Increasing Access Knowledge

[Mark Lees]

How does one increase their Access skills?

I'm creating a basic DB for a non-profit organization. I would
classify myself as an advanced beginner.

I've got some help books but it seems they will only take me so far.
Some of the threads I've read here are way over my head.

How do I become better?

[paii]

Re: Increasing Access Knowledge

Read some books and take classes on Programming and Database design.

"Mark Lees" <mark_lees@byu. edu> wrote in message
news:c4f3d99f.0 310151116.42966 441@posting.goo gle.com...[color=blue]
> How does one increase their Access skills?
>
> I'm creating a basic DB for a non-profit organization. I would
> classify myself as an advanced beginner.
>
> I've got some help books but it seems they will only take me so far.
> Some of the threads I've read here are way over my head.
>
> How do I become better?[/color]

[Fletcher Arnold]

Re: Increasing Access Knowledge

"Mark Lees" <mark_lees@byu. edu> wrote in message
news:c4f3d99f.0 310151116.42966 441@posting.goo gle.com...[color=blue]
> How does one increase their Access skills?
>
> I'm creating a basic DB for a non-profit organization. I would
> classify myself as an advanced beginner.
>
> I've got some help books but it seems they will only take me so far.
> Some of the threads I've read here are way over my head.
>
> How do I become better?[/color]

Provided you have the fundamental concepts for designing relational
databases well and truly in place then there is no reason not to simply get
on and start building. When you come to something you can't do, search the
groups for answers and if you still get stuck, ask here. I'm sure most
people here actually developed their skills by designing real databases for
the real world.
Books and classes take you so far but nothing beats the experience of
building databases that people actually use.

My tuppence worth

Fletcher

[Larry Linson]

Re: Increasing Access Knowledge

"Mark Lees" wrote
[color=blue]
> How does one increase their Access skills?[/color]

Self-study, classes, training available on the Internet, reading databases
and examples done by others -- there are many.
[color=blue]
> I'm creating a basic DB for a non-profit
> organization. I would classify myself
> as an advanced beginner.[/color]

Before you can develop an "appliciati on" with Access, you need to be
proficient in using Access as an end-user. You'll find that much of what you
do in creating an application for someone else to use is simply automating
(with macros or VBA code) things that a power-end-user might to manually.
[color=blue]
> I've got some help books but it seems
> they will only take me so far. Some of
> the threads I've read here are way over
> my head.[/color]

A general book that goes deeper than some introductory books that I've liked
in past versions is Roger Jennings' _Special Edition Using Access
<versionnumber> _; in the same series, you may find a book on Using Access
VBA -- I know there is one planned for Access 2003 VBA.

For the power-user wanting to move to developer level, I like Rick Dobson's
_Programming Microsoft Access <versionnumber> _, published by Microsoft
Press.

For a specific, detailed reference for the developer, take a look at Litwin,
Getz, et al's _Access <versionnumbe r> Developer's Handbook_.
[color=blue]
> How do I become better?[/color]

Study the Northwind Traders example DB that comes with every version of
Access -- you'll find it in the Samples folder, in the Office<number>
folder, in the folder hierarchy where you installed Office. For Access 97
and earlier, in that same Samples folder, you'll find Solutions.MDB, which
leads you through solutions to specific application problems. For Access
2000 and later, you will need to down load the Solutions.MDB from
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en...ml/bap2000.exe.

You'll find a lot of good information at The Access Pages at Office Online:

http://office.microsoft.com/home/office.aspx?assetid=FX01085791&CTT=6&Origin=ES790020011033

Access Training at Office Online:
Introduction to Databases:

http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC061181381033&CTT=98

Table that data:

http://office.microsoft.com/training/Training.aspx?AssetID=RP061185171033&CTT=6&Origin=RC061181381033

Analyzing, viewing, and reporting data

http://office.microsoft.com/training/Training.aspx?AssetID=RP061208761033&CTT=6&Origin=RC061181381033

You'll find a wealth of information and links at http://www.mvps.org/access,
the FAQ site for this newsgroup.

You'll find other links to resource sites from my user group site:
http://ntaccess.tripod.com. You'll find copies of some of my presentations,
and presentations of others, at
http://appdevissues.tripod.com/downloads.htm. You'll find some examples that
I've posted at http://accdevel.tripod.com.

You'll find answers to many specific and not-so-specific Access questions in
the searchable Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com and in the
Microsoft Developer Network site, http://msdn.microsoft.com/access.

Well, that's a start that if you read it all, will keep you reading until
you retire, I suspect.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

[Shuffs]

Re: Increasing Access Knowledge

Fletcher sums this up quite rightly.

Two and a half years ago I thought using macros to to do everything
was the bee's knee's! Now I never use them, as VBA code gives you so
much more power and flexibilty. A great deal of what I've learnt has
come from this NG and/or the associated links/advice from here.
Building applications for real-world problems gives you so much scope
to learn more - you come up against opportunities (often disguised as
problems!) and if your reading material can't give the answers, this
NG covers a really broad range of subjects under the one umbrella of
'Access'.

You'll be surprised how quickly you learn, and looking back you'll
remember how hard things seemed then but how much you know.

Cheers,

Phil


mark_lees@byu.e du (Mark Lees) wrote in message news:<c4f3d99f. 0310151116.4296 6441@posting.go ogle.com>...[color=blue]
> How does one increase their Access skills?
>
> I'm creating a basic DB for a non-profit organization. I would
> classify myself as an advanced beginner.
>
> I've got some help books but it seems they will only take me so far.
> Some of the threads I've read here are way over my head.
>
> How do I become better?[/color]

[Mark Lees]

Re: Increasing Access Knowledge

I really appreciate everyone's help! It is a blessing to have these
types of resources available. I hoppe one day I will be able to help
someone with something I've learned.

[jdph40@yahoo.com]

Re: Increasing Access Knowledge

mark_lees@byu.e du (Mark Lees) wrote in message news:<c4f3d99f. 0310151116.4296 6441@posting.go ogle.com>...[color=blue]
> How does one increase their Access skills?
>
> I'm creating a basic DB for a non-profit organization. I would
> classify myself as an advanced beginner.
>
> I've got some help books but it seems they will only take me so far.
> Some of the threads I've read here are way over my head.
>
> How do I become better?[/color]

I am basically self-taught; I took 2 or 3 classes, bought books...What
has helped me the most is with trial-and-error (much error, as a
matter of fact!) developing databases that are used by others within
my company. This newsgroup has been a TREMENDOUS help. I have
literally spent hours searching for answers. I have posted several
questions, sometimes thinking "these guys are going to think I'm
stupid", but how else would I learn if I don't ask questions? And
while like with you, some threads have been over my head, I keep
searching until I find what I need. And I usually find it. I have
tons to learn and I thank goodness for this newsgroup's help.

JD

[Uttam]

Re: Increasing Access Knowledge

Hello,

As someone who started serious Access Programming just 3 months ago
(in fact Database Programming) after over 12 year of Flat File
Programming (which ended in 1992, btw), I invested in three books.

One was Allison Balter's, the second (set of two books) the Access
Developer's handbook and the third was the VBA Handbook.

Together, these books and this use group provide me with all the info
that I have needed. My application is coming on reasonably fast and
nicely except for 1 or 2 glitches for which I have found workarounds
in this group and elsewhere.

Like someone earlier said.. Just jump into the pool and start flapping
your arms.. you will find you can float and slowly start swimming too.

Best of luck and Welcome to the world of Access.

Cheers!

Uttam

=============== ==

jdph40@yahoo.co m (jdph40@yahoo.c om) wrote in message news:<7580afc1. 0310161026.7121 fec5@posting.go ogle.com>...[color=blue]
> mark_lees@byu.e du (Mark Lees) wrote in message news:<c4f3d99f. 0310151116.4296 6441@posting.go ogle.com>...[color=green]
> > How does one increase their Access skills?
> >
> > I'm creating a basic DB for a non-profit organization. I would
> > classify myself as an advanced beginner.
> >
> > I've got some help books but it seems they will only take me so far.
> > Some of the threads I've read here are way over my head.
> >
> > How do I become better?[/color]
>
> I am basically self-taught; I took 2 or 3 classes, bought books...What
> has helped me the most is with trial-and-error (much error, as a
> matter of fact!) developing databases that are used by others within
> my company. This newsgroup has been a TREMENDOUS help. I have
> literally spent hours searching for answers. I have posted several
> questions, sometimes thinking "these guys are going to think I'm
> stupid", but how else would I learn if I don't ask questions? And
> while like with you, some threads have been over my head, I keep
> searching until I find what I need. And I usually find it. I have
> tons to learn and I thank goodness for this newsgroup's help.
>
> JD[/color]