Rating: 
Summary: A Surprisingly Good "VBA-Lite" Access Reference
Review: I was looking for a good "intermediate level" Access book ... IMHO they are hard to find. In this 1200-page book, the author relegates the subject of VBA to the last 200 pages. To some this may be a "negative", but it permits the author to cover the "non-VBA" aspects of Access in greater detail.While it is true that almost any good Access application will require some VBA, it is also important to understand "how the code (Access) works". I my own case, once I learned a little VBA, I had a tendency to use it for everything. Unfortunately, many times I was trying to "reinvent" things that, as I found out later, Access could do automatically. But how would you know unless you understand "how the code works"? Based on recent "disappointing" experiences with QUE books (ie, filled with mistakes), I was skeptical about purchasing this book. Fortunately the number of typos is tolerable. And after reading many of the chapters, I am glad that I purchased this book. I have learned more about the non-VBA aspects of Access from this book than from any other Access book (and I have quite a few Access books). This book is rated "Intermediate/Advanced", but since the author states in the Introduction that "each major topic begins with the assumption that you have no prior experience with the subject" and the fact that the book is "VBA-Lite", I'd rate it Beginner/Intermediate ... just what I was looking for. My recommendations ...
If you are new to Access, first get a copy of Microsoft Press "Access Step By Step" book then purchase Jenning's "Using Access 2000. If you are new to Access VBA, first get a copy of Microsoft Press "Access/VBA Step By Step" book then get Barker's "Microsoft Access 2000 Power Programming"
Rating: 
Summary: not a good reference book
Review: I was looking for a good "intermediate level" Access book ... IMHO they are hard to find. In this 1200-page book, the author relegates the subject of VBA to the last 200 pages. To some this may be a "negative", but it permits the author to cover the "non-VBA" aspects of Access in greater detail. While it is true that almost any good Access application will require some VBA, it is also important to understand "how the code (Access) works". I my own case, once I learned a little VBA, I had a tendency to use it for everything. Unfortunately, many times I was trying to "reinvent" things that, as I found out later, Access could do automatically. But how would you know unless you understand "how the code works"? Based on recent "disappointing" experiences with QUE books (ie, filled with mistakes), I was skeptical about purchasing this book. Fortunately the number of typos is tolerable. And after reading many of the chapters, I am glad that I purchased this book. I have learned more about the non-VBA aspects of Access from this book than from any other Access book (and I have quite a few Access books). This book is rated "Intermediate/Advanced", but since the author states in the Introduction that "each major topic begins with the assumption that you have no prior experience with the subject" and the fact that the book is "VBA-Lite", I'd rate it Beginner/Intermediate ... just what I was looking for. My recommendations ...
If you are new to Access, first get a copy of Microsoft Press "Access Step By Step" book then purchase Jenning's "Using Access 2000. If you are new to Access VBA, first get a copy of Microsoft Press "Access/VBA Step By Step" book then get Barker's "Microsoft Access 2000 Power Programming"
Rating:
Summary: A Surprisingly Good "VBA-Lite" Access Reference
Review: I was looking for a good "intermediate level" Access book ... IMHO they are hard to find. In this 1200-page book, the author relegates the subject of VBA to the last 200 pages. To some this may be a "negative", but it permits the author to cover the "non-VBA" aspects of Access in greater detail. While it is true that almost any good Access application will require some VBA, it is also important to understand "how the code (Access) works". I my own case, once I learned a little VBA, I had a tendency to use it for everything. Unfortunately, many times I was trying to "reinvent" things that, as I found out later, Access could do automatically. But how would you know unless you understand "how the code works"? Based on recent "disappointing" experiences with QUE books (ie, filled with mistakes), I was skeptical about purchasing this book. Fortunately the number of typos is tolerable. And after reading many of the chapters, I am glad that I purchased this book. I have learned more about the non-VBA aspects of Access from this book than from any other Access book (and I have quite a few Access books). This book is rated "Intermediate/Advanced", but since the author states in the Introduction that "each major topic begins with the assumption that you have no prior experience with the subject" and the fact that the book is "VBA-Lite", I'd rate it Beginner/Intermediate ... just what I was looking for. My recommendations ...
If you are new to Access, first get a copy of Microsoft Press "Access Step By Step" book then purchase Jenning's "Using Access 2000. If you are new to Access VBA, first get a copy of Microsoft Press "Access/VBA Step By Step" book then get Barker's "Microsoft Access 2000 Power Programming"
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I'm generally a fan of the Special Edition volumes. They are usually well written and edited, though the indices are usually mediocre. Mr. Jennings' book is, however, a disappointment. The knowledge is certainly there. Unfortunately most of it can be found in the Microsoft Access 2000 Help file. If this volume were better organized and indexed than the Microsoft help file, that would be a benefit of small not inconsiderable importance. Unfortunately, the organization of this book strikes me as worse than the MS Access help file.
Important topics are reduced to cryptic index entries - if they are to be found at all. Inter-related information on topics are widely and often illogically separated. Examples are often very sparse and, ultimately, unenlightening.
Overall, this volume is a disappointment. The information may very well be contained somewhere in the book, but you can find it faster in other tomes on the subject, in the MS Access help file or the MS KnowledgeBase. Jerry
Rating: 
Summary: The One Book You Need to Master Access 2000
Review: I've purchased every edition of Roger's "Special Edition Using Access" series since version 2.0. Each edition has fully covered what I've needed to know about the new releases, and has provided insights into enhancements to (or bugs introduced into) existing functionality. Contrary to the remarks by the reviewer from Texas, there's an entire chapter devoted to Data Access Projects (DAP) and another to Access Data Projects (ADP) and the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE). The possible reason for limited ASP (Active Server Pages) coverage is that Microsoft removed the ability to convert forms to ASP from Access 2000. All in all, I've always considered Roger's books to be the best bet for all serious Access users, beginning to advanced.
Rating:
Summary: The One Book You Need to Master Access 2000
Review: I've purchased every edition of Roger's "Special Edition Using Access" series since version 2.0. Each edition has fully covered what I've needed to know about the new releases, and has provided insights into enhancements to (or bugs introduced into) existing functionality. Contrary to the remarks by the reviewer from Texas, there's an entire chapter devoted to Data Access Projects (DAP) and another to Access Data Projects (ADP) and the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE). The possible reason for limited ASP (Active Server Pages) coverage is that Microsoft removed the ability to convert forms to ASP from Access 2000. All in all, I've always considered Roger's books to be the best bet for all serious Access users, beginning to advanced.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the paper
Review: Poorly organized.
Poor references.
Sketchy information on real Access development. (This book may be OK for a complete novice who wants to read the tome from cover to cover as an instructional manual.)
Rating: 
Summary: Not for Beginners
Review: This book is full of information. Unfortunately, if you are a beginner it is a little overwhelming. I was looking for quick step by step instructions on creating an Access DB. This book tries to make you an expert before getting to that point. This book would be a great reference after you've already mastered the basics with a simpler book.
Rating:
Summary: OK for ?
Review: This book is OK for someone who has never used a database before, but for someone who just needs some basic information on how to total fields it's completly useless. They have a sample database that you are supposed to work with, but I don't have that kind of time at my job to be expermenting with databases when I'm supposed to be producing data.
Rating:
Summary: You get what you paid for
Review: This book's one of the cheapest ones out there, but it's not worth it. There's too much jargon with not enough explanation. I didn't know ADO vs. DAO and reading the definitions only made things clear as mud. This book is definitely not meant for beginners, yet it doesn't offer any advanced tips to help productivity. I like Alison Balter's Mastering Microsoft Access 2000 Development much better for its clarity and excellent examples.
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