Accessible Access 2003

Accessible Access 2003 assumes that you start with little or no knowledge of Access or databases and takes you to the point where you can create and use a multi-table database. Starting with the basic components of a databaase - tables, forms, queries and reports, the authors show you how to create simple examples of each using the Access wizards where appropriate, and how to hand-build them so that you can achieve more than you can using just the wizards. Once you are comfortable with creating a simple database which stores its data in a single table, the authors move on to multiple tables - why you need them, and how they can be used to create really effective multi-table databases. Accessible Access 2003 is written in a highly readable style, with lots of examples, hints and techniques for building tables, extracting data and generating reports. Thisiswherewetrytoconvinceyoutobuythisbook,tellyouwhatittriestodo, define a few terms and generally set the scene – all of which makes this more like an introduction than a first chapter, but no-one reads introductions so we called it a chapter. If you have already bought the book and know what it does, feel free to skip to Chapter 2 where the action starts. Whyshouldyoubuythisbook? TherearemanyAccessbooksonthemarket,whyshouldIbuythisone?Doesithavemore informationthananyotherbook? Errr, no, it actually has less than the big reference books you'll also find on the shelf. So,isitverycheap? Well, it isn't as expensive as some but, no, it isn't particularly cheap either. Tobebrutallyfrank,you'renotdoingagreatjobofsellingthistome. Right, time for the hard sell. Bill worked for Microsoft as the Development Manager for the first three versions of Access. I (Mark) work as a database consultant, teach database theory and practice at two Universities and have written the UK Personal ComputerWorld's database column for more than ten years. We met (at a database conference, not unreasonably, given our interests) in the summer before Access 1. 0 was launched and found that we shared similar views on how databases should be designed and built. Since then we have writtenabooktogetherabouttherelationalmodelthatunderliesAccessandall other relational database systems (see below for the inevitable plug). But why write a book about Access itself when there are already so many around? 3 1 Introduction Well, since Bill was in charge of the product's development, it was fair to assume that we had the technical side reasonably well covered. Written by the team which brought you Inside Relational Databases and based on their best-selling book for Access 2000, Accessible Access has been totally re-written for Access 2003. About the authors: Bill Marklyn, as the Development Manager for the first two major releases of Access, oversaw the entire design and so provides an intimate knowledge of the product. Mark Whitehorn's skills lie in making complex ideas easy to understand and entertaining to absorb. In addition he's a professional database developer which probably helps.... From the authors: We wrote Accessible Access 2000 for people who were new to the world of building databases. In that book we tried very hard not to simply list everything that we knew about the product. Instead we tried to act as intelligent filters, presenting only the essential information that you need to get started. We were delighted with the reception that the book received and have tried to keep the same philosophy for Accessible Access 2003. However, rather than simply reprinting the book with 2003 in the title, we have gone through it with a fine toothcomb. Every screen shot has been retaken and every section has been re-checked to ensure, not only that it still works, but also that it is actually still relevant. We have re-written parts where the product has changed and also added some. For example, there is a new section on Object Dependencies and a whole new chapter about Data Access Pages - helping you to put your Access database onto an intranet.

Written by the team which brought you Inside Relational Databases and based on their best-selling book for Access 2000, Accessible Access has been totally re-written for Access 2003.

From the authors:

We wrote Accessible Access 2000 for people who were new to the world of building databases. In that book we tried to act as intelligent filters, presenting only the essential information that you need to get started.

We were delighted with the reception that the book received and have tried to keep the same philosophy. Rather than simply reprinting the book with 2003 in the title, we have gone through it with a fine toothcomb. Every screen shot has been retaken and every section has been re-checked to ensure that it still works and also that it is still relevant. We have re-written parts where the product has changed and also added some. For example, there is a new section on Object Dependencies and a whole new chapter about Data Access Pages - helping you to put your Access database onto an intranet.

A guide to using Microsoft Access covers such topics as tables, queries, Report Wizard, forms, complex databases, and Data Access Pages. Featuring techniques for building tables, extracting data and generating reports, this book focuses on Access 2003