Customer Reviews

Corel Paradox 8 for Windows 95: Computer Training Series

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(4)

 

 

I think that the biggest problem with this book is its title: the title is somewhat all-encompassing, while the book itself is very basic. I, too, like my fellow-reviewer in Ohio, tried in vain to find Paradox 8 books in the conventional bookstores. If Paradox is what you have, and your knowledge of database management is limited, this will get you going. If you need/want/require information on using Paradox beyond the absolute bare fundamentals, this is not the book for you. (In fact, I wonder if there is one at all.) This is pretty much the book I needed for my purposes (yes, more practice exercises, and more-complicated practice exercises would be nice), and this has been a very helpful purchase for me!

Corel Paradox 8 for Windows by Rick Sullivan (Copyright 1999) is likely based on a similar computer training manual for Microsoft's Access for Windows product. On page 16 the author states "Access displays the name.." when I am certain he should have said "Paradox displays the name.." The work was probably prepared grudgingly owing to market demand. Instead of saying "One of the most powerful features of Paradox.." he says on page 110 "One of the most powerful features in a database program like Paradox..". The book ignores concepts like aliases, event and data models, referential integrity, and OPAL which are important for Paradox but not for Access. I suppose the work may have value in hands on training because it comes with exercises and a disk. However, a more inspiring presentation is necessary.

I tried this book because it was the only one I could find on Paradox 8. The demographic that this book would help are those who have never used Windows 9x before. One entire chapter is devoted to intructions on printing (File, Print), and another chapter walks you through the Start menu to open up Paradox. Very basic material.

If you do not know how to start yur computer, if you do not know how to start an application - any application, if you cannot even get through the tutorials that come with Paradox - perhaps this is for you. This book is basic - very basic. So basic that it makes the tutorials seem advanced. As has been commented by other reviewers, there is real need for Paradox books that go beyond the beginners tutorials - this is not one of them. I would have given this zero stars, but one star is the default. I have purchased thousands of pages of computer books in recent years. This was the worst I have come across. I write my first review out of horror that someone presented this book as useful. "It aint"

My search for any books about Paradox 8 at big name bookstores and computer stores was unsuccessful. It is a sad state of affairs for Corel. The fact that Mr Sullivan's book's sales rank is 2200 something compared to Access 97 Bible's rank of 257 portends a sad future for this software suite. And, a sad future is what this sad software suite deserves. Trying to work with Paradox is an exercise in futility. Regrettably, Mr. Sullivan's noble and courageous attempt to tackle this topic is itself an exercise in futility. He is not to be faulted, though, considering what he had to work with. He deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor for a valiant fight.