Access 2002 Developers Handbook -buy now or wait

[Karen]

Hi all,
I'm set to invest in Access 2002 Developers Handbook but am teetering
on the fence. I use Access 2003 now and am wondering if I purchase
Access 2002 Dev... am I hurrying thing along or should I wait to see if
a 2003 version comes out soon?

Or is the 2002 version going to be useful anyway and I should go ahead
and buy it?

Any opinions?

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Buy the 2002 version.

I believe Ken and the rest of the authors said there would not be an Access
2003 version, since there were not significant enough differences. Since
Access 2007 is now out in the second Beta edition (and, as far as I know, is
targetted for release in January, 2007), it's virtually guaranteed they
won't be writing it now.

 

[Larry Daugherty]

You might get in touch with Sybex to learn if Getz et al have a book
in the works. You could also try tracking down Ken Getz I think
he's at MCWTech. I believe Litwin is at SmartAccess.

If you don't have some edition of the "Access [Version] Developer's
Handbook" go for the latest edition you can get. If you use it al
you'll get your money's worth. As several Access MVPs state: I get
back the value of the book each time I open it.

HTH

 

[Larry Linson]

Or is the 2002 version going to be useful
anyway and I should go ahead and buy it?

Paul Litwin told me about three years ago that there was not going to be a
2003 edition. IMNSHO, that's OK because the changes between 2002 and 2003
were mostly Office-wide and the 2002 edition applies to 2003. If you will be
using 2003 in the future, even if you think you'll be an early adopter of
Access 2007, I recommend getting the 2002 Developer Handbook.

I've got a copy of every edition, and you'll only get any of them from me
(as the gun advocates say) by prying them from my cold, dead fingers.

I haven't talked to any of the authors, but I'd be very surprised if there
is not a new edition for 2007, as there clearly are going to be many changes
in Access, which will make a good market for an in-depth book covering the
new version.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Karen]

Thank you for the insight. I placed my order today!
I hope to use this along with my 'Mastering MS Access 2002
Developement' to grow stronger in my programming.

Karen

 

[Larry Linson]

Thank you for the insight. I placed my order today!
I hope to use this along with my 'Mastering MS Access 2002
Developement' to grow stronger in my programming.

And, don't leave us 'newsgroupies' in the lurch. I think I learned more
about Access, back when the USNET newsgroup comp.databases.ms-access was
still just a newborn (and Microsoft's support was for forums on CServe), by
asking and (especially) answering questions in comp.databases.ms-access,
than I learned in all the books I read.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP