Access 2016 Advanced

Lesson 8 – Using Access and the Internet

Access 2016

W ORKING WITH H YPERLINKS

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Discussion

Access supports using hypertext within the application. Hypertext, or hyperlinks, are strings of text that declare an address or a path to a file. If you click the hypertext a file or web site opens. Hyperlinks provide an electronic path to files in much the same way as your home address provides a path for the mail you receive. For example, by reading the address, the postal service knows to first go to Pennsylvania, then to Pittsburgh, then to Forbes Avenue, and then to house number 2250. Hyperlinks can be a URL address, or a UNC address. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of a resource, or file, available on the Internet or your intranet. The URL contains the protocol of the resource (e.g. http:// or ftp://), the domain name for the resource, and the hierarchical name for the file (address). For example, a page on the Internet may be at the URL http://www.globalknowlege.com/terms/url.shtml. The beginning part, http:// provides the protocol, the next part www.globalknowledge.com is the domain, the main domain is globalknowledge, while www is a pointer to a computer or a resource. The rest, /terms/url.shtml is the pointer to the specific file on that server. Domain extensions identify the source; .com or .net for companies, .org for organizations, .gov for government, and .edu for educational institutions. A UNC (Universal Naming Convention) is the address to a shared file in a computer without having to specify (or know) the storage device it is on. The UNC can be used instead of the local naming system. In Windows operating systems, the UNC name format is: \\servername\sharename\path\filename. The share name logically identifies the storage device where the file is located. For example: \\corp1\acctept\forms\triprpt.xls might specify on a server in the corporate main office where a shared file (triprpt.xls) is kept with other accounting forms that employees of the corporation might download and read or print and use. A UNC hyperlink, when clicked, launches Access and opens the file in the designated folder. Similarly, when you click a URL hyperlink address, Access activates the application you use to navigate the Internet and takes you to that site.

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