Microsoft Access 97 Visual Basic (Step By Step (Microsoft)) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Evan Callahan (Author) "This book teaches you how to create database applications in Microsoft Access 97..." (more)
Key Phrases: current statement indicator, issue tracking application, practice files folder, Microsoft Access, New York, End Sub (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Microsoft Access 97/Visual Basic Step by Step is a general introduction to Microsoft Access with a focus on Visual Basic. The book assumes prior Access experience, but does fully describe all of the features required to understand the Visual Basic programs. The book contains a set of powerful examples, such as how to build a custom Web browser with just a few lines of code and how to set up an automated payment system. Happily, the book comes with a CD-ROM that contains all of the code described in the book.

Product Description
A personal procedural training system that gets users up and running as quickly as possible on applications in the next version of Microsoft Office. These are brand-new offerings in the best-selling STEP BY STEP series, whose total sales are rapidly approaching two million volumes. Readers don't have to worry about bogging down-they get just the information they need to get the job done. Modular lessons let users start wherever they want and learn at their convenience and their own pace.

Product Details

• Paperback: 379 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572313196
• ISBN-13: 978-1572313194
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #897,502 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on beginning Access programming, December 11, 1999

By	Kamrun Alam (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Evan Callahan has done for Access VBA what Dan Gookin did for the C language (with his 'C for Dummies book'). Both of them are masters of technical writing. This book, as the title suggests, teaches you how to write snippets of code to get started in the world of database programming using VBA. This book is not meant for complete novices. Some familiarity with Access is required to get the most out of this book. However, this book assumes no previous programming experience and teaches you the material accordingly. That's one reason why this book received a lot of bad reviews from people who were expecting in-depth coverage of Access VBA. (Hello, the title says 'Step by Step'. Maybe these people should read the title before they buy a book).

Evan Callahan introduces various ways in which Access could be customized without delving too much into hardcore stuff. He is one of the few writers who can teach you how to work with various controls and properties and the proper ways and places to use them without devoting entire chapters to describe them. His teaching method should be the model for the entire technical writer community. He brings to life complex concepts without resorting to technical jargons and technobabbles because he understands his audience. Readers with beginning skill level would have an increased appreciation for what Access could accomplish incorporating various programming techniques. The book builds on each chapter, and as the readers finishes the book building a complete application from scratch, s/he goes through various stages of application development and becomes familiar with typical scenarios that real world developers deal with for more complex applications.

Please don't get me wrong. The book only scratches the surface of VBA. You CANNOT acquire the advanced skills and techniques required to take advantage of the true potential of this extremely powerful database programming language by reading this book only. However, this book points you to the right derection with ample examples, solid advice, and an extremely easy to follow format. This books has definitely served its purpose, which is to introduce you to the world of Access programming using Visual Basic. It's a masterpiece in its class deserving more than 5 stars. You won't need to read any review to buy any future Evan Callahan book, because this dood knows how to deliver.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Serves It's Purpose, October 8, 2000

By	Perry H. Moss (Richmond, VA United States) - See all my reviews

As the title of my review states, this book is ideal if your situation falls into the following category: You have a solid amount of skill with Access (without VBA) such as action queries, subforms/reports, option/combo boxes, relationships, SQL, etc. You understand Access and can already build fairly advanced applications, however you want to goto the next level. The next level is VBA and here is where you go "under the hood". You will find out how to do basic procedures and how they work. You will be shown the light as to why event procedures are so critical to more advanced applications. After reading this book (and implementing what you learned into your own applications) you will be well prepared for intermediate level books. The book is extremely well written and is careful to make sure that the reader does not fall behind. I felt like the author actually cared about the learning process, and didn't just write a book to prove his own expertise (like many others). In summary, if you already know Access (sans VB), and would like to go "under the hood" to be on your way to becoming what I would consider an intermediate developer (i.e companies actually pay you [albeit moderately] for your Access skills, however it is not 100% of your job description) - buy this now.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good start but you'll want more when you finish, July 12, 2000

By	selffate "invigorating genius" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

As an Access/VB developer who has done a lot of Access and VB work this book was the perfect introduction and was very helpful for Access programming.

Good Points:

Very easy to follow, simple examples and PRACTICAL examples that are given that you will want to use in your business applications.

Time constraints. You are not bogged down on theory and spend most of the time coding at actualy writing than reading. You can EASILY finish this book in a week.

Very few errors in coding (Some books I have had were horrid! )

Bad points:

Book does not follow naming convention standards for variables (minor point)

Not a book for people who want to do a full blown system with a lot of hutzpah (hey were talking Access here anyway), or Advanced features of coding in Access.

Relatively basic and touches only very few advanced features and coding (eg. Automation, Active X) or not at all.

In the end, good outweighs the bad. As a developer though I needed more that was the drawback. But if you want to get a quick fresher on Access Basic (I say ACCESS basic cause Access coding is NOT like VB Coding even though they appear similar).

If you're looking to code in Access and have little or no experience than this book is perfect for you, however I wouldn't recomend this book as a basis for learning VB. From then you can move on to the Access97 developers handbook published by Sybex written by Litwin, Getz, Gilbert for a good reference book.