Customer Reviews

Accessible Access 2000

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You want to use MS Access 2000 to build a database, that much you know, but where to start and what to learn, you don't know !

The two authors will answer that question by their selection of features to learn to give the reader a solid working knowledge of Access, and by acting as a filter they enable the reader to focus 100 % on learning. They don't base their selection on what is easy to learn, but which of Access' intimidating abundance of features and possibilities you need to know.

The book is divided into 3 parts, the first part covers how to make use of Wizards and automation in developing the 4 basic objects of every database: Tables, Queries, Forms and Reports. Part 2 expands on these topics and will teach you how to design the objects without the wizards, and part 3 covers the more complex parts in a database design and how to make all the objects work together.

To accompany this book I strongly recommend "Inside Relational Databases" (ISBN 354076092X) to learn about database design and theory, and "Running Microsoft Access 2000" (ISBN 1572319348) to learn more about the software, its features and how and when to make use of them.

With this book, compared to other computer books, you do not end up with a book that tries to be everything for everyone but is nothing for no one, but a book that's perfect for the Beginning/Intermediate user that wants to build a solid framework before moving on to the more advanced parts of Access databases and the 1000+ page reference books.

I bought three books to try to learn Access and it was just like The Three Bears. Using Access 2000 (Que) was too big--a complete reference that will allow me to master Access in about 3 years. Quick Course in Access 2000 (Microsoft) was too little--really just an overview. But this book was just right. It has a CD with one or more files for each chapter to work on. Part I is the introduction and then Part II is the overview section with chapters on the database window, tables, queries, forms and reports, primarily using wizards. Part III goes into each of those topics in more depth. Part IV covers more complex databases. I found it easy to go from the overview chapters in Part II to the detail chapters in Part III and then skip to the more advanced topics in Part IV when I needed to. This is the book to teach yourself from. Then you can go to the Papa Bear books.

I just happened to see this book on the shelf and it was quite smaller than the other access 2000 "telephone books" beside it. This book is written by one of the original program archectects of Microsoft Access was it was first invented.

A WONDERFUL read, IDG should have bought out the contract and had this book as their Access for Dummies. Eventhough IDGs version is good, this is shoulders above the rest.

The authors share with you how to master and UNDERSTAND the basic features so you can get going with the program. They even state in the book that they only cover the 20% of all the features and want to make sure you understand the 20% first BEFORE grabbing the "phonebooks". Like they said, if you don't know the basics inside and out, the rest will be a waste of your time. Wonderful, personable read. bravo

Highly recommend: simple enough for novice database users to understand without insulting our intelligence. Examples have strong relevance to real-life situations. "Database-speak" is gently integrated by this author whose mastery of the English language is exceptional. I found myself chuckling at his dry humor, which I could almost hear articulated with a British accent.
Already ordered Inside Relational Databases by same authors.

Are you busy? If you time is limited and you only want to buy one book to go through entry level with Access, this is the one. How about going from nothing to putting together multi-table databases with average queries within a week. It took two days to digest the book and three days of practice. (I'm not a programmer either. I had Fortran and Basic 20 years ago, and have seldom used them.) The style is easy to read. The author's present only those pieces of information you need at entry level; shielding you from the mind numbing detail in the Access "bibles". The only derogatory comment would be that their example problems seem lacking, but that seemed a minor point compared to the clarity of the explanations.

After I started reading the humongous "Special Edition: Using Access 2000" Book by Que, I had to look for another book. That book was hard to follow and understand. After reading the good reviews for this book, "Accessible Access 2000", I decided to check it out. I am on Chapter 8 now, and so far, the book is very easy to follow and understand. If you have to buy one Access book, I highly recommend this one! You won't be disappointed!

This book will give you a superb start in Access, including versions later than 2000 (with the exception of web pages, covered in their new edition which is to be published shortly). It is thoughtfully written, with a pleasant and relaxed tone which eases the way greatly, plus a gentle wit which surfaces every now and again.

The organization of this book, while unusual, turned out to be an approach which really grew on me: it's organized into three parts, EACH part covering tables, forms, queries, and reports, but each successive part covering them all at more depth. It would be the equivalent, let's say, of taking a three-semester course in Beginning Access, each semester giving you a well-rounded overview of Access as a whole, but building your skills progessively. (Another advantage of this approach, I suppose, although it didn't apply in my case, would be that if you are other than a rank beginner to Access, you could hop in at either the second or third part if they better suited.)

I also found the balance of theory and practical application just about right. Personally, I don't like going through step-by-step tutorials (and infact, didn't bother here) but I found the accompanying screen shots useful never the less (and, again, I used this book to learn the 2003 version).

In short, recommended without reservation. I now have two virtually completed databases which are functioning as I had hoped. My only wish is that Messrs. Whitehorn and Marklyn had published a follow-up book to take me from here into the far more advanced features such as automation with VBA, as I felt in good hands indeed with this book.

this book is useless...I bought it along with two other Access books and immediately sent it back and of course A-.com ripped me off by refunding only 50% of the price...pathetic!