Microsoft Access 2002 for Dummies [Paperback]

John Kaufeld (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764508180 | ISBN-13: 978-0764508189 | Publication Date: January 15, 2001 | Edition: 1

The truth is, the database is the computer world's best-kept secret that everyone really knows about. Everyone knows about them because everyone uses them – from the little database you use to keep track of addresses and phone numbers on your computer to huge databases that banks use to house the financial information of millions of people. However, nobody talks about databases because they're so darned complicated to set up and use; quite frankly, nobody but the geeks who design and build them really know how they work!

How does this apply to you? Well, being a normal human being (translation: not a computer geek), you probably have work to do. In fact, you may have lots of work piled up precariously around your office. Someone, possibly your boss (or, if you work at home, your Significant Other), suggested that a database may help you get more organized, eliminate the piles, and generally make the safety inspector happy. Good advice, except for the fact that you, like most other people, don't know thing-one about setting up a database. And you have this program called Access 2002 on your computer that's supposed to do all that for you.

But how do you get started with Access 2002 and have it set up the kind of database you need? Well, you've come to the right place.

Written in plain, understandable English (try to find that in your typical software manual), Access 2002 For Dummies shows you how to make sense of that whole complicated database thing without boring you silly or turning you into a world-class computer geek. Here are just a few of the topics you'll find covered in Access 2002 For Dummies:

• Touring the basic functions of Access 2002
• Designing and building a database – without tearing out what's left of your hair
• Building data relationships, keys, and indexes
• Making your data presentable
• Searching: Find, filter, and sort
• Posing queries and creating calculations
• Running reports and creating charts
• Feeding your data to a Web site
• Top Ten lists on timesaving techniques, surviving database crises, and tips from those computer geeks to make your database life easier

So no matter what you want to use your database for – whether it's to store inventory information, to feed information dynamically to a Web site, or simply to track your business contacts (so you can get rid of that drawer full of business cards) – you can find all the information you need in Access 2002 For Dummies.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Kaufeld got hooked on computers a long time ago. Somewhere along the way, he discovered that he really enjoyed helping people resolve computer problems (a trait that his Computer Science pals generally considered a character flaw, but that everyone else seemed to appreciate). John finally achieved his B.S. degree in Management Information Systems from Ball State University, and he became the first PC Support Technician for what was then Westinghouse outside Cincinnati, Ohio.
Since that time, he's logged nearly a decade of experience working with normal people who, for one reason or another, were stuck with a friendly" personal computer that turned on them. He's also trained more than 1,000 people in many different PC and Macintosh applications. The vast majority of them not only survived the experience, but thrived on it. Today, John is president of Access Systems, a computer consulting firm. He still does trouble-shooting, conducts technical and interpersonal skills seminars for up-and-coming computer gurus, and writes in his free moments.
John's other IDG titles include FoxPro 2.6 For Windows For Dummies, Paradox 5 For Windows For Dummies, Games Online For Dummies, and the best-selling America Online For Dummies, 5th Edition. John lives with his wife, two children, and a tolerable American Eskimo dog in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764508180
• ISBN-13: 978-0764508189
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #892,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Kaufeld makes complex things easy, and helps parents -- especially dads -- learn to connect with their kids through board games.

And he loves every minute of it.

He's a best-selling author, speaker, trainer, consultant, board gamer, dad, and all-around geek. He also believes passionately in the power of board games as a tool for connecting with family and friends, but more about that later.

Back in 1993, he started writing about America Online, Microsoft Access, computer games, tabletop games, and more in the popular "...For Dummies" line of computer books, eventually churning out over 25 books in the line, along with a few random ones for other publishers. Over the years, his titles sold more than 2.8 million books in over 15 languages around the world.

John started writing as a high school stringer for The Republic (Columbus, IN). At about the same time, he expanded into radio as a weekend DJ for WWWY Radio (also in Columbus, IN).

In college, he scrambled for stories as the weekend news anchor for WLBC Radio (Muncie, IN) and the afternoon news editor for WBST Radio (the Ball State University PBS station).

During his first stint in Corporate America, John spent 10 years in various Information Systems and System Development jobs. His second term in Corporate America saw him working in communication, publicity, and marketing for a national trade association, a regional bank, a high-end manufacturing company.

Along the way, John wandered into the social game industry. As a kid, he and his father played many rounds of Hasbro's "Monopoly" (consistently using the wrong rules), and actually finished the game two or three times.

Then he discovered German board games (also known as "Eurogames"), and his gaming world -- and parenting style -- changed forever.

These days, you can often find John in the board game areas at Gen Con and other game conventions. He indulges in "Puerto Rico," "Agricola," "Race for the Galaxy," and just about any train game that wanders past (especially Empire Builder). If you see him, definitely say hi. After all, he never bites. (Well, at least not since the therapy.)

He's current finishing a Master of Arts in Professional Communication at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, and is on the university staff in marketing and social media. He also freelances for several national and regional publications.

You can email him at [e-mail], the email address that launched a few million books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable, June 20, 2003

By 

Sheryl McCallister (SLC, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Access 2002 for Dummies (Paperback)

Every time Microsoft upgrades Access, I upgrade my Dummies reference.

I started out with Access 2.0, never having used a database; Dummies for 2.0 taught me how to work inside the complex world of queries and reports that they used at that job site.

When I changed jobs, I had Access 97 on my desktop, and my job description was to automate all the functions of the facilties and telecomm departments using it. I bought Dummies for 97, and built and deployed the seven interlinked department databases that they're STILL using at my old company to run those departmental functions.

At my new job, once again, I'm automating all the office functions, only this time I'm setting up to capture data off the web, learning data access pages, etc. We have 2002 here.

It doesn't matter how complicated a problem it is, I can always find how to START solving it somewhere in the simple language of Access for Dummies. And since I'm also teaching other people to work from the ground up in Access, Dummies is an invaluable resource for them to sit down and read, in clear, simple language, how this beast is supposed to work.

I'd give this SIX starts if I could!

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Complicated, October 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Microsoft Access 2002 for Dummies (Paperback)

I bought this book because I've always been satisfied with the Dummies series. I consider myself fairly proficient with many of the MICROSOFT program (Word, Excel, Power Point), and I even took an Access class several years ago. With that in mind, I thought I'd have no problem picking up some of the basics of the program with the help of this book. Boy, was I wrong. The book is full "rules" in a list and directions that use vocabulary with which most new users of Access would be unfamiliar. I haven't finished it yet, but thus far, the author doesn't give you any opportunities to practice the information she's giving you. Any teacher knows that without doing something that you've been taught, you haven't really learned it. I remember years ago, even the manuals that came with the computers had exercises for readers to practice each newly taught skill. Here, in a book that's supposed to be teaching us a new and complex program, there are no opportunities to determine whether you've really understood a concept.
Besides this intrinsic flaw, another problem with the book is the author's continual cracking of corny jokes. I know it's supposed to entertain readers, but when you're confused and trying to figure out a concept in the chapter, those attempts at humor are just annoying.

Don't buy this book. I don't have another one to recommend, but I can save you from a useless purchase.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not useful at all, February 6, 2005

By 

R. Torchia (White Plains, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft Access 2002 for Dummies (Paperback)

I normally like the Dummies series of books, but even for a Dummies book, this was just far too elementary. The first 65 pages (4 chapters) are a complete waste, as they are written for people who have never used a computer before. As a whole, this book only teaches you about 5-10% of what Access can do - both overall and on each of the very few topics that it does touch upon. There are constant annoying references to how "nerdy" any relevant information is. Instead of explaining this "nerdy" info in an easy to understand matter (which I thought was the point of a Dummies book), the author just mentions that it exists, makes a bad joke about it, and then ignores it and moves on.

The truth is, if you're going to learn about databases (which is what Access is all about), then you'd better be ready to get a little "nerdy". Just like if you're going to learn about fixing cars, you'd better show up wearing jeans and expect to get dirty, otherwise, what's the point?! The author spends 7 out of 10 words making very bad jokes and showing the user how to do mundane things like how to use the file menu and how to save your project than offering anything useful. Even if you are a brand new Access user, this book would be useless for you. The only reason anyone would give this book a good review is if they just don't know anything about Access or how to use windows or any computer. I'm still searching for a useful beginner-to-intermediate manual for Access 2002.