Customer Reviews

Access 2007: The Missing Manual

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book teaches you how to design and maintain databases, search them for information, and build attractive forms using the new version of Access. There's also material on Access programming for automating common tasks. Access 2007 is quite a bit different from previous versions, and has a brand new interface. Once you master Access's new style, you'll be able to build databases rather quickly. The problem is that with Office 2007, you get no printed user guide at all. To learn about the thousands of features included in the software, Microsoft expects you to read the online help. The Microsoft help screens are helpful if you're looking for a quick description of something. If you're seeking information more on the art than science of Access, such as chart creation, you'll find nothing of real use there. This book excels at teaching aspects of Access that involve more wisdom than dictionary definition. This book is divided into seven parts, each containing several chapters:

Part One: Storing Information in Tables. In this part, you'll build your first database and learn how to add and edit tables that store information. Then you'll pick up the skills you need to stop mistakes before they happen, browse around your database, and link tables together.
Chapter 1. Creating Your First Database
Chapter 2. Building Smarter Tables
Chapter 3. Mastering the Datasheet: Sorting, Searching, Filtering, and More
Chapter 4. Blocking Bad Data
Chapter 5. Linking Tables with Relationships

Part Two: Manipulating Data with Queries. In this part, you'll build queries, apply changes, and summarize vast amounts of information.
Chapter 6: Queries That Select Records
Chapter 7: Essential Query Tricks
Chapter 8: Queries That Update Records
Chapter 9: Analyzing Data with Crosstab Queries and Pivot Tables

Part Three: Printing Reports. This part shows you how to use reports to take the raw data in your tables and format it into attractive printouts, complete with fancy formatting and subtotals.
Chapter 10: Creating Reports
Chapter 11: Designing Advanced Reports

Part Four: Building a User Interface with Forms. In this part, you'll build forms, which are customized windows that make data entry easy, even for those new to Access.
Chapter 12: Creating Simple Forms
Chapter 13: Designing Advanced Forms
Chapter 14: Building a Navigation System

Part Five: Programming Access. Shows how to use macros and Visual Basic programming to automate complex tasks and solve common challenges.
Chapter 15: Automating Tasks with Macros
Chapter 16: Automating Tasks with Visual Basic
Chapter 17: Writing Smarter Code

Part Six: Sharing Access with the Rest of the World. In this part, you'll learn how exchange data between Access and files such as text documents and Excel spreadsheets. You'll also see how to use Access to interact with some of Microsoft's server software such as SQL Server and SharePoint Server.
Chapter 18: Sharing a Database with Multiple Users
Chapter 19: Importing and Exporting Data
Chapter 20: Connecting Access to SQL Server
Chapter 21: Connecting Access to SharePoint

Part Seven: Appendix. This book wraps up with an appendix that shows how to customize the Quick Access toolbar to get easy access to your favorite commands.

I found this manual to be head and shoulders above all of the cheap "shovelware" books on such subjects that often have all the information you need, but are disorganized. I haven't seen any of the new versions of the "Que" books that always come out on Access, but I haven't been that satisfied with them in the past. I recommend this book for anybody planning on using Access 2007.

I have a number of years of programming and system experience, but had not been exposed to Access. I decided to rewrite my business systems using Access to convert them from the Paradox system that I had used for years. Using this book and Microsoft Office Access(TM) 2007 Inside Out (Microsoft Office Access Inside Out), I have already rewritten more than half of my systems in a couple of weeks, working on them for a couple of hours each evening. Granted, I am still not an expert, but I have been able to write Virtual Basic macros, designed and completed a number of tables for my data base, forms using multiple subforms, selection boxes, and functional buttons, and a number of professional looking reports. The use of these two books has greatly shortened my learning curve and helped me to be productive in much less time than it would have taken without them.

I'm not a complete newbie to Access or to database design, but I would still qualify as a beginner. This manual spent too much time on things I already know how to do (like set up a table with basic relationships) and not enough on the things I have not quite figured out (like how to create subforms that pop up at helpful intervals).

I bought this Missing Manual after having a really good experience with the Missing Manual to Dreamweaver CS3, but while the Dreamweaver book had helpful step-by-step tutorials to cover concepts that would apply to a wide range of websites, this book seemed to only cover the specific case of building a customer/sales database.

This book helped me tremendously. I had NO EXPERIENCE with access, and was put into the position of creating a database at work. I went through the training videos offered through work, and they were no help. I borrowed Access For Dummies, and that was marginally helpful, but with the MM I was able to design the database from scratch. I plan on ordering more from this series.

Title: Access 2007: The Missing Manual
By: Matthew McDonald
First Edition: December 2006
Series: The Missing Manuals
ISBN 10: 0-596-52760-8
ISBN 13: 9780596527600
Pages: 751

This book is light reading. The style is light and easy to enjoy. The author is definitely a wordsmith and has total control over the tone of the book. Some of the chapters start with non issues to people interested in Access, but this seems to be his writing style: a neutral or buffered start so you do not bolt before you get into that chapter.

This book is heavy reading. After a few paragraphs of light introduction, each sentence is packed with actions to take, issues to ponder, tables to study, and much more. The actions to take could not be done in one night. Look forward to a week, at least.

Annoying things for me:
1. His use of 's.
Code's means "code is" and not "code's use" in the sentence [not the possessive but the contraction].

This happens all the way through the book, so heads up.

2. His use of double negatives.
I found it harder to concentrate on the meaning when there was no evidence that it was not found [see what I mean?]. "no reason you can't get a little fancier" [page 531]. Why not just say:
You could get a little fancier?
You could get a little fancier within reason?

This happens all the way through the book, so heads up.

I liked the following chapters quite a bit:
Chapter 4 blocking bad data
Chapter 15 automating tasks with macros
Chapter 16 automating tasks with visual basic
Chapter 17 writing smarter code

Part Six was the best
Chapter 18 sharing a database with multiple users
Chapter 19 importing and exporting data
Chapter 20 connecting access to sql server
Chapter 21 connecting access to SharePoint
These last two chapters were the very best in the book, depending on whether you were more interested in the sql server database or the collaborative issues surrounding SharePoint.

On page 640, one of the top reasons to switch to Sql Server: Real security

So does Access have Unreal Security? Not enough of a fine grained model? That is real reassuring...

OK, so I did read it, scrutinize it, check the fine points. When I mention that it is worth 5 stars and every penny you might have to spend to get it, that takes everything into account. The book asks questions like: Can you trust Microsoft? [Page 641], so some balanced point of view is being used by the author. Well done.

I really like Access 2007 and find it to be a quantum leap forward. Try it, you'll like it.

Frederick J Eccher Jr
MBA
M.S. Management of Information Systems
A.B. Psychology
B.A. Biology
CIO, Community Partners
President, Board of Directors, Saint Louis Visual Basic Users Group
[...]

After reading this book cover to cover, I was able to put together my first database and understand alot more of Access. I have had a difficult time grasping this software and have read 3 other books before this one. The Missing Manual was filled with great information and was easy to read.

This is one of the best technical manuals I have read. Everything is easy to find and easy to understand. I have several manuals where you spend hours trying to find the answer to a question only to be frustrated in either not finding the answer or the answer being so vague that it makes no sense. This book does not do that; answers are both understandable AND quick to find. I highly recommend this book.

Access 2007: The Missing Manual

'Access 2007: The Missing Manual' by Matthew MacDonald is another gem in the line of Missing Manual books. Filled with 700+ pages of material, if you are new to Access or even a seasoned pro, there is a little bit of something for everybody in this book. A fantastic layout, wonderful content, and one of the most user-friendly books out there, if you use Access for any length of time and want to become a better user or are a new user and want to discover how to use Access, this is the ONLY book for you.

An absolute marvel which richly deserves the title 'Missing Manual' as this keeps up with the past quality works expected from this line.

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is a great book, much better than almost all of the other reference books out there. I like the relaxed yet concise and accurate Missing Manual approach though in places it may not be as "funny" as the author's had hoped. That aside, this is a super guide for all of us self taught Access lovers.

This book is perfect for the novice. It guides you to the key components for MS Access without all the "techie" language. It also points out informative tips and clues to improve your database. This is specific for 2007, which really does make a difference since the security features have changed dramatically. There is a website for the examples. It is easy to download. The book states you have access to the online version or a CD of the book. This is misleading. There is one available but it requires you to sign up for it.