Best free training for Access

For a programming‑savvy learner who needs to move from Excel to Access, the best free starting points are Microsoft’s own training and how‑to articles, which cover both database basics and the specific Excel→Access workflow.

Recommended free training path:

1. Learn Access fundamentals
   • Start with the beginner video series under Access in the Office 2013 training collection:
     • Design and build tables for a database (Access basics, part 1) – covers how to structure tables, which is critical when converting an Excel sheet into a relational database.
     • Create table relationships (Access basics, part 2) – explains primary/foreign keys and relationships.
     • Create your first Access 2013 database – walks through building a simple database end‑to‑end.
     • Introduction to queries (Access basics, part 3) – shows how to query data instead of using Excel formulas.
   • These videos are listed in the Access section of the Office 2013 training page and are suitable even for newer Access versions because the core concepts are the same.
2. Understand what Access is good at vs Excel
   • Watch Video: What is Access? to see how Access handles data storage, forms, and reporting, and how it complements Excel.
   • This helps decide what stays in Excel (analysis, charts) and what should move into Access (data storage, querying, multi‑user scenarios).
3. Learn how to move data from Excel to Access
   • Use Move data from Excel to Access to follow the recommended three‑step process:
     1. Import data from Excel into Access tables.
     2. Normalize/relate the data (turn a flat sheet into related tables).
     3. Use queries, forms, and reports on top of the imported data.
   • Pay attention to the Step 1: Import data from Excel to Access section, which maps Excel formats to Access data types (Text vs Memo, Number vs Double, Date, Currency, Yes/No, Hyperlink). This is important to avoid truncation and conversion errors when importing.
4. Practice importing and linking Excel data
   • Follow Use a screen reader to bring Excel data to Access desktop databases (even without a screen reader) because it gives a detailed, step‑by‑step flow for:
     • Preparing the Excel worksheet (flat file format, consistent data types, removing blank rows/columns).
     • Preparing the destination Access database.
     • Importing data into a new or existing table.
     • Creating a link to Excel data instead of importing, if the Excel file must remain the source.
   • This article also points to Import or link to data in an Excel workbook, which covers troubleshooting missing or incorrect values.
5. Practice by copying Excel data into Access tables
   • Use Video: Copy data from Excel to quickly try:
     • Adding Excel data to a new Access table (copy in Excel → Paste in Access → define whether first row is headers → rename fields).
     • Adding Excel data to an existing Access table using Paste Append.
   • This is a good way to experiment with table design and data types before setting up a full import wizard workflow.
6. Go deeper into queries and updates (intermediate)
   • Once comfortable with basics, use the Intermediate section of the Access training list:
     • Dealing with read-only queries – useful when imported or linked data cannot be edited as expected.
     • Stop a query from asking for input and Use parameter queries to filter query results – for more advanced querying.
     • Use update queries to change data in Access 2013 – important when cleaning or transforming imported Excel data.
     • Query criteria 2: Using date criteria in queries – especially relevant if the Excel file has many date fields.
7. Conceptual database design
   • While focused on Excel→Access, the Move data from Excel to Access article also points to Database design basics, which is essential reading for designing proper relational tables rather than copying the Excel layout directly.

This combination of official videos and how‑to articles provides a complete, free path from “Excel user with programming background” to “comfortable Access user who can design tables, import Excel data, and query it effectively.”

References:

• Office 2013 training
• Video: What is Access?
• Move data from Excel to Access
• Use a screen reader to bring Excel data to Access desktop databases
• Video: Copy data from Excel