How to Use SQL in Access 2013

How to Use SQL in Access 2013: Video

This video lesson, titled “Using SQL in Access 2013,” shows you how to enable SQL ANSI-92 compliance within an Access 2013 database. This video lesson is from our complete introductory SQL tutorial, titled “Mastering Introductory SQL Made Easy.”

Overview of Using SQL in Access 2013:

This lesson shows you how to use SQL in Access 2013. Access 2013 is a RDBMS that creates self-contained databases. It provides visual tools to let users make relational databases without the need for SQL. As such, there are few places to use SQL in Access. You can enter SQL into the “SQL View” of a query when creating a query in Access. You can also enter SQL into modules you design or into any “Code Builder” attached to form objects within a database. Note, however, that Access may not interpret these SQL statements in Access 2013, unless you enable ANSI-92 compliance within the current database file.

To enable SQL ANSI-92 compliance in Access 2013, create a new database file within which to enter SQL statements in Access 2013. Then click the “File” tab in the Ribbon. Then click the “Options” button at the left side of the backstage view to open the “Access Options” window. Click the “Object Designers” category at the left side of the “Access Options” window to show the category options to the right. Under the “Query design” header, check the checkbox for “This database” under the “SQL Server Compatible Syntax (ANSI 92)” section. Then click the “OK” button in the “Access Options” window. Access then shows a message telling you it must close, convert, and re-open the current database to apply this change. Click the “OK” button in the message to continue and convert the database.

You can then enter SQL commands within the “SQL View” of the query design window as well as within modules or any “Code Builder” areas associated with form objects that you create. You can also use the database to connect to external data within SQL Server to execute SQL statements by using SQL within the Access database.