Can anyone suggest resources for Access 2003 beginners?

[Sarah]

I don't know if I would be considered an absolute beginner, or just partway
to intermediate user, but I now have enough knowledge to know the program
would do all sorts of neat things but not enough to actually make them
happen. I have done all of the online training modules on the Microsoft
Office website, and I have scoured this newsgroup for more info. So I guess
what I want to ask is, what is teh next most productive step for me to take?
I would like suggestions about classes, books, anything that a self-taught
Access 2003 user can use to further their knowledge. Thanks in advance for
taking the time to help!

 

[Klatuu]

If you can find a copy of Access 2002 Desktop Developer's Handbook by Paul
Litwin, Ken Getz, and Mike Gunderloy, published by Sybex, get it.
It is 2002, but there is not that much difference between the 2 and there is
not and will not, unfortunatly, be a 2003 edition. It has a companion CD
that has a lot of good stuff on it.

There is a companion book Access 2002 Enterprise Developer's Handbook that
goes into more depth on multi user, deployment, performance issues, etc. You
may be able to find them as a boxed set. I got mine at a used book store for
cheap.

 

[Sarah]

Thank you very much, I will be sure to look for that one. There are so many
books out there that I didn't want to blindly start buying them.

 

[John Vinson]

I don't know if I would be considered an absolute beginner, or just partway
to intermediate user, but I now have enough knowledge to know the program
would do all sorts of neat things but not enough to actually make them
happen. I have done all of the online training modules on the Microsoft
Office website, and I have scoured this newsgroup for more info. So I guess
what I want to ask is, what is teh next most productive step for me to take?
I would like suggestions about classes, books, anything that a self-taught
Access 2003 user can use to further their knowledge. Thanks in advance for
taking the time to help!

Check out the resources at:

Jeff Conrad's resources page:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie/resources.html

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

I agree with Klatuu that the _Developer's Handbook_ is an
outstandingly good resource... but it is in NO sense a beginner's
book. It's some 3000 pages in two volumes, it's well written and
clear, but it's *very* heavy slogging just from the nature of the
material. Worth the effort, and worth the price, but it would
certainly be the "deep end school of swimming" approach!

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Klatuu]

There are a bunch out there. I consider this the best I know of. It is not
for beginners, but after you have a little experience, it is a great resource.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Sarah

I'll offer John Viescas' "Microsoft Office Access 2003 Inside Out" as
another reference work.

And if you are looking for an on-line source, check Jeff Conrad's website
at:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie/resources.html

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP

 

[NetworkTrade]

If you are really planning to stick with Access as a focus you should check
out your community college offering for beginning VB programming....and plan
on doing this - it will help.