In a recent forum posting, Rjones_17 wrote:

"I’m new to Microsoft Access and need some advice. I’m currently attempting to map out the offsets of ships, given a body plan. Basically I end up with numerous curves, each for a specific coordinate of the ship (say X coordinate), from which I can deduce numerous Y and Z coordinates for each curve/X coordinate. I was wondering if it were possible to store something like a matrix in a single slot in Microsoft Access (2003), so I could have the X coordinate in one slot, and then all of the Y-Z pairs that go along with that X coordinate in the next slot. If this isn’t possible are there any suggestions on how to store this information in a user friendly manner?"

Join the forum discussion: Matrix Data Storage in Microsoft Access

The true power of relational databases lies in their ability to track relationships (hence the name!) between data elements. However, many database users don’t understand how to take advantage of this functionality and simply use Access as an advanced spreadsheet. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the process of creating a relationship between two tables in an Access database.

Read the full tutorial: Creating Relationships in Access 2007.

SQL Injection attacks pose tremendous risks to web applications that depend upon a database backend to generate dynamic content. In this type of attack, hackers manipulate a web application in an attempt to inject their own SQL commands into those issued by the database. In this article, we take a look at several ways you can test your web applications to determine whether they're vulnerable to SQL Injection attacks.

Read the full article: Testing for SQL Injection Vulnerabilities

In a recent forum posting, Sue wrote:

"I have a report that when transferred to Excel does not show the checkboxes. Other reports work fine. I am using Access 2000"

Do you have any advice for Sue? Facing the same problem yourself? Visit our forum and join the discussion.

Many times, database administrators find it necessary to link two remote databases to each other for the purpose of sharing data. Oracle provides database linking technology that makes this a breeze. In a tip on SearchOracle.com, Brian Peasland explains how you can create such a link between two Oracle databases.

Read the full article: How to Create a Database Link in Oracle

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) sets forth the security requirements for organizations that store, process and/or transmit credit or debit card transactions. These requirements stem from a series of affecting databases of consumer credit information over the past decade.

What does PCI DSS mean to you as a database professional? If you review the PCI DSS standard, you’ll find seventeen pages packed with detailed requirements for securing cardholder information. If your organization processes transactions, it’s a good idea to review the entire standard and ensure you’re meeting all of those requirements.

Read the full article: PCI DSS for Database Professionals

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In a recent forum posting, Brainhose wrote:

"I did an install of Access 2000 on my PC that already had Word and Excel 2000. Even though I selected to install Access VBA help, it will not work and always asks me to install the feature. I've been Googling the problem for 3 days and can't find an answer. Anyone have a clue?"

Can you help Brainhose? Interested in solutions to the same problem? Visit our forum and join the discussion!

The video collection database template, available for free from Microsoft, allows you to track your entire video collection. It includes fields for program name, program length, program type and the actors involved.

Download the: Video Collection Database Template

In a recent forum posting, Brainhose wrote:

"I sometimes run code to maintain data which deletes tables or queries and then recreates them. The Access 2007 interface doesn't seem to refresh properly so that the newly recreated objects show in the side bar. Has anyone seen a procedure for forcing the GUI to refresh?"

Can you help? Interested in solutions to the same problem? Join the forum discussion for more!

We've added information and examples of three new functions to our Microsoft Access Function Library. Check out the new pages on:

• EuroConvert()
• Exp()
• FV()