Programming Microsoft® Office Access 2003 (Core Reference) (Pro-Developer) [Paperback]

Rick Dobson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pro-Developer | Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Whether you’re extending an existing database or developing a complex custom solution, get the code and instruction you need to exploit the power and performance of Access 2003. The newest edition of this acclaimed reference packs even more real-world examples and best practices for writing, testing, and debugging extensible database applications. Access expert Rick Dobson shows you the most productive ways to work with the enhancements in Access 2003, including new security features, built-in XML capabilities, and interoperability with Microsoft SQL Server. You also get rich, adaptable code samples to extend the power and reach of your database solutions.

Discover how to:

• Employ ADO to access enterprise data sources, such as files on a Web server
• Design and manage tables and queries using the ADOX object library and Jet SQL * Create data forms and reports programmatically—and extend them to Microsoft SQL Server 2000
• Present data interactively with PivotTable and PivotChart dynamic views
• Program Microsoft Office objects to search for files and manipulate menus and toolbars
• Customize solutions by integrating Access with other Microsoft Office programs
• Learn techniques to help lock up proprietary code
• Explore the new Access Jet SandBox and macro security features
• Use Access to build and help safeguard SQL Server solutions
• Extend your solutions to the Web using data access pages, Office Web Components, Microsoft Office FrontPage, and XML

Product Details

• Paperback: 896 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735619425
• ISBN-13: 978-0735619425
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #698,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am an author/trainer/webmaster. My area of specialization is database development. Among the programming topics that I like to prepare content about are SQL Server, T-SQL, Access, VBA, Visual Basic .NET, ADO.NET, and ASP.NET. I especially like working on the intersection of two or three of these topics at once.

I have been working with personal computers since the early 1980's. In the late 1980's, I started a part-time computer consulting practice, and I devoted myself to the practice on a full-time basis starting in 1991. I initially started consulting with 1-2-3 and Symphony before migrating to Microsoft Access as my main consulting tool. Microsoft selected me as a Microsoft Access hero to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Microsoft Access (http://www.microsoft.com/Office/previous/access/10years/dobson.asp).

Starting around 1999, I added coverage of Microsoft SQL Server. In fact, I spent a lot of time focusing on advanced ways of using Access and SQL Server together, and I authored a book on these topics. In early 2002, I added coverage of Visual Basic .NET, ADO.NET, and ASP.NET. I eventually authored two books and two DVDs on these topics. Most recently, I focused on SQL Server 2005 Express, Visual Basic Express, and Visual Web Developer Express. My most recent book describes how to build database applications with these three tools.

In addition to authoring books, I regularly write for computer periodicals. In the past several years, my articles appeared in such publications as SQL Server Magazine, Smart Access, Visual Studio Developer, SQL Server Professional, and SQL Server Solutions. My favorite approach in books and articles is to explain and demonstrate new or difficult topics in a way that makes them easy to use by beginning and intermediate level developers and professionals who create their own database solutions.

I have always enjoyed making presentations on computer topics. Starting in the early 1990's, I presented sessions at computer conferences. In 1999, I started sponsoring my own seminar training events. My sixth annual seminar training event consists of 21 hours of database development training for SQL Server Express, Visual Basic Express, and Visual Web Developer Express (http://www.programmingmsaccess.com/seminar2006).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for Access developers, March 31, 2004

By 

AccessDeveloper2004 (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Programming Microsoft® Office Access 2003 (Core Reference) (Pro-Developer) (Paperback)

Microsoft Press and Rick Dobson did a great job in publishing a book that covers all the essentials for developing solutions with Access 2003. Having used several earlier versions of Access, I was happy to discover that many of the code samples and examples apply to earlier versions, such as Access 2000 and Access 2002.

As a developer, my clients expect me to be able to make things happen automatically. Access readily permits you to automate all aspects of it with VBA, and this book is chuck full of VBA code samples that I can readily use for my clients. The explanations of the samples are easy for me to follow.

Without burying me in trivial details or useless facts, this book empowers me to create solutions. It is just 842 pages. Big enough to cover lots of valuable content, but not so heavy that I can't conveniently carry it with me to a client's site. I especially liked that I could download from the author's web site content on extra topics, such as an intro to VBA and a whole chapter on class, form, and report modules. In fact, I am discovering that the author's web site (http://www.programmingmsaccess.com) is a real valuable resource for me all on its own.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Breaking into VBA, March 16, 2005

By 

G. Griffith (Lafayette, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Programming Microsoft® Office Access 2003 (Core Reference) (Pro-Developer) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for learning how to write VBA in Access. I liked this book because:

1. It was easy to understand
2. Has lots of code examples

I noticed that some others have had problems getting the online content, so I wanted to share my experience. To get the online content:

1. http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/6768.asp (This is the URL listed on page XXI in the book and seemed to work fine for me)
2. On the right-hand side of the screen, in the "More Information" box, click on the "Companion Content" link.
3. You'll be redirected to another page for the book, just click on the "Download the book's sample and demo files."
4. Click the "Save" button to save the .EXE file to your computer (if you trust Microsoft Press, I did).
5. And then simply run the EXE by double-clicking on it and you'll have all of the demo and samples for the book!

Also, be sure to check out the Authors website at www.programmingmsaccess.com, as this site is also very helpful! Good luck and happy programming!!!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the few good books, November 8, 2004

By 

SVAZ Developer "Gene" (Sierra Vista, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Programming Microsoft® Office Access 2003 (Core Reference) (Pro-Developer) (Paperback)

Let's make this simple - I am a 20+ year developer. This is my first time to work with Access/VB. This book made it very simple to find what I needed to know fast.

The book is well organized, the writing straight forward, the code examples highlight the concepts and make it easy to understand those concepts quickly. I *like* that!

The extremely low cost of ~$50 got me there *fast* and saved me hours of digging around the internet for the info I needed.

Spend the $$ and get the work done.
This book worth every penny.