You could use a data control, which simplifies attachment to the Access file but is somewhat restrictive in terms of what you can do. Have a play by mucking around with the properties of this control as it may suit your needs.
Otherwise open the database in code.
You'll need two variables, one for the database and another for the recordset. The recordset variable holds the view of the data retrieved.
For example to get you started:
Dim db as database
Dim rs as recordset
'open the database then a recordset from this database
Set db = OpenDatabase("C:\MyDB.mdb")
Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("SELECT Field1, Field2 FROM Table1;")
You move around in the recordset using:
rs.movefirst
rs.movenext
rs.movelast
etc...
data in the current record is retrieved using for example:
MyVar = rs("Field1").value
you need to make sure you close the database when you've finished using it:
db.close
HTH
Sam