Are there manuals for Office XP products?

[Reb Bacchus]

This is so stupid! Since I learned how to use earlier versions of Office I
think that all I ever looked at were new features of Office XP modules. Now
I find I need to learn Access and I can't find a manual for the thing!

I don't want to waste time looking at "training courses." I want a nice
professional manual that any software product should be shipped with. I
don't find anything on my original disk and I don't see anything online... or
rather I see all sort of things online but nothing that looks like a basic
user's manual.

 

[Larry Daugherty]

Lurk the computer section of your local bookstores or try Barnes &
Noble, Amazon and Borders online. The more prolific authors bring out
an edition for each release of major products. In just about every
one there is a "What's new in this release" section. The books then
go on to wring out the product from that author's point of view.
Unfortunately from my point of view is that Ken Getz and his
co-authors have stopped bringing out new editions.

HTH

 

[John W. Vinson]

On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:48:03 -0700, Reb Bacchus <Reb

I see all sort of things online but nothing that looks like a basic
user's manual.

THere is none. Microsoft hasn't published an Access user manual since version
2.0, I don't believe.

Others have, though. Check the "books" links at:


John W. Vinson [MVP]

 

[John W. Vinson]

On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:48:03 -0700, Reb Bacchus <Reb

I see all sort of things online but nothing that looks like a basic
user's manual.

sorry... sent too soon! Check the "Books" links at

Jeff Conrad's resources page:
http://www.accessmvp.com/JConrad/accessjunkie/resources.html

and

The Access Web resources page:
http://www.mvps.org/access/resources/index.html

Probably one of the best is "Access <version> Step By Step" for an
introduction, or "Access <version> Inside Out" for a down-and-dirty detailed
look, both by John Viescas (with or without a coauthor depending on the
version).

John W. Vinson [MVP]

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

I think you longing for the old turbo-Pascal days!!!...

The industry in general has not shipped manuals for many many years. (this
is the same for virtually all vendors today...even IBM).

I not sure what office version you are using (perhaps one from 15 years
ago..and WAAAAY back then, manuals were shipped).

however, if you looking for a complete programming reference, sql
references, and what's new in your particular version, then that most
certainly is shipped on the office disk. (the information is in the help
files).

If you looking for code reference stuff, just make sure you are in the code
editor, and then go:

help->Microsoft visual basic help.

On the right side, you see a list of topics like:

Microsoft Access Visual Basic Reference

If you expanded the above, then you will see topics like:


What's new
Programming concepts
--> Advanced programming concepts
etc....

So, most of what could have been manuals is in this list.

So, keep in mind, the help system is different depending if you in the
forms/reports side, or the code editor side.

 

[Sheila D]

I've seen some on Ebay that look quite good!

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

No one has recommended specific books. I'll try to do so, suggesting books
which are suitable for beginning and intermediate users. To learn database
design and structure, which should be your first concern, ther are 2 books
which come to mind:

Database Design for Mere Mortals by Michael J. Hernandez

Designing Relational Database Systems by Rebecca Riordan

For Access database design and general usage of Access databases, one of the
finest authors is John L. Viescas. He has written for several publishers,
the latest being Microsoft Press.