unable to locate access file

[nooyawkah]

I have little or no experience with Microsoft Access and I need to be dope-slapped. I had no idea how to create a database so I "played around" with the program.

I tried a couple of times to create a database and saved them both times. I was able to find both files so I developed this false sense of confidence. I selected the option to use the wizard, chose some sample category, the name of which I don't remember, added 3 categories to a blank database, changed the names of all 3 and proceded to type-in about 300 entries. May I add that I don't know how to type so this took quite some time. Periodically I would click file, save, and this is what I did before I finally closed the file. Of course, fool that I am, I have no idea what, if anything, it was saved AS. I recall that I did not choose a primary key, or whatever it's called.

I am using windows xp and am unable to find a list of last files opened. i have no idea what the file is called. I have tried search using many word possibilities to no avail. I opened the Access list of databases and I find nothing familiar. I even tried opening each one but again, I can't bring up anything familiar. Is there any way to find this file or could it be lost forever?

Sign me "inACCESSable."

[sdkfz]

access files are .mdb when closed and .mdb and .ldb when opened (the ldb records the users in the database), you should be able to use find and with the search for as *.mdb find all the databases

it sounds like you opened a database and added some tables to it, remember, inside access databases (And I am really simplifying)
tables = excel spreadsheets
queries= excel pivot tables, excel formulas and other 'get me all blue widgets in 2002' types of questions
forms=pretty ways to make tables easy for people to enter stuff
macros=automated stuff with queries etc
modules= vb prgraming

when you find a db, open it and look at the tables, even their name may be 'wrong' so look at the table data.

When entering data, no save required
when changing any structure (filed x is now text insteasd of date) save is required to be able to go to 'view' mode

primary key is the unique field. your primary key is not your name, how many newyorkers are there? BUT your ssn IS a primary key, no one else has it. Every table that has lets say customer data needs the primary key:

Table 1 = customer name and address
Table 2 = Customer orders
Table 3 = customer contacts

obviously to be able to relate 1 to 2 and 3 you need something that all threee tbales have in common, SSN or customer ID would be this 'primary key', thus one customer can (1) can have many oders (2) and contacts (3)

hope this helps

[doctorgonzo]

When you were clicking on File...Save, you were saving the table definitions, not the data, nor the Access MDB itself. If you never renamed the MDB, it could be named something like db1.mdb. Just do a search for all MDB files like sdkfz said, and open each one until you find the tables and data you already entered.