dbase! me too. long time ago.

dr. cod's rules for normal databases still apply...
however, depending on what you want to do, access eventually stops being easy.
there is lots you can do without learning visual basic, although learning that is extremely helpful.

google "mvp access" for some good tips from microsoft mvp's.

simple forms are easy to create to add or update records.
record selection... you need to learn sql; but access has its "query" writer that allows you to do simple selection by column.

simple tool? not aware of any for any database... it all gets "interesting" when you want to build apps that users can use (and not break).

ps, look at the northwind database included with access, it does a lot.