Imagine you're responsible for tracking information about your company's assets — the costs, locations, and suppliers for furniture and other equipment. You've been using Excel to manage that data, but your spreadsheet is becoming so large that it's hard to use.

Access can make that information easier to manage, but where do you start? With a plan. Even if you just want to customize an Access 2007 database template, a plan is still a good idea because it can save you time, effort, and money.

You start by planning tables because they're the backbone of any database. Once you have them, it's easier to design and build the rest of your database. And don't worry: We assume you're a beginner, and this course is meant to be a comfortable entry into the design process and into Access 2007.

To learn more about this course, read the text in Goals and About this course, or look at the table of contents. Then click Next to start the first lesson.