Reviews (3)

Worth the Time
If you are new to database concept and design and are looking for a title to teach you about Microsoft Access as your database solution, then this is a good book. Readers are not expected to initially know much more than how to open Access and poke around, and are guided thru database construct concepts, table development, table relationship organization, and basic queries, to the application development utilizing internal forms and reports.The chapters logically build on themselves so you always have a working foundation for the next concept introduced.Information is presented hands-on, requiring the reader to develop the sample database as they read the book instead of relying on either the Microsoft provided Northwind database, or an author provided finished solution.Chapters are concluded with "case examples" where you are able to step by step further apply what was just covered, helping to solidify the information.
Microsoft MVP 2005 - Visual C# recommends caution
Hands-On Microsoft Access is one of the better Access books "if" you are developing entire applications in Microsoft Access.This includes using Access forms as well as reports.
learn about SQL and designing relational databases
This is not a trivial book. It will not teach you Microsoft Access in 24 hours, for example. There is a lot covered here, and if you are new to Access, it will certainly engage your attention for some time.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Database    2. Computers    3. Computers - Data Base Management    4. Database Management - General    5. Database Management - MSAccess    6. Database management    7. Desktop Applications - MS Access    8. Microcomputer Database Management Software    9. Microsoft Access    10. Microsoft Access (Computer software)    11. Access    12. Computers / Database Management / General   

Reviews (1)

A book about wizzards
There is not one useful item in this book.The explantions of functions are obsure and always tell you to use the CD.Basically the entire book is made up for directions on how to use the wizzard functions in access....and why anyone needs step by step for that is beyond me, thats why its a wizzard.Completely useless reference ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business    2. Business Software - MSOffice    3. Computer Bks - Integrated Software    4. Computer Books: General    5. Computer programs    6. Computers    7. Computers - Integrated Software    8. Data Transmission Systems - Electronic Mail    9. Database Management - General    10. Microcomputer Integrated Application Software    11. Microsoft Access    12. Microsoft Excel (Computer file    13. Microsoft Office    14. Microsoft PowerPoint (Computer    15. Microsoft Word    16. Personal information management    17. Programming - Software Development    18. Time management    19. Computers / Business Software / General   

Editorial Review

Microsoft Access 97 is a powerful database package, and Read more

Reviews (53)

Carelessly designed and written
I must preface this short review with the confession that I am using this book without the CD. Errors in the text and unclear definitions
I am using this book as the text for an internet class on Access and am very disappointed in the clarity and quality of the book.The database names on the CD do not correspond the text.Explanations of concepts, for example the different types of relationships, I found to be more clearly defined in the Microsoft manuals that come with Access. There are places where the text refers to an example that does not correspond to the text (e.g. pointing out that an option must be selected and it is not checked in the example). This is supposed to be a reference?
I suppose if you've never seen Access before, this could be a good book to enable you to build very simple databases. As a reference I find it atrocious. I probably should have found something that wasn't a "for Dummies" style book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Database    2. Computers    3. Computers - Data Base Management    4. Database Management - General    5. Database management    6. Desktop Applications - MS Access    7. Microcomputer Database Management Software    8. Microsoft Access    9. Computers / Database Management / General    10. Database software   

Subjects:  1. Business    2. Computer Books: Database    3. Computer programs    4. Computers    5. Computers - Data Base Management    6. Database Management - General    7. Database management    8. Microsoft Access    9. Microsoft Office    10. Access    11. Computers / Database Management / General   

Reviews (9)

Make it your official Access 2000 programming book
I really enjoyed this book. It covers a lot of information in much less space. The author programs where ever he can and does not really on macros or wizards. The are a couple typos, but the code is relaible enough. The major problem was one of the chapter databases could not be opened so I took extra steps to recreate it by importing tables from other databases and creating all the forms according to all the specs I was able to get from the book text. The book devotes a good chapter on SQL. The book covers nicely Classes.

Perversely useful
I found the book easy to use and well-organized for relating VB to Access. Also, in its own perverse way, this book was very helpful: once I understood that the book was full of errors, I used the errors to help me learn. I agree with other reviewers, though, that they should have hired an editor. (Also, on general principles, I suggest buying it from your local independent bookseller).

Bad editor, Good Author
The editor of this book should say sorry to the book author as he/she made this book with so many errors.He/she needs to learn basic editing skill.By the way, if I am the hire, I will fire him/her on the spot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Data Base Management    2. Computer Books: Database    3. Computers    4. Computers - Data Base Management    5. Database Management - General    6. Database management    7. Microsoft Access    8. Access    9. Computer Programming    10. Computers / Database Management / General   

Reviews (3)

fairly introductory access programming
Like all programming books, the trick is to match the reader's current level and skill set with the level of information presented in the book. On a scale of 1 to 5, the vba programming training here is about level 2 in my opinion. This is not bad training, it is just not at an advanced level. You should probably have some previous knowledge of vba but if you are an experienced vba programmer the only areas of interest are likely to be the word/excel integration issues.

It's OK, but there are better books
I bought this book hoping, as the author stated in her introduction, to make the transition from an experienced and competent Access user to an Access developer who can make a living developing applications for clients.I had hoped that the book would be chocked full of tips, tricks and wisdom from an Access expert. But I was disappointed. The author stated that she wrote this book for experienced Access users, who knew how to create tables, queries, forms and other Access objects, and had some familiarity writing VBA code. It has always been my opinion that the creation of a good Access database application requires a solid knowledge of VBA, the available control events and how to effectively program those control events. Unfortunately the chapter on VBA was rather weak and the chapter on controls had little discussion of the numerous control events. Great for your Access library
Helen has been around since Access was introduced. She knows how to solve problems. This book is better than her previous book (Microsoft Press) for Access 2002. Great examples, plenty of code. Helen gives the reader insight into every day solutions. I especially like her Menu Manager Add-in. It is a good help for using her solutions. And, she even has code for sending a fax from Access with WinFax. I wrote my own procedure (it took a great deal of time) and it works fine, but Helen's code is very efficient (over 20 pages devoted to this in her book). It checks for all the folders and sends the fax. Much more information included - from a sample interview with a client, to using Access with Word, Outlook, and Excel.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Database    2. Computer software    3. Computers    4. Computers - Data Base Management    5. Database Management - General    6. Database management    7. Development    8. Microcomputer Database Management Software    9. Microsoft Access    10. Computer Software Packages    11. Computers / Database Management / General   

Reviews (6)

The best you can get in year 2003
Very good buy. Discuss a lot on the newest access technology like xml and web. However, there are some part of the example program missing in the CD provided, not a big issue as they can be easily written if you hav done some access form programming.

Fast results
I love this book. I build a complex ADP application with a lot of SQL Server stored procedures. The authors described very good the differences between standard Access and ADP applications. They use a nice example (movie theater) to describe working with forms und reports in ADPs.

Great help
This book was a great help! We successful create a ADP-application with Office XP and SQL Server 2000. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Client/server computing    2. Computer Books And Software    3. Computers    4. Computers - Data Base Management    5. Database Management - General    6. Database Management - MSAccess    7. Database Management - SQL Server    8. Programming - Software Development    9. Programming Languages - SQL    10. Relational Databases    11. SQL server    12. Sql (Programming Language)    13. Computers / General    14. Database software   

Reviews (8)

The Good News and The Bad News
I taught classes of adults with this book. I had many complaints about the fact that it was difficult to follow. Some of the exercises were ambiguous and some were over wrought with typing. It did have poor planning on the organizational side. While it built on the previous exercises, sometimes it was ambitious on some items and lacking on others. A similar amount of time was spent on 'opening' a document as was spent on creating a 'table.' On the positive side, if you already know what you are doing, it was easy to follow. If you already know what you are doing, you probably don't need this book.

Random organization, separates the teaching from the doing
I teach computer applications to 8th graders, and this book is adisappointment to me and my students. It is geared more toward the businessworker. The order in which it teaches skills is completely random. Forexample, it teaches advanced operations such as how to create envelopes andlabels before it teaches the most basic functions such as how to formattext. It also focuses too much on the Internet capabilities of MS Office2000 (useless "bloatware" if you ask me). Thankfully there's DDC around!
Mary Wright, Tech Editor:"For the past 7 years, I have been developing and administering computer skills courses to adults who are both educationally and economically disavantaged. It has been extremelychallenging to locate computer training textbooks that can be geared to thefunctionally illiterate.DDC Publishing is the only publishing companythat truly understands and meets the computer educational needs of thismarket." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business    2. Business Software - General    3. Computer Books: Integrated Systems    4. Computer programs    5. Computers    6. Microsoft Access    7. Microsoft Excel (Computer file    8. Microsoft Office    9. Microsoft PowerPoint (Computer    10. Microsoft Word   

Reviews (15)

No good
Learn Access in 15 hours?No way.The authors sound more like consultants trying to sell you a product than instructing you on the basic building blocks.I use Access 2000 for plenty of database development and wanted to delve deeper into the programming aspect.This book falls well short of the what the title presents.

Not what it claims
I was hoping this book would be what I was looking for. I already know Access basics but I don't really know much VBA programming. I was looking for a beginning VBA book, and I hoped this was it. I was wrong. The best fit for me
I found this book fit my need quite well. I am a senior level Oracle DBA, have some VB experience (not much), good at Oracle developer 2000 (form and report), meaning I have solid database knowledge, skills, and programming skills. What I want is to quickly become good at Access application development for some small Access projects, and this book gives me just what I need. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Access (Computer file)    2. Computer Books: Database    3. Computer Books: Languages    4. Computers    5. Computers - Data Base Management    6. Database Management - General    7. Database management    8. Desktop Applications - MS Access    9. Microcomputer Database Management Software    10. Programming - General    11. Access    12. Computer Programming    13. Computers / Database Management / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (32)

DON'T HESITATE
Don't hesitate to buy this book. I bought this book as part of course being taught on VBA. Don't be scared that it is for Access 97 because the visual basic portion of Access has not been developed any further. This is the book to have. I am now a full time database programmer for a state agency and this is my desktop reference. BUY THIS BOOK!!!

great beginners book
This book does exactly what it claims to. It's a great book for beginners in access programming and vba. If you are an experienced vb programmer and are crossing over to access, I would say Access 97 Developer's Handbook would be a better buy.

Great Book to Learn Access VBA
I read this book last year and found it very instructive. It is easy to understand and contains very good explanations of the sample code. Very little or no typos or code errors, which always helps. The cd contains one or two useful applications in addition to the chapter databases. What I like about the book was that it makes use of the wizards up to the point where you you have to write code, which is a good time saver. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Operating Systems    2. Computers    3. Computers - Data Base Management    4. Database Management - General    5. Database Management - MSAccess    6. Database management    7. Microcomputer Database Management Software    8. Microsoft Access    9. Microsoft Visual BASIC    10. Programming - Visual Basic - VBA (Visual Basic for Applicati    11. Basic, Visual Basic & QBasic    12. Database software   

Reviews (30)

Another Outstanding Resource By Ms. Balter
Allison, has done it again! I was impressed with Mastering Access 97. Mastering Access 2002 is even better. I recently completed my first application using ADO. This book was a critical success factor during my endeavor. I have recently upgraded to Access 2003 which is just in time for her newer book, Mastering Access 2003. I purchased Allison Balter's book and another Access 2002 book simultaneously. The information and code samples in Mastering Access 2002 have rendered the other book useless. Great Job! Glad I bought it. I'll be ordering Mastering Access 2003 very soon.

Written in Clear English
After wading through several other tomes covering MS Access in its varous versions, I finally got a hold of this one by Alison Balter - mostly as a result of the recommendations on this page. I have to agree with the others who give it 5 stars. It is the best book on MS Access I've come across in terms of clarity, sticking to the point, and providing examples. What I particularly like are the "Practical Examples" at the end of each chapter, which lay out a skeleton outline of what the reader needs to do to use what Ms Balter has just gone over in that chapter, and the ones preceding it. The CD provides the finished projects. Also, her chapter on relationships was the first time where I light bulb went on, and I felt like I finally got it. This is from someone who needs to read something 5 times, though, before something really starts to sink in.

Thorough but Advanced
It is barely conceivable that a person with no computer experience can use this book to actually learn how to work with Access 2002. It is possible but not likely unless the person who wishes to learn has a high degree of dedication. This is not because the book is poorly written or lacks in examples. On the contrary. It is wonderfully done. The problem is that it contains a LOT of information and it is presented as somewhat above basic understanding. Still, it is thorough and gives good explanations.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books And Software    2. Computers    3. Computers - Data Base Management    4. Database Management - General    5. Database management    6. Desktop Applications - MS Access    7. Microcomputer Database Management Software    8. Microsoft Access    9. Access    10. Computers / Database Management / General   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business Communication - General    3. Business Software - General    4. Business Writing    5. Business report writing    6. Business/Economics    7. Computer programs    8. Computers - Accounting Packages    9. Microcomputer Database Management Software    10. Programming - Software Development    11. Seagate Crystal reports    12. Written Communication In Business    13. Computers / General   

Reviews (66)

Good Reference Book
Warning this book is not for the faint-hearted! More than 1000 pages of pure reference material for the intermediate/advanced Access user.It's a great book but not one that you can read through from the beginning to the end (and it's not written like that). Excellent source material
I've been using this book for over a year, and continually keep going back to it for refreshers, and to look for solutions to new problems.I find this book to be very easy to understand, and my personal Bible for Access '97.

THE Bible
As a God-fearing Christian (sans Bible-thumping), I generally object to the label "bible" being applied to software books that are either excessively comprehensive or simply weigh a lot. But when you are looking for a comprehensive guide for programming Access applications, the Access Developer's Handbooks are the best place to start. This, the third edition of the series for Access 97, continues the fine reputation that the authors have earned for their work.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Data Base Management    2. Computer Books And Software    3. Computers    4. Computers - Data Base Management    5. Database Management - General    6. Database Management - MSAccess    7. Database management    8. Microcomputer Database Management Software    9. Microsoft Access    10. Microsoft Windows (Computer fi    11. Operating systems (Computers)    12. Access   

Reviews (4)

A beginner book....
If you you are just starting out then this book may work for you.With regard to using the text as a reference or just to brush up on your Access then it failed miserably.Because the practice chapters build on each other, you practically have to work through all of the previous chapters to build up the database, thus if you skip chapters and work on your topic of interests, the database failed because of missing data that was supposedly created during the previous chapters, which is pretty much useless as as brush up text.

Horrible - avoid at all costs
This is one of the worst books I have seen on Access.It's missing entire topics and never offers the reader a complete explanation of Access capabilities.Most Microsoft Press books are bad news and this one is no execption.I should have known better.

Intermidiate learners, this is for you...
I found this book to be excellent for the levelI'm in. I bought MS Access 2003 Step-by-Step and this is the level right next to it. Very well written and extremelly well organized, this is definitely a work of reference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers    3. Computers - Data Base Management    4. Database Management - General    5. Database management    6. Desktop Applications - MS Access    7. Microcomputer Database Management Software    8. Microsoft Access    9. Microsoft Access (Computer software)    10. Computers / General   

Reviews (9)

Excellent for Beginners only
I bought this book for a college course.I had very little knowledge of Access and this book was extremely helpful.I often found that computer books start at an intermediate level or so basic that you fall asleep.This book is very well illustrated and takes you step by step, starting with the very basics of Access and slowly building to more complex usage.All the examples are realistic and flow continually from tutorial to tutorial.Each step is illustrated with hints/solutions on possible problems encountered.I liked the fact that a case study is used starting with Tutorial 1 and continues throughout the book so you see a work in progress.You also don't have to create a database from scratch and waste time typing in data.I highly recommend this book for beginners.

Beyond Beginner
I bought this book for a college course to learn Access for work.I had tried to learn the program on my own only to find this book extremely helpful in understanding databases, queries, forms, and reports.I finished the book is about 2 weeks for a 4 month course!Do not buy this book if you want to learn customizing, macros, and VBA.This book is for beginners, but what I have found out (by ordering another book), is that the New Perspective series has to be the best there is at taking you step-by-step as to the process of creating within MS Office Programs.Buy reference books once you acquaint yourself with the programs.This book will take you to a beginner-intermediate status, and a reference book beyond that.

For Begginers only, basic skills
The book is meant to be used in a course, as you read along in the book it constantly references ideas gone over in past chapters. I do not recommend this book for anyone looking to learn Access on their own, moreover anyone who is looking for an advanced book on Access programming & Features. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Operating Systems    2. Computers    3. Computers - General Information    4. Database Management - General    5. Access    6. Computers / Database Management / General   

Editorial Review

Data, data everywhere, nor any thought to think? Sounds like you need some help with your information management! If you're using (or plan to use) Office 2000, you're in luck--Read more

Reviews (18)

Helped me to get going!!!
This book is not meant to be the ultimate reference for access it did exactly for me what i expected. It got me started into the world of Access programming.It was long and did over explain a lot, but that was what i needed at the time. SO for me, it was perfect. The best book on Access
To teach an intermediate course on Access I had to read most of the Access books in the market. By far this is the best one as it takes the reader from the very basics to advanced programming in Visual Basic for Applications. Too bad that Mr. Viescas did not write the Access 2000 version.

The worst book I have ever purchased.....
Let me start by saying that I have bought and read no less than about 50 technical books in my lifetime and I have never written a review good or bad about any of them.With this one I feel like I have to write a review so that no one else makes the same mistake I made.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Database    2. Computers    3. Computers - Data Base Management    4. Database Management - General    5. Database management    6. Desktop Applications - MS Access    7. Microcomputer Database Management Software    8. Microsoft Access    9. Access    10. Computers / General   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General   

Subjects:  1. Business Software - General    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Computers - Integrated Software    5. Database Management - General    6. Spreadsheets - General    7. Computers / Database Management / General   

Reviews (2)

Best Walk-thru I've Used
This was one of the best walk-through book (text and images) that I have used in learning Access.Access is somewhat a more difficult application to learn, but this format was great. Best Walk-thru I've Used
This was one of the best walk-through book (text and images) that I have used in learning Access.Access is somewhat a more difficult application to learn, but this format was great.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Data Base Management    2. Computer Books: Database    3. Computers    4. Computers - Data Base Management    5. Database Management - General    6. Database Management - MSAccess    7. Database management    8. Microcomputer Database Management Software    9. Microsoft Access   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (3)

Good for a beginner, nothing new for experienced users
I wish I had this book when I began programming Access, it would have saved me a lot of frustration.The writing is easy to follow and it contains a wealth of information I had to either learn through trial and error or lots of searching google groups.
Troubleshoot Access 101
Wow what a great idea for a book series!!
Should be the second book you buy after a reference manual...
I consider myself fortunate that I converted my last regularly used database off of Access awhile back.While the software served me well in learning about database systems when I first made the move to PCs, I always found myself fighting with things that should have been easier than they were.Now I find out that it wasn't just me.Phil Mitchell and Evan Callahan have put together a great book titled Fixing Access Annoyances.If you spend any time in Access, this ought to be on your bookshelf.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Database    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Computers - Data Base Management    5. Database Management - Data Warehousing    6. Database Management - General    7. Database management    8. Desktop Applications - MS Access    9. Microcomputer Database Management Software    10. Microsoft Access    11. Microsoft Access (Computer software)    12. Access    13. Access Annoyances, Access, database, DBMS, data entry, reports, report design, SQL, query, queries, macros, VBA    14. Computers / Data Base Management    15. Computers / Database Management / Data Warehousing    16. Computers / Database Management / General