $59.90

“The best option to get free music, videos, films and podcasts. Amasses a media collection in a matter of seconds and records from the largest selection of Internet radio stations and the best video portals. The universal recorder records everything. 100 playback formats for all of your portable and at home playback devices. Your existing music collection will be freed from copy protection without sacrificing quality and will automatically be augmented with ID3 tags, album artwork and song lyrics. Media management, plus lots of extras.”

Tunebite Platinum – $39.90

“Records music, films and videos from the Internet, subscription services and online video stores. Removes DRM copy protection from music, audiobook and video files without sacrificing quality and does so quickly by re-recording the files. Includes 100 playback formats and an editor to customize settings for every at home and portable device. Media management, plus lots of extras.”

Tunebite Premium – $24.90

“Does not include video functions for converting and removing DRM copy protection. Otherwise, includes the same features as the Platinum edition.”

W3Schools Online Web Tutorials – Free page-by-page tutorials, with examples that enable you to practice as you go. Scripting languages offered include; JavaScript, HTML DOM, DHTML, VBScript, AJAX, E4X, WMLScript, SQL, ASP, ADO, PHP, ASP.NET and .NET Mobile. In addition to the programming language tutorials, you’ll find an extensive listing of many other Web Building Tutorials. You can take their quizes to test your knowledge, practice and even enroll in their certification programs for $75 per test.

If you need to learn a programming language quickly, I highly recommend purchasing a month of Lynda.com. It’s $25 per month, but you’ll have access to 544 excellent video tutorials. I used Lynda.com to help me learn Flash and a few advanced features in Access.

Below you’ll find specific tutorials for the 5 most popular programming languages, according to the Tiobe Index. If you’re looking for specific programming language to learn, the Tiobe Index would be a great place to start.

Java Tutorials
THE Java Tutorials (java.sun.com)
Sun Java Tutorials (roseindia.net)
Free Java Tutorials and Guide (freejavaguide.com)

C and C++ Tutorials
C++ Language Tutorial (cplusplus.com)
C Programming and C++ Programming (cprogramming.com)
C/C++ Language Tutorial Page (programmertutorial.com)

PHP
PHP 101: PHP For the Absolute Beginner (devzone.zend.com)
PHP Freaks (phpfreaks.com)
Basic PHP Video Tutorials (killerphp.com)
Good PHP Tutorials (goodphptutorials.com)

Visual Basic
Visual Basic Tutorial (profsr.com)
Visual Basics 6.0 The Complete Tutorial (visualbasics.freetutes.com)

Are there any programming languages you’re looking to learn that I didn’t mention above? If so, feel free to mention it in the comment section and I’ll provide some of the best tutorials for it.

In Blogger, you don’t have to be an HTML expert to customize your color and fonts. I’ve recently found that probably 1 out of every 2 bloggers who use Blogger are unaware of the ability to customize fonts and colors within their layout. It’s a really simple process & fun to see your blog in different fonts and colors. Here’s what you’ll need to do;

1. Click on Blogger & Login
2. Click “Layout”

The videos are very well articulated and the videos are high in quality. If you ever wanted to learn how to create a blog, add additional features or just make improvements to your existing, this site is a must see.

Magic With Blogs: Blogger Video Training