Product Description

* As part of the Power Pack family of books, this book gives programmers and advanced Access users the knowledge they need to master the power within Access-the world's most widely used database management system
* Shows how to use VBA to design efficient, user-friendly end-user applications in Access
* Starts with database concepts and event-driven programming, then covers VBA programming fundamentals, the Visual Basic Editor, VBA language elements, and code debugging
* Covers advanced Access programming techniques like connecting to databases with ADO and interacting with other applications
* Includes helpful discussions on compatibility issues and manipulating Visual Basic components
* Companion Web site includes all the code examples in the book

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #576731 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 792 pages

Amazon.com Review
Microsoft Access remains an important part of the Windows developer's environment, in that the doughty database management system represents a simple and relatively straightforward core for forms-based software modules. Access 2003 Power Programming with VBA is a resource for programmers (particularly novice ones) working with Access and its native tongue, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). The emphasis in these pages falls on getting specific tasks done (examples include modifying a stock menu bar, connecting to data sources, listening for interface events, and exporting XML). Other coverage is more basic, and appropriate for Access developers in their novitiate stage. It deals with such fundamentals as declaring variables, establishing control structures (such as loops and case statements), and using the features of the Visual Basic Editor.

Will this book help you? Probably, to some extent. It's well-written and the authors have made wise decisions about which aspects of the Access universe to include and which to leave out (Access is a big subject). Their explanatory sections are clear and easy to follow, and their code is clever enough. On the other hand, the odds are small that you'll get all the information you need out of this book, unless the application you want to write is super-simple. Take this book as one step in a potentially long journey toward the application you want, and in an even longer one toward VBA mastery. --David Wall

Topics covered: The most important tools and techniques to be used in writing applications based on Microsoft Access 2003. Software design and the differences among the many Access releases are covered at first, and a clever section on Access development without VBA explains database schema development and the use of standard forms. Most of the book deals with VBA, though, including its capacity to create graphical user interfaces, connect to databases, integrate with other applications, and work with XML data. A chapter on multi-user applications (which has mainly to do with database locking) is helpful.

From the Back Cover
Everything you need to know about

• Using modules, procedures, and functions
• Coding with Visual Basic® Editor
• Understanding Access events and interacting with other applications
• Programming menus and toolbars
• Developing user-oriented and multi-user applications
• Manipulating Visual Basic® components

Here’s how to harness the power of VBA

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is power-packed. This book gives you command of that power to build sophisticated applications in the perfect development environment Access provides. First, you’ll get VBA programming fundamentals and an understanding of the Visual Basic Editor, VBA language elements, and code debugging. Then you’ll go deeper into programming user interactions, connecting to databases with ADO, developing multi-user applications, and much more. Here is the knowledge that can take you from power user to power developer.

About the Author
Allen G. Taylor is a database consultant and 30-year veteran of the computer industry. He is the author of 20 computer-related books, including SQL Weekend Crash Course® and SQL For Dummies®.
Virginia Andersen has spent 25 years working with computer science applications, analysis, and engineering projects related to government and defense initiatives.

Customer Reviews

Solid Introduction to VBA
Here is a solid introduction to programming in Access, including how to use some of the built-in features that make VBA easier to use. If you've been using Access to make forms and run quieries you should be able to pick up this book and start programming. Power Programming tells you how to create procedures and functions. The code isn't very useful by itself, but the book explains how things work so you should be able to write your own procedures.

You can learn how to customize menus using built-in dialog boxes or build them programmatically (pretty useful.) There is a long chapter on database connectivity and there is about twenty pages about XML support. There's also a couple of pages about Access backwards compatability (or lack of!)

There isn't a CD with the book and I keep trying to find a place in the book that gives a website with the code. It would be helpful to have the code available for cutting and pasting since it's so easy to make a typo.

If you are an expereienced VBA programmer, You probably want to find another book. I was looking for a book that would help me transition from Access 2000 to Access 2003. This book does not do that. I wish I had read the editiorial review more closely especially the part that says "a resource for programmers (particularly novice ones)" Another good quote from the editorial review is "the odds are small that you'll get all the information you need out of this book, unless the application you want to write is super-simple." But then you can never get everyting out of one book anyway.

ADO templates don't work (Ch 15)
This book is fairly decent, except that the template code for "Connecting to Databases with ADO" (Chapter 15) is riddled with errors. Most of this is probably due to problems with Access versions and configuration, but in any case, templates that don't work are frustrating and useless. There is absolutely no errata information for this book on the Wiley web site, and Wiley doesn't take inquiries, regardless of the notes in the front of the book. Find a different book for Client/Server study.

Good Book for Programming assistance
This is a good reference book for those of us who are not the best at programming.