MCSD: Access 95 Study Guide [Hardcover]

Peter Vogel (Author), Helen Feddema (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mcsd Study Guide | Publication Date: May 1998

Microsoft's Access 95 is the most popular user and developer-level database tool in existence. The MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer) test is very nearly as popular as the MCSE networking tests. Geared at identifying Access developers who have achieved a fairly high degree of knowledge about this product, the Certification Exam is a must for consultants and developers seeking to increase their client base and for corporate programmers looking for a raise or a promotion.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 666 pages
• Publisher: Sybex Inc (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782122825
• ISBN-13: 978-0782122824
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,347,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Text - Good, Examples - Mediocre, Testing Engine - Poor, June 16, 1999

By 

Larry Ansley ([e-mail]) (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSD: Access 95 Study Guide (Hardcover)

This book had (has?) the potential to be great. The text content is pretty comprehensive and reasonably easy to comprehend. Its content scope and level of detail is stong. The Notes, Tips, and Warnings are very helpful.

The example code is sorely in need of editorial review. The accompanying Errata on the CD came nowhere near correcting all the mistakes. In one case, I couldn't see how the example code supported its accompanying text at all. I developed the impression the example code was written by students to support the authors with little or no testing.

The review questions were fair, although incorrect in a couple of cases, even in direct contradiction to the chapter text. The actual exam questions involved more detail and complexity not reflected by the authors' questions.

The testing engine on the CD didn't even work as installed due to incompatibility with an existing DLL on my system from Visual Basic 6. Sybex Technical Support was informative, prompt, and courteous in providing a substitute DLL by e-mail. Even then, the engine couldn't correctly compute my scores, and it mirrored the mistakes of the printed questions in the book.

Summation - There are lots of very negative reviews of this book due to its errors. It seems like a lot of bitterness from people, who as technical professionals should know to challenge facts and accept human error. If it got 5-10% of the facts wrong (and it probably did), it still got 90-95% of them right. That is quite an accomplishment for so technical a book. Yes, there are many mistakes, and you have to read with a cynical eye ready to challenge the usually obvious errors. A good editorial revision would make this a "Gem". I passed the 70-069 test yesterday thanks to this book. It explained technical issues much more thoroughly and filled a lot of gaps left by Microsofts' one week instuctor led course (#1200).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely not worth it for any non-expert in Access, December 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: MCSD: Access 95 Study Guide (Hardcover)

My friends, if you are a fairly inexperienced Access user who is trying to use this book to learn Access in any way, please do not look here for enlightenment. Along with a friend of mine, I am trying to learn sufficient information about Acess to pass the MSCD. After reading this book from cover to cover, I feel that this book has all too frequently served more to confuse than to inform. There are many outright errors in this book, and even more vague and out of context examples of code.

For a seasoned programmer, this might work. For myself, I strongly question whether the 80 or so hours that I have put into this book are worth it. Chapters 5, 7, and 8 are particularly dangerous chapters to pursue. You have been warned by somebody who sorely wishes they could recommend any book directed to passing the MSCD exam. Read at your own risk.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No doubt, this book is plagued with errors, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: MCSD: Access 95 Study Guide (Hardcover)

I participate in an MCSD study group out here in the Washington, DC Metro Area and we have been using this book, as well as the first New Riders' Book published. While this book does not contain as many errors as the New Rider's book - it contains so many that my group gave up on trying to prepare an errata sheet to send in to Sybex. Imagine Chapter 6 stating that it will discuss transactions in Chapter 7 and Chapter 7 saying only "see Chapter 6 for more information on transactions". This is not a typo error, or incorrect code - it is blatantly incomplete. If you wish to study for the Access exam, I suggest the following - take the Transcender simulation tests and use other non-test books as your textbooks such as Access Developer's Handbook and Building Applications with Microsoft Access. Better yet if you live in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, join our study group - it is free and you will be in the midst of some strong developers.