Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Office Access 2003 (Paperback)

~ Susan Sales Harkins (Author), (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Microsoft Access 11 is a powerful, relational database software package that makes it easier for you to create and manage complex databases. With Access, you can create a database quickly from scratch or by using and Access database Wizard. Once you've created your database, Access provides all the tools you need to enter and manipulate data. Using Access, you can do the following:

• Quickly start a new database by using the Database Wizard.
• Create tables from scratch or by using a Wizard.
• Add and edit database information by using both tables and forms.
• Manipulate data in a number of tables by using queries and reports.

From the Back Cover

Microsoft Access 11 is a powerful, relational database software package that makes it easier for you to create and manage complex databases. With Access, you can create a database quickly from scratch or by using and Access database Wizard. Once you've created your database, Access provides all the tools you need to enter and manipulate data. Using Access, you can do the following:

* Quickly start a new database by using the Database Wizard.
* Create tables from scratch or by using a Wizard.
* Add and edit database information by using both tables and forms.
* Manipulate data in a number of tables by using queries and reports.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Que (September 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789729407
• ISBN-13: 978-0789729408
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #679,048 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one you want, February 25, 2004

By	rrhallqu (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews

Recently I had to pick up Access very quickly since the temp assignment I got was nothing but. After spending nearly half an hour comparing Access books in a local bookstore I decided to get this one and the Microsoft official guide. While the Microsoft guide I plan on returning, this book has been a gem and truly got me up to speed from knowing nothing at all. I skimmed through the first 100 pages in about an hour, referencing the computer in front of me to see what went where, and then the next day I was able with the book's help to design a few reports and a rudimentary database for my boss. The next day forms, more reports, queries, and relationships were added into the mix and I've now, about a week later, made it through most of the book and have a real database up and running.

What I like about this book is that it's very well laid out, especially when I compare it to the Microsoft guide. I had little or no problem jumping between chapters to locate the information I was looking for, and the techniques they work through, for the most part, furnished me with everything I've needed to do. While it's called an Absolute Beginner's Guide, it doesn't pull punches in terms of watering down the material or in unnecessary explanations.

If you don't know anything about Access and need to get up to speed quickly, this is the book you want. The only thing I wished that it included was stuff about setting up security and permissions, but other than that, I think this is a great buy.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A non IT person's review, November 6, 2005

By	Alok Modi "Dr Alok Modi MD" (Mumbai, INDIA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a doctor and I have been reading various books on access. I realise that access is a very complicated application development database program. It is easy to come to gripes with word, excel and for a non IT person like me, it is very easy to get going with these programs soon. But to do justice to access for your own needs, it has taken me a lot of time to get going and I have lot of way to go yet. But this book gives you the confidence and a grip on the subjet for a beginner and the authors rightly put it on their cover page. 'ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR ACCESS EXPERIENCE NECESSARY'

I would heartily recommend this book for all novices who have no knowledge of access and want to make simple databases of their own.


Dr Alok Modi MD

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thank Goodness..., August 29, 2006

By	Smith Coleman "art director" (SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sooo much better than the text I tried first (Idiot's Guide to Access). The entire book is much more simplified. TRULY a beginner's guide.