Greetings,
I have to admit that I'm still a beginner in the database field, but
I'm actively studying, and this is why I will be utterly grateful for
the proper, accurate, and wise guidance to the right direction or
specific paths of database studies.
I simply want to make my first major database project a "personal
knowledge database" or a "personal encyclopedia", so to speak. By this
I mean that I want to gather diverse, multi-format bits of knowledge
into a single database divided into major categories, sub-categories,
and so on. For example, I want to scan collected articles from
newspapers & magazine and save them as images, type hand-written notes
into the computer and save them as MS Word or Text files, save audio
files with searchable keywords, even save searchable MS OneNote audio
& text files, all into directories & sub-directories. Then I want to
be able to search all these files for specific words or subjects; sort
them according to date, subject, etc; update, add to or append, edit,
or even cut & paste (within) any of those records in the database,
which rely on easily customizable formats like text & images (in
contrast with audio files or OneNote files, for example).
I also want to prevent wasting time in the future, by avoiding
repetitive, same-keywords typing for every non-text new entry, like an
image or audio file, by having a customizable keyword list open (by
right clicking for example), where one could mark all the relevant
keywords for the picture or audio file. Also have a short description
for each one of those entries when needed. And I want to be able to
add slick, good-looking graphics to the interface of the database and
the forms of the records.
Basically, my priorities include: saving time filling the database
with knowledge, quickly & accurately finding the future targets of any
search, presenting the search results in a highly comprehensible &
organized form, and a good looking interface & forms for every entry,
which are pleasing to the eye and encouraging to study.
I already use graphics applications for the "looks" part. So my
question is: what are the technologies or applications that I should
learn by heart and use in order to design such a database in the best
way? Can I import the slick, cool graphics of the interface into the
MS Access database and make it open looking the way I want it, even
with a logo and a certain transitional color scheme and all? Would MS
Access alone do it all for me? Or should I learn other technologies or
applications?
I'll be grateful for anyone taking the time to help. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Yasso
