Learn Access Programming Book - Website Recomendations?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

John D - 29 Jan 2007 20:24 GMT

I have a good understanding of relational database design, I can use the
"non-programming" design tools of Access 2003 pretty well, but I'm stumbling
around trying to figure out how to put code into various events - and being
very confused because I don't know "the basics" (so to speak).

I signed up for a VBA for Access course at our local community college, but
they cancelled for lack of students (I live pretty far out in the sticks).

Can you recommend a good hands-on VBA learning book for someone in my
position - pretty good "power user" with good database theory understanding,
but no programming experience? (I generally like the "... for Dummies"
series, but I couldn't quite figure if any of the Visual Basic for Dummies
books was what I need for Access.)

And, recommendations of good web-based learning of VBA for Access?

Thanks so much.

John D

Reply to this Message

John D - 29 Jan 2007 20:33 GMT

Oh - and I'm hoping for a, say, 150 page book - not the 900 page boat anchor
I have on my desk that I'm sure is a very good book, but oh man!!!

Reply to this Message

Daniel - 29 Jan 2007 20:35 GMT

There are tons of good websites, depends what you want to learn exactly

http://www.functionx.com/access/index.htm
http://www.mvps.org/access/

Several MVPS have website with tons of examples which are great too learn
from experience.

As for books,

Access 97 Developer's Handbook (they have newer versions out - is one of my
favorites)

Daniel

> I have a good understanding of relational database design, I can use the
> "non-programming" design tools of Access 2003 pretty well, but I'm stumbling
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> John D

Reply to this Message

Fred Boer - 29 Jan 2007 20:38 GMT

Dear John D:

John Viescas has a list here:

http://www.viescas.com/Info/books.htm

Mr. Viescas is a well respected writer and anything from him is good. (I'd
love to get my hands on his latest book "Building Microsoft Access
Applications", which I haven't seen, but looks great - with 4 complete
applications to learn from... perhaps on my next birthday - though I don't
think my family will want me to have any more Access stuff...).

Jeff Conrad has a loooong list here:

http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie/resources.html#Books

The Access Developers Handbook is essential for serious Access developers,
but, imho, it is a bit intimidating if you are just starting out with VBA as
it isn't really designed for beginners. I found "Beginning Access 2000 VBA"
by Sussman and Smith quite helpful, personally.

Best bet is to get to a good bookstore and browse to see what looks good to
you!

Have fun! Learning VBA is a blast! And keep coming back here for answers as
you learn!

Cheers!
Fred Boer

>I have a good understanding of relational database design, I can use the
> "non-programming" design tools of Access 2003 pretty well, but I'm
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> John D

Reply to this Message

Jesper - 29 Jan 2007 23:34 GMT

> The Access Developers Handbook is essential for serious Access developers,
> but, imho, it is a bit intimidating if you are just starting out with VBA
> as it isn't really designed for beginners. I found "Beginning Access 2000
> VBA" by Sussman and Smith quite helpful, personally.

I second this. I started out with "Beginning Access 2002 VBA" and was very
pleased with it. It really got me going. Now I keep the Developer Handbooks
lying around, but I only use them as reference. I more or less went through
the first one and did the examples.

/ Jesper

Reply to this Message