Data access pages are Web pages that are connected to a database. In Access, you can use them to view, add to, and manipulate data stored in the database. A grouped data access page is interactive - you can use it to filter and view only the information you want to see. With a page that has only one group level, you can add and update data. With a grouped data access page (a page that has more than one group level), you can only view data. The advantage of using a grouped page to review records is that you can just click the expand indicator whenever you want to see more details about a specific record. A grouped page is a compact and convenient way to make a lot of related information available for viewing.

This article first introduces you to the design and functionality of grouped data access pages by showing you an example of a grouped page in the Northwind Traders sample database. Then the article shows you how to create a grouped page in Northwind. In the grouped page you create, you can filter company names by country or region and view order details for each company. To create the page, create the first and second group levels; then add a caption section, add a group filter control, and align the controls; and then add a title, informational text, and a theme. When you are finished, your page will look like this:

Use the Page Wizard to create a hyperlink that you can use to send an e-mail message

This six-step lesson will take you through the steps of creating group levels, adding sections and controls to those group levels, and putting it all together.

Begin: Create the first group level