Access/VBA books

[JustJim]

I have just received my copy of "Learn Access 2003 VBA With The Smart Method " by Mike Smart. I was most interested in his take on naming conventions and "The Rules" and I realised that I hadn't seen any book reviews or recommendations anywhere on "thescripts.com "

Do any other users have any thoughts on the value of the various books available for begining developers. What would you consider reccommending to a complete newbie?

On the other hand, is there concensus on "The Bible" for Access developers (apart from this site, of course)

Jim

[MMcCarthy]

I have just received my copy of "Learn Access 2003 VBA With The Smart Method " by Mike Smart. I was most interested in his take on naming conventions and "The Rules" and I realised that I hadn't seen any book reviews or recommendations anywhere on "thescripts.com "

Do any other users have any thoughts on the value of the various books available for begining developers. What would you consider reccommending to a complete newbie?

On the other hand, is there concensus on "The Bible" for Access developers (apart from this site, of course)

Jim

Hi Jim

I like his "The Rules" section. We could all observe the rules better.

As far as book reviews go, I believe we will be getting something in the next release of changes to this site. That won't be for a little while yet though.

Mary

[JKing]

Hi, I would personally recommend "Alison Balter's Mastering Microsoft Office Access 2003". It's a very comprehensive book and easy to read. It establishes the basics and fundamental concepts before moving onto anything complex. The book comes with a cd and there are lots of examples for each chapter. It's about 1400 pages in length and about $50.00 in price.

[JustJim]

Hi, I would personally recommend "Alison Balter's Mastering Microsoft Office Access 2003". It's a very comprehensive book and easy to read. It establishes the basics and fundamental concepts before moving onto anything complex. The book comes with a cd and there are lots of examples for each chapter. It's about 1400 pages in length and about $50.00 in price.

That sounds interesting. I'll have a look at that as well.

I've not quite finished Mr Smart's book but I have found a few typos and some stuff that is just plain wrong. In one lesson he tells the student to open the "somename Spreadsheet file" when he means the Database file of the same name. This is in a book on databases!

The book also bases a lot of its lessons on letting an Access wizard write some code and then having the student modify that code. I find this a strange approach not least because he is very keen on his "Cradle to the grave" naming conventions and then lets names like Combo21 just slide right on by!

Since I got into programming by necessity (I started with a TRS-80 where if you didn't programme in BASIC, you didn't have any programmes! But that's for another thread) I find these books fascinating for pointing whole chunks of stuff I never knew.

Jim

[JustJim]

JKing, would that be this book ?

Slightly different title but I think it's the same one.

Jim

[JKing]

I think so. Here's a link to it on amazon. It's much cheaper here.
Mastering MS Access 2003

She's written several technical guides to Microsoft Access and a few other things like Database with .Net.

[JustJim]

I think so. Here's a link to it on amazon. It's much cheaper here.
Mastering MS Access 2003

<snip>

Yes, but by the time I convert USD to AUD, get an extra charge on my card for a foreign purchase and pay the shipping, it's much the same.

Thanks for your help.

I'll look forward to the book review forum promised by Mary. I'm sure she is working on it to the exclusion of everything else (isn't that the way you read her post too?)

Jim
(frantically posting 'cos it's my last day here* and I want to be promoted from "Newbie")

*here being where I'm working at the moment, not on tsdn!