Best Access book

[Peter Lux]

I'm a competant database programmer but new to Access. We've got a (soon to
be) enterprise wide asphalt plant ticketing software that is all custom
coded in SqlWindows, but because of HMI interface, has to be on Access.
What's some of the best APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT books out there? I already
know how to use Access and am pretty new to VBA development (although,
thanks to this forum, getting way better) and already have the data
structure. I don't really need a 'basic' or 'how to use', I need a more
detailed book about VBA, multitable forms and real-time programming.

Any clues?
Thanks!

 

[Michel Walsh]

Hi,


I would suggest "Access XXXX Developers' Handbook", XXXX= version you
use, at Sybex, by Litwin, Getz and al.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ref=sr_1_1/103-7252010-9933462?_encoding=UTF8
It is not for beginner, but you mention you already know the basis.


You can also find "Access Cookbook"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/05...103-7252010-9933462?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
very useful. It is an How-To book, covering some interesting feature that
can find their way in most applications. The book is less hard to read than
the first one I mentioned, but still requires a minimum of knowledge.



Hoping it may help,
Vanderghast, Access MVP

 

[Guest]

There is not a 2003 version, but I have two books in a set that are really
great.
Access 2002 Desktop Developer's Handbook and Access 2002 Enterprise
Developer's Handbook by Paul Litwin, Ken Getz, and Mike Gunderloy, published
by Sybex. There is not enough difference between 2002 and 2003 to make a big
difference. I found mine used at Half Price Books. It comes with a CD each
with some good tools and examples. The Enterprise volume is advanced and not
for the beginner.

 

[Guest]

Interesting you should recommend the same book I did. The sad part is, I
head (but I don't remember where) that there will be no 2003 version

 

[Michel Walsh]

Hi,


It is definitively a reference for developers. Since there is no major
change as far as the development "interface" is concerned, that is not
really a big problem to not have a book where only the title would have
changed For the very few additions not covered in the book, you can
explore MSDN on line.



Vanderghast, Access MVP

 

[Guest]

I made that point in my original post.
This set of books is perfect for me since I have been doing programming and
database design for almost 30 years, but only Access for about 5. As the OP
requested, this is not really a "How To", but provided good detail on the
specifics.

 

[Larry Linson]

Interesting you should recommend the same book
I did. The sad part is, I head (but I don't remember
where) that there will be no 2003 version

I haven't heard anything specific about the book, but there are enough
Access changes already blogged that I would be really surprised if there is
not an Access 2007 edition.

 

[Guest]

I hope you are right. I have yet to find another reference as complete and
clear as this. I know I will get flamed for this, but I consider Microsoft's
Access manuals to be the very worst.

 

[Larry Linson]

I hope you are right. I have yet to find another
reference as complete and clear as this. I know
I will get flamed for this, but I consider Microsoft's
Access manuals to be the very worst.

I have a nice set that came packaged with Access 2.0 and they are very good.
Then again, in Access 2.0, they said that the Help contained everything that
was in the manuals, and that was true (as far as I could see). When I went
on a development job on customer premises, I didn't need to take the manuals
because I could find what I wanted, generally well-written and complete, in
online Help.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Guest]

True, but my complaint with Microsoft's documentation is that each element is
isolated. What I mean is, it fairly well explains a specific topic, but
there doesn't seem to be much in the way of how the various pieces fit
together. Take for example using a combo box to look up a record for your
form. You can find info on how a combo works, what a recordsetclone is, and
how the DLookup works, but I don't find a description or example of how to
accomplish a task using those elements. In other words, it is weak on how to
or why.