Strugging with Access

[Cleis]

Hi Group:

I'm curious to know. How long does it take you to build a medium size application? By that I mean an application that is say 10 to 20 or so forms, one or two modules and a handful of queries? Personally, I've never had any computer training but have learned Access through the years (5) by trial and error. Personally, I find myself for hours reading through indexes of books and trying and trying and trying to solve sometimes simple problems (always coding). As far as working with objects such as forms and reports and queries I would consider myself an expert and would go up against anyone on these. However coding is another story! It's not that I can't figure it out, it just that it takes FOREVER. My biggest stumbling block is DAO and ADO. With this said, it takes me what seems forever to build solid applications! By that I mean, with error handling and complete/solid user interfaces(Forms & Reports). For me, a medium size application takes 80 to 100 hours which is always on my time! I'm an analyst not a programmer so I wind up doing it at home . . . 90% of the time. I would be VERY curious to know what YOUR experiences are both the professional programmers as well as average users!


Thanks

Rich

 

[Francescina]

I do not think that it is possible to answer your question in absolute terms.
A (serious) programmer improves her/his technique with each and every new application so that after a couple of years you reach a level where books are (nearly) obsolete and you can "just" copy and paste your "old" code (or use your class modules).
I would estimate that the development of application no. 250 will take 30% less time than the development of application no. 249 (comparable complexity and size) required. But attention: Your own expectations might increase as well and you are quite likely to "spoil" the 30% advantage in (more or less successful) attempts to improve your own programming style.

 

[LonnieJohnson]

Clies,

I think you're being a little hard on yourself. I have been building in Access for 6 years and have been writing VBA for 3 years. A complete User Interface application with 20 forms, and nice tight VBA code could easily be bid out at over 150 hours.

ljprodev@yahoo.com
ProDev
MS Access Applications

 

[collegejohn]

as lonniejohnson has said i too think you are being a little hard on yourself!! the problem i think is that there is not a source of compiled standard codes, functions etc for commonplace actions in designing in access.i like yourself have struggled through just about every application which i am begining to realise is par for the course.the other problem is that you may be trying to resolve a design requirement that you have already done before and have forgotton how you achieved it!!a little late in the day i know--- i have started catalogueing useful codes and the results obtained forming a kind of reference library, which i find helps me considerably, and saves time. anyway keep plugging kiddo!!

regards
john
Bournemouth England
genesis2000ad@yahoo.co.uk

 

[Guest_imported]

Hi Rich,

I'm a MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer) and have taught ~500 people how to program in Access and VB. I'm also a career software developer. The interesting thing about Access is its appeal to both power users and IT professionals. I've found that power users do great with tables, queries, forms, report and macros but there is a sort of barrier when it comes to the modules. I think Msft recognized this, thus the wizards for creating code behind forms when adding buttons, etc.

Its one thing to create GUI interfaces, its a whole other thing to write good code. Its been my experience that many intelligent people are not good programmers. You have to be detail oriented, patient and a have knack for it. It eludes many people.

There is also the education aspect. Most people go to college for 2-4 years to learn programming. Its exponentially easier to learn with a good teacher/mentor than it is out of a book. A local community college course in fundamental programming concepts might be helpful. There are also the expensive, but official Microsoft Mastering Access Development course at your local training center, but they do assume you've have basic programming training.

Good luck,

Brooks