3 Questions about being a programmer....

[Tanya Lee]

3 questions for anyone out there who cares to give me their opinion!

First a basic question...is being a programmer and a developer the same thing?

2...I absolutely love Access; I just love being able to create a database
and have everything work (OK I may be a closet geek!)...but I get stuck a lot
because I don't know how to write code. Any suggestions on a good starting
point to learning this...a book. I really don't know anything about VBA or
anything like that, but I am considered the computer queen around my
workplace because I learn fast.

3...Finally, I am really an administrative assistant by trade, but computers
are my real love...if I learned how to develop Access databases with the
knowledge of how to use the coding are there actually jobs out there for just
that, or do you really need to know other types of programming (or
developing...again with the confusion).

Just thought I'd ask for some advice and knowledge out there! Thank you much!
Tanya Lee

 

[Keith Wilby]

3 questions for anyone out there who cares to give me their opinion!

First a basic question...is being a programmer and a developer the same
thing?

I don't think so. To develop an Access app you need more than programming
skills, you need to be able to gather and interpret user requirements.

2...I absolutely love Access; I just love being able to create a database
and have everything work (OK I may be a closet geek!)...but I get stuck a
lot
because I don't know how to write code. Any suggestions on a good starting
point to learning this...a book. I really don't know anything about VBA or
anything like that, but I am considered the computer queen around my
workplace because I learn fast.

There's a book I used (for A97) called "Microsoft Access 97 Developer's
Handbook" (publ by MS) which I think is excellent - no doubt there'll be a
(geek joke warning) "variant" for other Access versions.

3...Finally, I am really an administrative assistant by trade, but
computers
are my real love...if I learned how to develop Access databases with the
knowledge of how to use the coding are there actually jobs out there for
just
that, or do you really need to know other types of programming (or
developing...again with the confusion).

There are loads of Access jobs around, some don't pay too well but I've
noticed loads of short contracts in London with excellent rates of pay, so I
think it depends where in the world you are. Having said that I've done
freelance work from the comfort of my own home for people all over the world
which pays more than my day job but I don't get enough to make a living at
it.

Just thought I'd ask for some advice and knowledge out there! Thank you
much!
Tanya Lee

No problem, hope it helps.
Keith.
www.keithwilby.com

 

[Cyberwolf]

--
James Gaylord
Finder of Paths, Hunter of Prey
Ghost of the Night, Shadow of Day
The Wolf

3 questions for anyone out there who cares to give me their opinion!

First a basic question...is being a programmer and a developer the same thing?

Like Keith said One is programming behind the scenes stuff. THe other is
actually getting requirements and setting up a DB to suit their needs. I
found that can be very hard as most don't know what they really "need" vs.
what they "want".

2...I absolutely love Access; I just love being able to create a database
and have everything work (OK I may be a closet geek!)...but I get stuck a lot
because I don't know how to write code. Any suggestions on a good starting
point to learning this...a book. I really don't know anything about VBA or
anything like that, but I am considered the computer queen around my
workplace because I learn fast.

I used Beginning Acess 97 VBA" by By Robert Smith and David Sussman. When I
got more proficient I bought VBA Developers Handbook.

3...Finally, I am really an administrative assistant by trade, but computers
are my real love...if I learned how to develop Access databases with the
knowledge of how to use the coding are there actually jobs out there for just
that, or do you really need to know other types of programming (or
developing...again with the confusion).

Can't answer this one as I do not do much free lance stuff.

 

[nickf123 via AccessMonster.com]

3...Finally, I am really an administrative assistant by trade, but computers

are my real love...if I learned how to develop Access databases with the
knowledge of how to use the coding are there actually jobs out there for just
that, or do you really need to know other types of programming (or
developing...again with the confusion).

This one I can answer... I'm a college student doing Access programming
during summers for good money. I knew VB, but nothing about Access when I
started; the company knew this but still really needed someone who had some
time and some programming experience to setup a program to manage access to
one of their division's databases.

What you will find in many places is that there is a need for database
management, but no full-time employee has the time (or motivation) to
actually sit down and develop the software (hence the need for me - the
contract worker). It seems that jobs like this abound; my roommate was doing
summer work for a company just down the road from mine, programming a similar
database manager.

Knowledge of Access and VBA will get you pretty far, but you might also want
to learn some SQL language; in my experience VBA is great for smaller
databases but as they grow larger, performance drops off significantly.
Using SQL is using a database's native language - everything runs more
smoothly.

 

[Marshall Barton]

In my world, programmers work for developers. A developer
gathers the requirements from the client, translates that
into an application design, then breaks the overall design
down into data structures, UI specifications and component
design before any programming can proceed.

I have been in the business for over 40 years so the getting
started process in lost in my fading memory, but a good book
is only a starting point. Actually creating ever more
complex solutions is where most people learn the most. When
you have an idea of something you want to program, Googling
the newsgroup archives for specific issues should provide
tons of examples and ideas. Back when I was learning about
Access, I dedicated an hour each day to just reading various
newsgroups (sort of like being hit by a shotgun full of
informational tidbits).

How much work there is depends on your skill level,
location, etc. Programmers are readily available, but good
developers are hard to find. For many developers, finding
clients is a job unto itself. Even after getting connected
to a client, you still have to evaluate if the client is a
good one or one you don't want to have anything to do with,
create and manage the contract, and . . .

 

[Tanya Lee]

Thank you very much for your input! It was very helpful.

In my world, programmers work for developers. A developer
gathers the requirements from the client, translates that
into an application design, then breaks the overall design
down into data structures, UI specifications and component
design before any programming can proceed.

I have been in the business for over 40 years so the getting
started process in lost in my fading memory, but a good book
is only a starting point. Actually creating ever more
complex solutions is where most people learn the most. When
you have an idea of something you want to program, Googling
the newsgroup archives for specific issues should provide
tons of examples and ideas. Back when I was learning about
Access, I dedicated an hour each day to just reading various
newsgroups (sort of like being hit by a shotgun full of
informational tidbits).

How much work there is depends on your skill level,
location, etc. Programmers are readily available, but good
developers are hard to find. For many developers, finding
clients is a job unto itself. Even after getting connected
to a client, you still have to evaluate if the client is a
good one or one you don't want to have anything to do with,
create and manage the contract, and . . .
--
Marsh
MVP [MS Access]

3 questions for anyone out there who cares to give me their opinion!

First a basic question...is being a programmer and a developer the same thing?

2...I absolutely love Access; I just love being able to create a database
and have everything work (OK I may be a closet geek!)...but I get stuck a lot
because I don't know how to write code. Any suggestions on a good starting
point to learning this...a book. I really don't know anything about VBA or
anything like that, but I am considered the computer queen around my
workplace because I learn fast.

3...Finally, I am really an administrative assistant by trade, but computers
are my real love...if I learned how to develop Access databases with the
knowledge of how to use the coding are there actually jobs out there for just
that, or do you really need to know other types of programming (or
developing...again with the confusion).

Just thought I'd ask for some advice and knowledge out there! Thank you much!
Tanya Lee

 

[Tanya Lee]

Thank you very much for your input!

I don't think so. To develop an Access app you need more than programming
skills, you need to be able to gather and interpret user requirements.


There's a book I used (for A97) called "Microsoft Access 97 Developer's
Handbook" (publ by MS) which I think is excellent - no doubt there'll be a
(geek joke warning) "variant" for other Access versions.


There are loads of Access jobs around, some don't pay too well but I've
noticed loads of short contracts in London with excellent rates of pay, so I
think it depends where in the world you are. Having said that I've done
freelance work from the comfort of my own home for people all over the world
which pays more than my day job but I don't get enough to make a living at
it.


No problem, hope it helps.
Keith.
www.keithwilby.com

 

[Tanya Lee]

Thank you very much for your input!

This one I can answer... I'm a college student doing Access programming
during summers for good money. I knew VB, but nothing about Access when I
started; the company knew this but still really needed someone who had some
time and some programming experience to setup a program to manage access to
one of their division's databases.

What you will find in many places is that there is a need for database
management, but no full-time employee has the time (or motivation) to
actually sit down and develop the software (hence the need for me - the
contract worker). It seems that jobs like this abound; my roommate was doing
summer work for a company just down the road from mine, programming a similar
database manager.

Knowledge of Access and VBA will get you pretty far, but you might also want
to learn some SQL language; in my experience VBA is great for smaller
databases but as they grow larger, performance drops off significantly.
Using SQL is using a database's native language - everything runs more
smoothly.

 

[Tanya Lee]

Thank you very much for your input!

--
James Gaylord
Finder of Paths, Hunter of Prey
Ghost of the Night, Shadow of Day
The Wolf




Like Keith said One is programming behind the scenes stuff. THe other is
actually getting requirements and setting up a DB to suit their needs. I
found that can be very hard as most don't know what they really "need" vs.
what they "want".
I used Beginning Acess 97 VBA" by By Robert Smith and David Sussman. When I
got more proficient I bought VBA Developers Handbook.

Can't answer this one as I do not do much free lance stuff.

 

[JonWayn]

I will challenge you comparison between vba and sql a little. I think it
really depends on the needs of the particular application. For some, lots of
VBA is needed and cannot be substituted by SQL alone, or at all.

 

[JonWayn]

I do a little bit of both, but like one of the previous repliers, I havent
found enough freelance stuff out there to sustain a living. Any known
websites that employees post requests at for this kind of skill?

In my world, programmers work for developers. A developer
gathers the requirements from the client, translates that
into an application design, then breaks the overall design
down into data structures, UI specifications and component
design before any programming can proceed.

I have been in the business for over 40 years so the getting
started process in lost in my fading memory, but a good book
is only a starting point. Actually creating ever more
complex solutions is where most people learn the most. When
you have an idea of something you want to program, Googling
the newsgroup archives for specific issues should provide
tons of examples and ideas. Back when I was learning about
Access, I dedicated an hour each day to just reading various
newsgroups (sort of like being hit by a shotgun full of
informational tidbits).

How much work there is depends on your skill level,
location, etc. Programmers are readily available, but good
developers are hard to find. For many developers, finding
clients is a job unto itself. Even after getting connected
to a client, you still have to evaluate if the client is a
good one or one you don't want to have anything to do with,
create and manage the contract, and . . .
--
Marsh
MVP [MS Access]

3 questions for anyone out there who cares to give me their opinion!

First a basic question...is being a programmer and a developer the same thing?

2...I absolutely love Access; I just love being able to create a database
and have everything work (OK I may be a closet geek!)...but I get stuck a lot
because I don't know how to write code. Any suggestions on a good starting
point to learning this...a book. I really don't know anything about VBA or
anything like that, but I am considered the computer queen around my
workplace because I learn fast.

3...Finally, I am really an administrative assistant by trade, but computers
are my real love...if I learned how to develop Access databases with the
knowledge of how to use the coding are there actually jobs out there for just
that, or do you really need to know other types of programming (or
developing...again with the confusion).

Just thought I'd ask for some advice and knowledge out there! Thank you much!
Tanya Lee

 

[RD]

3 questions for anyone out there who cares to give me their opinion!

First a basic question...is being a programmer and a developer the same thing?

Nope. Programming is a skill. Developing is a collection of skills.

2...I absolutely love Access; I just love being able to create a database
and have everything work (OK I may be a closet geek!)...but I get stuck a lot
because I don't know how to write code. Any suggestions on a good starting
point to learning this...a book. I really don't know anything about VBA or
anything like that, but I am considered the computer queen around my
workplace because I learn fast.

Access is some pretty cool beans but it can be aggravating.
My recent book acquisitions:
Fixing Access Annoyances - Mitchell & Callahan, O'Rielly Press
Access 2003 Bible - Prague, Irwin and Reardon, Wiley Press
Building Access Applications - Viescas, Microsoft Press
Access 2003 VBA - Cardoza, Hennig, Seach and Stien, Wrox Press

3...Finally, I am really an administrative assistant by trade, but computers
are my real love...if I learned how to develop Access databases with the
knowledge of how to use the coding are there actually jobs out there for just
that, or do you really need to know other types of programming (or
developing...again with the confusion).

I have landed contracting jobs based solely on my Access skills. Pay ranged
from a measley $20/hr to a max of $45/hr (ah, those were the days). Right now I
have a full time position paying just shy of $40/hr. My Access skills played
just part of my getting this job.

Just thought I'd ask for some advice and knowledge out there! Thank you much!
Tanya Lee

And yet you still came here! Tsk, tsk!

Hope this helps,
RD