There are many ways to create a new database file. You may have noticed the Blank Database button in the upper-left corner of the Office Online area in the main Access screen. This button and the Office Button?New choice both reveal the Blank Database area in the right section of the main screen. Clicking either of these buttons transforms the main screen, as shown in Figure 34-3. The Blank Database area replaces the list of recently opened databases on the main screen.

Enter the name of the new database in the File Name box in the Blank Database area. By default, Access creates the new database file in whichever Windows folder you most recently opened from within Access. If you want to use a different folder, use the folder icon to the right of the File Name box to browse to the location you want to use.

FIGURE 34-3
Enter the name of the new database in the File Name box in the Blank Database area.

Access provides a default name of Database1.accdb for new databases. Be sure to provide a name that you’ll recognize. In Figure 34-4, the new database is named MyAccessAutoAuctions.accdb. (Entering the extension .accdb is optional because Access automatically supplies it if you do not.)

Access 2007 works directly with Access 2000, 2002–2003, and 2007 databases. Earlier Access database files (such as Access 97 or 95) must be converted to 2000, 2002–2003, or 2007 before they can be used in Access 2007. Access examines the database file you’re opening and, if it determines the file must be converted, presents you with the Database Enhancement dialog box shown in Figure 34-5.

Responding Yes to the Database Enhancement dialog box opens a second dialog box (not shown) asking for the name of the converted database. Selecting No opens the obsolete database in read-only mode, enabling you to view, but not modify, objects in the database. This process is sometimes referred to as enabling the obsolete database.

FIGURE 34-4
The new MyAccessAutoAuctions database is created.

FIGURE 34-5
Opening an obsolete Access data file invokes the Database Enhancement dialog box.

Choosing to enable an obsolete database is sometimes necessary when you must understand the design of an old database, but if users are still working with the old database and it cannot be upgraded to Access 2007 format.

If you’re following the examples in this book, note that we have chosen MyAccessAutoAuctions.accdb as the name of the database file you create as you complete this chapter. This database is for our hypothetical business, Access Auto Auctions. After you enter the filename, Access creates the empty database.

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