Access 2K3 Reference Book Selection 3

[straybullet]

The IS Director has tasked me with training a fellow worker who already has some basic Access training under her belt. There will be a reference book provided for her by the company and I need to make a recommendation.

So far, I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to these:

MS Access 2003 Inside Out - John Viescas
MS Access 2003 Bible - Cary Prague

I'm already familiar with the "Bible" books, having used a number of them myself over the years, but the "Inside Out" book looks like it will serve the purpose well.

Yays and/or Nays either way? Alternate suggestions?

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius

 

[dhookom]

I haven't owned any of Cary's books since his dBase books a dozen years ago. I have several of John's books and they are very good.

Duane MS Access MVP
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[JoeAtWork]

My recommendation would always be Access 2003 Developer's Handbook by Litwin/Getz/Guderloy. There are two volumes, DeskTop and Enterprise. The latter covers all multi-user issues, and using SQL Server backends.

In my opinion these books go beyond what the standard Access programming books teach.

 

[Ed2020]

I'll second JoeAtWork's recommendation. I've used these books since the A97 versions - I haven't found anything that betters them.

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....

 

[straybullet]

Thank you all! Im going to recommend both Access 2003 Developer's Handbook and MS Access 2003 Inside Out.

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius

 

[LARiot]

Are these books recommended for mid to advanced level Access programmers?

Thanks

 

[JoeAtWork]

The Developer's Handbook gets into pretty advanced topics. However, it doesn't assume you are an experienced Access programmer. It is probably a good book for a seasoned programmer who is new to Access.

It might be a little intimidating for someone with no programming experience at all (though not necessarily).

 

[LARiot]

Thanks Joe.

 

[LARiot]

BTW, I couldn't find the Access 2003 Desktop Developer's Handbook.

I don't believe it exists so I purchased the 2002 edition.

 

[Ed2020]

LARiot,

You're right - there isn't one. There were so few changes between 2002 and 2003 the authors decided not to release a new version of the book.

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....

 

[JoeAtWork]

Even if you had the 2000 version, I think you would find few differences.

 

[LARiot]

Yeah, it's a very good book. Thanks again for the recommendation.

 

[MichaelRed]

My experience suggest the older editions of most of the Ms. A / VB reference materials (including the MS "help" files are better than the later. There seems to be a deterioration in the level of coverage with each passing edition / release / update.

I have -and still use- reference material written for Ms. A ver '97 and VB5. Both seem to have coveraqge of topics which are applicable to later versions / releases but no longer included or have that coverage abbreviated.

On hte other hand, other than the cost (both supplies and time involved) the complete reference of most of these is available directly in the MS supplied help files. MOstly, the advantage of the 'references' is -to me at least- is that they can be more easily carried around and at least the better ones supply occassional prototype apps which show how to tie some of the concepts together. Then, the astute observer will note that MS includes several such "applets" in their distribution, including-but certainly NOT limited to -the ubiquitous Northwinds Traders.




MichaelRed