Databases:
Practice activities
Databases: Practice activities
IT Learning Programme
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Databases: Practice activities
How to Use this User Guide
This handbook accompanies the taught sessions for the databases course series.
The Exercises
Some exercises, particularly those within the same section, assume that you have
completed earlier exercises.
Text Conventions
A number of conventions are used to help you to be clear about what you need to
do in each step of a task.

In general, the word press indicates you need to press a key on the
keyboard. Click, choose or select refer to using the mouse and clicking
on items on the screen. If you have more than one mouse button, click
usually refers to the left button unless stated otherwise.

Names of keys on the keyboard, for example the Enter (or Return) key, are
shown like this: ENTER.

Multiple key names linked by a + (for example, CTRL+Z) indicate that the
first key should be held down while the remaining keys are pressed; all
keys can then be released together.

Words and commands typed in by the user are shown like this.

Labels and titles on the screen are shown l ik e t h is .

Drop-down menu options are indicated by the name of the options
separated by a vertical bar, for example F i l e | P r in t . In this example you
need to select the option P r i n t from the F i le menu or tab. To do this, click
when the mouse pointer is on the F i le menu or tab name; move the
pointer to P r in t ; when P r i n t is highlighted, click the mouse button again.

A button to be clicked will look l i k e t h is .

The names of software packages are identified like this, and the names of
files to be used l i k e t h is .
Software Used
Access 2010
These exercises were designed using Access 2010, but you will be able to do most
if not all the activities using other version of Access.
Files Used
C ar Schedule.x lsx
Mee tin gR oo mBo ok ings .x lsx
In tEx_Sta ffC ars _01 .acc db
In tEx_Sta ffC ars _02 .acc db
IntEx_StaffC ars _03.acc db
In tEx_Sta ffC ars _04 .acc db
IntEx_MeetingRooms01.accdb
I n t E x _ Me e tin g R o oms 02 Fe w R ec or d s .acc db
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I n t E x _ Me e tin g R o oms 03 I mp or t edD a ta . ac c d b
Revision Information
Version
Date
Author
Changes made
1.0
April 2012
Pamela Stanworth
Created
2.0
October 2014
Pamela Stanworth
Updated
Copyright
Pamela Stanworth makes this document and the accompanying PowerPoint
presentation available under a Creative Commons licence: AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA. pamela.stanworth@it.ox.ac.uk
Screenshots in this document are copyright of Microsoft.
The Oxford University crest and logo and IT Services logo are copyright of Oxford
University and may only be used by Oxford University members in accordance
with the University’s branding guidelines.
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Contents
1 Introduction ...............................................................................1 1.1. What You Should Already Know ......................................................... 1 1.2. Using the Practice Activities ............................................................... 1 1.3. Trusting the Database Files for the Exercises – Access 2010 ............ 1 2 Exercise: Car Loans - Design a Database ................................ 3 2.1. Scenario .............................................................................................. 3 2.2. Design ................................................................................................ 3 2.3. Build ................................................................................................... 3 2.4. Enter Some Data ................................................................................ 3 2.5. Sample Solution ................................................................................. 3 3 Exercise: Car Loans - Import From Flat File........................... 4 3.1. Scenario .............................................................................................. 4 3.2. Review the Data ................................................................................. 4 3.3. Import the Data ................................................................................. 4 3.4. Integrate the New Data Into the Database Tables ............................ 4 3.5. Sample Solution ................................................................................. 4 4 Exercise: Car Loans - Queries, Forms and Reports ................ 5 4.1. Build Forms ........................................................................................ 5 4.2. Build a Navigation Form ................................................................... 5 4.3. Use the Forms .................................................................................... 5 4.4. More Interactive Forms ..................................................................... 5 4.5. Protect Against Accidental Data Editing ........................................... 5 4.6. Build Queries ..................................................................................... 6 4.7. Build Reports ..................................................................................... 6 4.8. Sample Solution ................................................................................. 6 5 Exercise: Meeting Rooms - Collect Data From Filing Cards ... 7 5.1. Scenario .............................................................................................. 7 5.2. Review the data .................................................................................. 7 5.3. Design and Build ................................................................................ 7 5.4. Enter Some Sample Data ................................................................... 7 5.5. Meeting Room Booking System - 6 Sample Data Cards ................... 8 5.6. Sample Solutions ............................................................................... 9 v
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6 Exercise: Meeting Rooms - Import and Re-organise Data
From a Flat File .......................................................................... 10 6.1. Scenario ............................................................................................ 10 6.2. Review the Data ............................................................................... 10 6.3. Import the Data ............................................................................... 10 6.4. Retrieve the Staff Details ................................................................. 10 6.5. Retrieve the Room Booking Details ................................................ 10 6.6. Housekeeping .................................................................................. 10 6.7. Sample Solution ................................................................................ 11 7 What Next? .............................................................................. 12 7.1. Courses Which Support This Practice Activity .................................12 7.2. Computer8 ........................................................................................12 7.3. IT Services Help Centre ....................................................................12 7.4. Downloadable Course Materials and More – the ITLP Portfolio ....12 7.5. Computer8 ........................................................................................12 Appendix: Viruses and Security Levels in Access ..................... 13 Why Worry About Viruses? .....................................................................13 Scanning for Viruses ................................................................................13 Access 2010 and Virus Security ...............................................................13 IT Learning Programme
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Databases: Practice activities
1 Introduction
Welcome to the Databases: Practice activities!
This booklet accompanies the database courses delivered by Oxford University’s
IT Learning Programme. These exercises are intended to provide extra practice
for anyone who has participated in the series of Access courses taught by the IT
Learning Programme.
If you are away from the class, you can get help by email from your teacher or
from help@it.ox.ac.uk.
1.1. What You Should Already Know
This session is one of a series that cover the important aspects of using Microsoft
Access to build and manage a database.
We will assume that you have already attended all the courses (or equivalent),
and that you are familiar with creating tables using Access with suitable fields,
creating and editing a query, and creating basic forms or reports using the
wizards. The exercises call on a variety of skills and techniques covered during the
taught course series, not necessarily in the order that they are taught.
The computer network in our teaching rooms may differ slightly from that which
you are used to in your College or Department; if you are confused by the
differences please ask for help from the teacher or demonstrator(s).
1.2. Using the Practice Activities
Here we set a series of tasks, for you to carry out using your own copy of
Microsoft Access.
If you are contemplating attending the taught courses, these tasks will give you an
idea of what to expect. After attending the courses, you could use these tasks to
assess yourself, or for extra practice or consolidation.
Bear in mind that there are often two or more ways of achieving a task, and you
may well have hit upon an entirely sensible alternative to that suggested here.
This handbook sets out a series of tasks for you to tackle. There are not supposed
to be any tricks – just take each step at face value. The tasks are deliberately
worded rather vaguely, as is common in real projects. You will need to use your
imagination and your judgement about some aspects.
On finishing, you must decide for yourself whether you are satisfied with your
final product and the time/trouble it took you, or whether you need further help
or training.
You may be interested to look at the sample files provided, which suggest some
possible solutions to the tasks set.
If you use a tool other than Access and you are unsure how you might create a
particular aspect of your database, the local IT officer in your college or
department is the person to contact in the first instance and then the IT Services
Help Centre if necessary.
1.3. Trusting the Database Files for the Exercises – Access 2010
Please note that Access 2010 only trusts files if they have been saved in a “Trusted
Location”. You may recall, from the taught courses, that in our teaching rooms
the network d r ive H : \ has been designated an Access Trusted Location. If you
make copies of the files for these exercises, and save them on your own computer
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in a location that is not trusted, you may not be able to carry out all the activities
described.
Appendix 1 discusses the questions of trusting and virus protection further.
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2 Exercise: Car Loans
- Design a Database
2.1. Scenario
A department of the University has a small car, which members of staff may use
for work purposes. They need a database to keep track of who uses the car and
any related expenses they incur.
2.2. Design
Design a database for recording who books the departmental car and when, the
car mileage and any claims for the cost of petrol, parking and similar related
expenses.
Draw a freehand diagram showing the tables and fields needed, and the
relationships between the tables.
Note: some expenses are not associated with a particular journey, such as paying
for a windscreen to be replaced.
2.3. Build
Build the database in Access. Create all the tables, with suitable fields. Give the
fields suitable properties. Create joins between the tables.
Print a copy of the Relationships Diagram.
2.4. Enter Some Data
Enter 2 or 3 records into each table, working in Table Datasheet View, to confirm
that the table relationships work as required. Invent some plausible data values.
2.5. Sample Solution
In tEx_Sta ffC ars _01 .acc db
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3 Exercise: Car Loans
- Import From Flat File
3.1. Scenario
Further to the departmental car scenario mentioned in chapter 2 above, we
discover that in the past the departmental administrator has been keeping a note
of times when staff have used the car, and their expenditure. It would be useful to
include this past information into your new database.
The previous data was managed using Excel.
3.2. Review the Data
Open C a r Sc hed u le .x ls x provided and examine the data in the three worksheets.
One worksheet gives the names and details of members of staff. One worksheet
gives the occasions when members of staff used the departmental car. The other
worksheet gives the claims that members of staff have made, for expenses related
to using the car.
Think about how this data corresponds to your database design. Adjust your
tables and fields if necessary. Adjust the spreadsheet data if necessary.
3.3. Import the Data
Import each worksheet into the database as a separate table. In the Import
Wizard, take care over the data types of each field.
3.4. Integrate the New Data Into the Database Tables
Use append queries to append the data from each imported table to one of
your tables (notice that the column headings in the Excel worksheet do not
exactly match the field names in the Access tables).
You will need to match up some of the records from one table with corresponding
records from another table.
3.5. Sample Solution
IntEx_StaffC ars _02.acc db
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4 Exercise: Car Loans
- Queries, Forms and Reports
4.1. Build Forms
Build some forms to make it easier to enter data when someone borrows the
departmental car.
You will need:
A form for adding information about each member of staff
A form where a member of staff can book the car for future use, or add details
of a recent borrowing
A form where a member of staff can claim for expenses connected with using
the departmental car
4.2. Build a Navigation Form
Some of the staff are not used to working with databases. Make your database
simpler for them to navigate:
Create a welcome form
Make sure that they will see this when they first open the database
Provide some buttons for them to click, as an easy way to find each of the
forms they need
Conceal the tables, queries and other database objects so they do not distract
users
Remember you will need a way of finding all the tables, forms, queries, reports
etc so you can continue editing them!
4.3. Use the Forms
Now use your forms to work on the data:
to add another member of staff to the team
to book the car for the new person to use next week
to claim reimbursement for the petrol you bought recently
Invent some plausible data.
While you are working, you may notice improvements you want to make, so that
your forms are more efficient and easy to use.
4.4. More Interactive Forms
Create and test a form which shows one member of staff at a time, with their
expense claims appearing in a sub-form.
Create another form which lists all the members of staff, one below the other
(hint: use a Tabular Layout and change the Default View of the form to be
Continuous)
4.5. Protect Against Accidental Data Editing
Create a form for entering staff data, with a subform showing their expense
claims (you may have done this in the previous part).
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Lock and disable the text boxes for the Given Name and Family Name, so that
these values cannot be edited accidentally.
Provide a button beside each locked text box, which displays a small form that
pops up so the user can edit the value if they decide this really is necessary.
4.6. Build Queries
Create a query that shows all the times Douglas has used the car.
Create a query that shows all of Manuel’s expenses.
Create a query that finds any expense claims where the date of the claim has not
been entered. Include the person’s phone number in the query output, so you can
contact them to check the details.
Think of some more interesting queries to run on this data.
4.7. Build Reports
Create a report that lists all the occasions when the car has been booked/used,
sorted in date order and in time order within each day.
Create another report listing all of the car bookings, each time giving the name of
the person who used it and the mileage they covered.
Create a report that lists all the expenses claims, in date order.
Create another report giving the expenses claimed, this time grouping by member
of staff and including the total claimed by each person as well as a grand total.
4.8. Sample Solution
IntEx_StaffC ars _03.acc db and I n t E x _ S ta f fC ars _0 4 .ac c db
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5 Exercise: Meeting Rooms
- Collect Data From Filing Cards
5.1. Scenario
For some years, the receptionist has kept an eye on bookings for the various
meeting rooms in her Department, using a box of filing cards.
Because some additional meeting rooms are now being equipped, she would like
to manage the bookings using an Access database.
A blank card from the filing box looks like this:
Departmental meeting Room Booking Card
Please return the completed card to Reception
Date:
Room:
From (time):
Until (time):
Will you require refreshments?
Hot drinks:
_____________________________
Light meal:
_____________________________
Name of staff requesting:
Contact tel num (internal):
5.2. Review the data
Look at the cards shown on the next pages, to see the way the Receptionist has
been using them. Look out for extra information that people have written on
some cards, for ideas of additional fields which should be included in the
improved database design.
5.3. Design and Build
Design a database to manage this information.
Build the tables, fields, and properties using Access.
Set up relationships between the tables, using suitable fields.
Build some forms. Think about the data entry properties that would make the
forms easy and safe to use.
5.4. Enter Some Sample Data
Enter data from the cards, for a few sample records into each of your tables. Do
this early testing in Table Datasheet View.
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5.5. Meeting Room Booking System - 6 Sample Data Cards
Departmental Meeting Room Booking Card
Please return the completed card to Reception
Date: 3/4/10
Room: Cromwell
From (time): 10am
Until (time): noon
Will you require refreshments?
yes please ________________________
Hot drinks:
no thanks _________________________
Light meal:
can you make sure there is a video
projector in the room?
Name of staff requesting:
Alan Pilkington
Contact tel num (internal):
284685
Departmental Meeting Room Booking Card
Please return the completed card to Reception
Date: 23/5/10
Room: Cromwell
From (time): 1400
Until (time): 1600
Will you require refreshments?
Hot drinks:
 ________________________________
Light meal:
not sure yet ______________________
Name of staff requesting:
Michelle Patterson
Contact tel num (internal):
282348
Departmental Meeting Room Booking Card
Please return the completed card to Reception
Date: 23/5/10
Room: Patten
From (time): half past 3
Until (time): 5
Will you require refreshments?
 ________________________________
Hot drinks:
 ________________________________
Light meal:
and a projector again please
Name of staff requesting:
Alan Pilkington
Contact tel num (internal):
284685
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Departmental Meeting Room Booking Card
Please return the completed card to Reception
Date: 27 and 28th June 2010
Room: Jenkins
From (time): all day
Until (time):
Will you require refreshments?
Hot drinks:
yes ______________________________
Light meal:
_________________________________
Name of staff requesting:
Doug Wilkinson
Contact tel num (internal):
(2)06083
Departmental Meeting Room Booking Card
Please return the completed card to Reception
Date: 30/7/2010
Room: Wellesley if there is level access
for my colleague who doesn’t do stairs can you check please?
From (time): 9am
Until (time): 11 but let me know if you
need us to finish sooner
Will you require refreshments?
Hot drinks:
no _______________________________
Light meal:
no _______________________________
Name of staff requesting:
Alice S
Contact tel num (internal):
257981
Departmental Meeting Room Booking Card
Please return the completed card to Reception
Date: 24/12/2010
Room: Wellesley - or whichever room is
big enough to seat 15
From (time): 3
Until (time): 5:15
Will you require refreshments?
Hot drinks:
for 15 people _____________________
Light meal:
for 10 people, 2 vege, 1 gluten-free __
Name of staff requesting:
Michelle again
Contact tel num (internal):
5.6. Sample Solutions
I n t E x _ Me e tin g R o oms 01 . ac c db and
I n t E x _ Me e tin g R o oms 02 Fe w R ec or d s .acc db
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6 Exercise: Meeting Rooms
- Import and Re-organise Data From a Flat File
6.1. Scenario
For a short while, the room booking requests were managed in a flat spreadsheet
file, using Excel. You are asked to bring all this old data into your new database,
without re-typing it.
6.2. Review the Data
Look at Me e tin gR oo mBo ok ing s .xls x . This data is of the same form as your
database, but it is arranged differently. Identify which columns in the spreadsheet
correspond to the fields in your Access tables.
There is some data redundancy in the flat file, so you will have some work to do in
collecting and relating the data in the Access database.
6.3. Import the Data
Import the whole of the spreadsheet data and create a new separate table inside
the Meeting Room database.
6.4. Retrieve the Staff Details
The names and phone numbers of the staff are given in the imported data, but
some are mentioned several times.
Create a query which collects the information relating to staff members (names
and phone numbers). Use Totals to group together all records for the same
person, so that each person is shown just once.
Use this query to append the staff member data to the table you built earlier for
staff. Check that each field of imported data is sent to the appropriate field in the
existing table.
After running the query, save it as a record of what you have done.
6.5. Retrieve the Room Booking Details
The dates and arrangements for the room bookings are given in the imported
data, but the staff and the rooms are given by name - an Access database requires
ID numbers (or similar) for the primary keys of the Staff and Room tables.
Create a select query which collects fields relating to the bookings (dates and
times, catering and similar requirements) from the imported table.
In the query, join the table of staff members to the imported table using Family
Name, and display the Staff ID primary key number. Also join the table of rooms
to the imported table using Room Name, and display the Room ID primary key
number.
Use this query to append the booking data to the table you build earlier for
bookings. Check that each imported field is associated with the appropriate field
in the existing table.
6.6. Housekeeping
After running the query, save it as a record of what you have done. You would
probably archive (or even delete) the imported data as it will not be needed again
in the Access database.
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Take care not to run the append queries multiple times, as you would be
appending repeat sets of imported data onto the working tables. You can safely
examine an action query by right-clicking the query name then choosing Design
View.
6.7. Sample Solution
Look at In tEx _Mee tin gR oo ms0 3 Impo r te dData .acc db for one possible way of
managing this process.
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7 What Next?
Now that you have some basic Access skills you may want to develop them
further. The IT Learning Programme offers five taught courses on databases.
7.1. Courses Which Support This Practice Activity
Databases: Concepts of database design
Databases: Building a database using Access
Databases: Creating a user interface using Access
Databases: Reporting data using Access
Databases: Querying and analysing data using Access
Read about the content of these courses in the IT Learning Programme Catalogue
at http://courses.it.ox.ac.uk/catalogue .
7.2. Computer8
We encourage everyone to work at their own pace. This may mean that you don’t
manage to finish all of the exercises during a taught session. If this is the case,
and you would like to complete the exercises while someone is on hand to help
you, come along to one of the Computer8 sessions that run during term time.
More details are available from http://courses.it.ox.ac.uk/catalogue
7.3. IT Services Help Centre
The Help Centre is a good place to get advice about any aspect of using computer
software or hardware. For Help Centre opening times, visit
www.it.ox.ac.uk/help/gettinghelp/ and follow links to the General Helpdesk, or
contact them by email on help@it.ox.ac.uk.
7.4. Downloadable Course Materials and More – the
ITLP Portfolio
These course materials are available through the ITLP Portfolio, at
http://portfolio.it.ox.ac.uk .
Each course pack includes the course handbook in pdf form and a zip folder of the
exercise files that you need to complete the exercises. Archive versions of the
course book may also be useful if you use an earlier version of the software.
The ITLP Portfolio helps you find articles, videos, resources and weblinks for
further IT study. For some resources, you will be asked for your Oxford (SSO)
username and password.
It may be possible for you to use the facilities at IT Services to work through the
exercises in this booklet, or use any of the applications that are available. Contact
us on courses@it.ox.ac.uk for details.
7.5. Computer8
We encourage everyone to work at their own pace. This may mean that you don’t
manage to finish all of the exercises for this session. If this is the case, and you
would like to complete the exercises while someone is on hand to help you, come
along to one of the Computer8 sessions that run during term time. More details
are available from www.it.ox.ac.uk/courses/
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Appendix:
Viruses and Security Levels in Access
Why Worry About Viruses?
A virus is malicious code that may arrive from another computer, and copy itself
onto your hard disk. Depending on the taste of the person who devised it, it may
be just a joke, or it may destroy data or system files. Some viruses send
themselves on to other people via your email setup.
A virus may infect your computer while you are connected to the internet, or it
may arrive attached to an email or on a contaminated removable disk, and it may
take the form of a macro in an Access database file. It is essential to make
provision for your computer to be scanned frequently for any viruses which may
have arrived.
Versions 2003 and 2010 of Access handle this threat in different ways, so make
sure you have made suitable settings for your own computer.
Scanning for Viruses
Virus Scanning Software
You should install and use virus-checking software such as Sophos (supported by
IT Services). Other popular virus-checkers include McAfee VirusScan and Norton
AntiVirus. Contact the IT Services Online Shop or visit www.it.ox.ac.uk for more
information about obtaining Sophos at no cost or low cost for University
members.
A typical virus-checker scans your computer disks according to a pre-set
schedule. For instance, it may be set to check the hard disk every time you start
Windows, or twice a week, or to scan every document on opening. The program
detects any viruses, then alerts you and gives the options of deleting the file,
putting it in quarantine or perhaps fixing it.
Keeping the List of Viruses Up-to-date
A virus-checking program must be kept up-to-date. It is important to connect
frequently to the virus-checking centre (this is typically done via their internet
website). The virus list on your computer is then updated with all viruses known
to date, with any antidotes.
Access 20101 and Virus Security
Access 2010 considers any database file (such as . a c c d b or .mdb ) as a potential
route for virus infection. It starts by disabling any automatic content, and then
asks you to decide whether to enable it.
This applies to content such as macros and some Control Wizards and ActiveX
Controls.
Information about the other levels of protection, and further options for the way
Access handles macros, is given in A cc ess He lp .
Security Warning Message
When you open a database file using Access 2010, a Security Warning message
may appear in a white/yellow bar near the top of the window.
1
Access 2007 handles viruses in a similar way to Access 2010
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Figure 1 Security Warning Message When a Database File is Opened
If you do not expect to use any automatic features, you can safely ignore this
message and continue work.
Enabling Automatic Content For Just One Visit
En ab le Con ten t on the Security Warning bar gives you the opportunity to
enable any automatic content that may be present: only do this if you are sure
that the database file comes from a safe source and does not contain any virus or
other hostile code.
Note that the decision to En ab le th is c on ten t is effective for this session only. If
the database is closed, then the decision will need to be repeated each time it is
opened. This may be a convenient and cautious approach to take.
Trusted Locations in Access 2010
Some locations (folders, drives or devices) can be nominated as T r us t ed
L oc a t io ns : Access then considers any database files found there to be trusted,
and their automatic content is permitted to run.
So you may find it convenient to nominate a folder or area on your computer or
your network as being Trusted by Access. Then make sure that all your Access
database files are saved there.
This decision may be reached in consultation with colleagues and other users of
the database, and with your local IT support contact. Some departments have a
policy about where computer files of different kinds should be saved.
For example, in our teaching rooms the students’ files are provided for you on a
drive known as H : \ , and this has been set as a Trusted Location in the installed
copies of Access. Our computers have Sophos virus protection software which is
kept up-to-date. If you are in one of our teaching rooms, you can rely on Sophos
to manage the virus scanning.
The program files for Access are placed in a Trusted Location, by default.
When to Trust a Location for Access 2010
You should only consider doing this if you do need to use automatic content such
as macros, and if you have made very good alternative arrangements to protect
the computer from virus attack.
If you are using a University or College-owned computer, take advice from your
local IT Support Staff before making a location Trusted. Ensure that you have
reputable virus-scanning software installed, and that you keep its files of known
viruses up-to-date (i.e. it checks at least weekly by connecting to the software
provider and downloading the latest lists). Then confirm that the software is
configured to scan every file as it is opened.
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Only once this is in place can you rely on the virus-scanning software to do the
virus scanning, and use Access to manage your database files.
Finding the Access Trust Center
You may decide to set Access to T r u s t a folder or computer storage area. This is
done in the T r us t C en te r , which is among the Access Options (found on the F i le
menu)
.
In the left-hand column of the Ac cess Options dialog, choose the T r us t C en te r
category. This reveals the button
on the right.
Figure 2 The Trust Center With the Trust Center Settings Button
How to Trust a Specific Location with Access 2010
T rus ted Loc a tions (found in the category list on the left) shows which locations
have already been treated as trusted. Here you can
or
. Beware that if you add a location to this list, you are no longer
protected from active content saved in that location.
If the location where you plan to save your databases is on a network drive, check
A llo w Trus te d L oc a t io n s on my ne t w ork in the same dialog. You should
consult the IT support contact who is responsible for the network, before doing
this.
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Figure 3 The List of Trusted Locations
You may also decide to trust subfolders within the chosen location – there is a
check box for this in the T rus ted Loc a tion dialog.
Figure 4 Trusting Subfolders in a Trusted Location
Once a folder has been Trusted, save all database .a c c d b files there.
Sandbox Mode
Note that these choices makes Access run in a controlled and limited way, known
as sandbox mode. In sandbox mode, Access will run a reasonable range of
commands and functions. Occasionally, some macros created using older
versions of Access may need to be re-written using revised commands which are
now permitted.
In sandbox mode, some commands are disabled because they are deemed
potentially unsafe, and could be used maliciously to damage your files or system.
A user can only disable sandbox mode by changing keys in the Windows registry,
which is not a task for the inexperienced to attempt (if you are not perfectly
familiar with working in the Windows registry, don’t experiment: ask someone
who has experience, as there is a risk of making the computer unusable).
IT Learning Programme
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