Microsoft Access 97 (Step By Step (Microsoft))

However, it is only slightly better than Access' built in help files. If you want to save your money (if you don't have to cram to fake proficiency like I did), first learn the basics by experimentation and reading the built-in help, then buy a more thorough text.

While the book certainly helped me, I can't imagine doing anything with it now except chucking it in the trash. It was worth the investment, but it's not a keeper.


Lack of clarity; Should have included solution sets w/ disk   May 22, 2000
I echo many of the negative comments given by others with respect to informing the reader why he or she wants to do certain actions. As a first time database user, I find this text very frustrating.

I also found frustrating that the disk enclosed with the text doesn't have the solutions for various chapters. Although the book encourages you to just jump in to the section where you are interested, your disk doesn't contain that chapter's starting point. In my view, you really ought to go through the whole book and do each step; otherwise, you don't have the proper starting point for the new chapter. The authors ought to have included the solution sets. That also helps others who might have zigged when they should have zagged.


I don't recommend this book for beginners.   October 30, 1999
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

I agree with one of the other less kind reviews that this book tells you step by step what to do for the excercises. It does not explain the reasons behind the steps.


Great introductory book   October 23, 1999
 32 out of 32 found this review helpful

I'm a bid surprised by some of the negative reviews on thisbook. They were either written by already expert coders of VisualBasic expecting advanced materials in an introductory book or by folks that roll out of their bed on the wrong side each day. I suspect the latter.

This is not a book for learning how to create databases. This is not a book on learning how to write Access macros. This is not a book that you simply read to become a master.

This book gives you a foundation for event programming. If you are a programmer from another environment that has not experienced property sheets and methods and event programming or if you are new to programming and have the desire to learn how to program in an event driven environment with Access then this is a great introductory book for both Access and programming.

In order to learn from this book you should work through each lesson at the keyboard. The gains you will achieve as you make data entry mistakes and correct them, and by pressing the F1 help key to read some more on the topics being covered in this book, will be enormous. If you aren't willing to actually perform the exercises at the keyboard but want to be "book-learned" then you'd be better off selecting another book.

We all start out as beginners with a new topic and with practice become experts. May you soon on the "expert" side.