Access 2003 Bible [Paperback]

Cary N. Prague (Author), Michael R. Irwin (Author), Jennifer Reardon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764539868 | ISBN-13: 978-0764539862 | Publication Date: October 3, 2003

• The most comprehensive reference on this popular database management tool, fully updated with the new features of Access "X" including increased use of XML and Web services
• Explores the new, tighter integration with SharePoint and BizTalk in Office "X" that enables greater flexibility for gathering and manipulating data
• Written by an international bestselling author team with several books to their credit, including previous editions of Access Bible
• Gets Access beginners started with hundreds of examples, tips, and techniques for getting the most from Access
• Offers advanced programming information for serious professionals
• CD-ROM includes all templates and worksheets used in the book, as well as sample chapters from all Wiley Office "X" related Bibles and useful third party software, including John Walkenbach's Power Utility Pak

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If Access 2003 can do it, you can do it too...

Databases can be complex. That’s why you need the expert guidance in this comprehensive reference manual to help you harness their power with a solid understanding of database purpose, construction, and application. If this is your first encounter with Access, you’ll appreciate the thorough attention to database fundamentals and terminology. If you’re familiar with earlier versions, you can jump right into Access 2003 enhancements like wider use of XML and Web services.

Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Access 2003

• Create tables, manipulate datasheets, and work with multiple tables
• Understand the seven database objects and design systems objects
• Apply the seven-step design method to build databases tailored to your needs
• Build forms with wizards, create bound and unbound forms, and add data validation
• Learn how to use Visual Basic® and the VBA Editor to automate Access applications
• Use XML to create basic and advanced Data Access Pages
• Automate query parameters, create functions and subroutines, and add programmed error routines
• Exchange data with Word, Excel, PowerPoint®, and other Office applications

Bonus CD-ROM and companion Web site!

• All source code from the book as well as a complete working example
• Exclusive Office 2003 Super Bible eBook, with more than 500 pages of information about how Microsoft Office components work together
• Bonus shareware, freeware, trial, demo, and evaluation programs that work with or enhance Microsoft Office
• Searchable eBook version of Access 2003 Bible
• An easy-to-use interface that allows you to browse and install everything on the CD

About the Author

Cary N. Prague is an internationally best-selling author and lecturer in the database industry. He owns Database Creations, Inc., the world’s largest Microsoft Access add-on company. Their products include a line of financial software; Business! For Microsoft Office, a mid-range accounting system, POSitively Business! Point of Sale software, the Inventory Barcode manager for mobile data collection, and the Check Writer and General Ledger. Database Creations also produces a line of developer tools including the appBuilder, an application generator for Microsoft Access, the EZ Access Developer Tools for building great user interfaces, appWatcher for maintaining code bases among several developers, and Surgical Strike, the only Patch Manager for Microsoft Access.
Cary also owns Database Creations Consulting, LLC., a successful consulting firm specializing in Microsoft Access and SQL Server applications. Local and national clients include many Fortune 100 companies including manufacturers, defense contractors, insurance, health-care, and software industry companies. His client list includes Microsoft, United Technologies, ABB, Smith & Wesson Firearms, Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, ProHealth, OfficeMax, Continental Airlines, and other Fortune 500 companies.

Michael R. Irwin is considered one of the leading authorities on automated database and Internet management systems today. He is a noted worldwide lecturer, a winner of national and international awards, best-selling author, and developer of client/server, Internet, Intranet, and PC-based database management systems.
Michael has extensive database knowledge, gained by working with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. as a developer and analyst for the Information Systems Division for over 20 years and assorted Federal Agencies of the United States Government. Since retiring in June 1992, he runs his own consulting firm, named The Irwin Group, and is principal partner in the company - IT in Asia, LLC, specializing in Internet database integration and emphasizing Client/Server and net solutions. With consulting offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, Bangkok, Thailand, and Manila, Philippines, his companies offer training and development of Internet and database applications. His company has the distinction of being one of the first Microsoft Solution’s Providers (in 1992). His local, national, and international clients include many software companies, manufacturers, government agencies, and international companies.

Jennifer Reardon is considered a leading developer of custom database applications. She has over ten years’ experience developing client/server and PC-based applications. She has accumulated much of her application development experience working as lead developer for Database Creations. She has partnered with Cary Prague developing applications for many Fortune 500 companies.
Her most significant projects include a spare parts inventory control system for Pratt & Whitney’s F22 program, an engineering specifications system for ABBCombustion Engineering, and an emergency event tracking system for the State of Connecticut. She was also the lead developer of many of the Database Creations add-on software products including Business, Yes! I Can Run My Business, Check Writer, and the User Interface Construction Kit.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1464 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (October 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764539868
• ISBN-13: 978-0764539862
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Database Management Systems

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Content but a lot of fluf, December 12, 2004

By 

Michael T. Farinha (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Access 2003 Bible (Paperback)

For the most part this book is very through on teaching you Access, however there is a lot of fluf in some of the instructions it walks you through. For example, everytime it walks you through steps on going to the properties screen of any object it will tell you step by step how to right click, how to scroll down to the properties and then left click on 'properties'. Anyone who needs this level of detail should probably be reading a 'Windows for dummies' book instead.

The actual content of the book has so far been fairly thorough as far as understanding Access. The information regarding database design is more or less satisfactory for getting you started working with access, but for a complete understanding of databases in general it leaves a bit to be desired.

For the Access content of the book I give it a 4/5 but looking at the book as a whole i have to take a whole point away because of the volumes of fluf i have to sift through to get to the meat and potatoes.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Access 2003 Bible Stinks!, March 25, 2005

By 

dfriloux "dea" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Access 2003 Bible (Paperback)

I actually bought this book for a specific database I'm doing and after perusing it in the bookstore, thought it was exactly what I needed. Unfortunately, some of the examples I tried were so bad that, although they worked, if the end-user did one little thing wrong, it would crash. And there was no explanation for what to do if there was a problem. The website was useless. They don't even have the Access 2003 Bible posted so that you can ask questions. The book suggested that they'd have updates and solutions if there were any problems, but I didn't see anything for Access 2003. The message boards seem to have been completed vacated, so that was no help either. Sadly, this book wasn't very much help to me. The CD is worthless to me, as well. The book referenced a database (AccessAutoAuctions.mdb) that I never did find. There was an AccessAutoAuctions, but I couldn't run it because it was looking for a server that I don't have access to. Too bad because part of my problem was supposed to be covered in that database. I feel that I wasted my money on this book.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Left me helpless, March 1, 2005

By 

tech librarian (North Brunswick, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Access 2003 Bible (Paperback)

As a newbie to Access, I found this title to be an utter waste of money. The index is abysmal--so much for the "Bible" concept. Very simply put, when I have a problem, I need to find the answer on Google groups because the book simply has no answers for me. Change a list box to a combo box? Create a multiple field index? Tough luck. The natural response would be to assume that this is a book for more advanced users. Trouble with that assumption is that the title of Chapter 1 is "Understanding Data." Disgusting.