Is an Access 2003 Developer's Handbook due out?

[Top Spin]

Does anyone know if an Access 2003 Developer's Handbook is due anytime
soon?

I am about to buy some Access reference books and that one keeps
coming up, but I will be getting Access 2003 in a month or two and
would prefer top the the newer book if it is coming out.

The last version was back in 2001.

 

[Arvin Meyer]

No, the last version was for Access 2002. Ken Getz has not written any
Access books since then. The one substantial book on Access 2003 is:

Microsoft Office Access 2003 Inside Out
by John L. Viescas
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads:
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access

 

[Top Spin]

No, the last version was for Access 2002. Ken Getz has not written any
Access books since then. The one substantial book on Access 2003 is:

Microsoft Office Access 2003 Inside Out
by John L. Viescas

Is the 2002 Handbook still worth getting even if I will be using
Access 2003 (and later) or would I be better off with the Inside Out
book?

Thanks

 

[Arvin Meyer]

The Handbook is in 2 volumes and is definitely worth getting if your primary
interest is in Advanced VBA code. It contains a wealth of great stuff. The
Inside Out book is one of the better Intermediate books there is. It has a
greater variety of subjects of interest. I have both. As a matter of fact, I
have all the Access and VBA books by Ken Getz and John L. Viescas.
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads:
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access

 

[Fred Boer]

Dear Top Spin:

In addition to Arvin's advice, you might consider going to a local bookstore
or library and browsing the shelves. Looking through various books will give
you some idea which would be most useful to you. Would you call yourself a
beginner, a power user, someone just starting out in programming or an
experienced programmer? Your current skill level would be an important
factor in your book choices. For example, the Access Developer's Handbook is
an essential book for all serious Access professionals, however, if you are
just beginning to learn to use Visual Basic for Applications, you might be
better off with a more general book, perhaps one by Viescas, or "Beginning
Access XXXX VBA" by Sussman and Smith. These books are not cheap, so a bit
or research might be worthwhile. Sample chapters are often available at
online bookstores. You might also try the following link:
http://www.viescas.com/Info/books.htm

FWIW, I began with Running Access 97 by Viescas (spine is completely worn
out with pages fluttering about like autumn leaves), then added Beginning
Access 2000 by Sussman, Smith. Eventually I purchased Mastering Access 2002
by Balter, Microsoft Access 2000 Visual Basic for Applications Fundamentals
by Callahan, the Access Developer's Handbook, and my latest Designing
Effective Database Systems by Riordan.

Also, if you don't mind my long-windedness, and some more advice, visit
these newsgroups regularly, you'll learn more here than in many books. Also,
if you are just beginning in VBA, you might save yourself a lot of time and
energy if you pay atttention to the following:
http://www.mvps.org/access/tencommandments.htm

Good Luck!
Fred Boer

 

[Top Spin]

The Handbook is in 2 volumes and is definitely worth getting if your primary
interest is in Advanced VBA code. It contains a wealth of great stuff. The
Inside Out book is one of the better Intermediate books there is. It has a
greater variety of subjects of interest. I have both. As a matter of fact, I
have all the Access and VBA books by Ken Getz and John L. Viescas.

VBA is one of my primary interests. Is the Handbook mainly for VBA? I
mean as opposed to about Access itself (table design, form design,
reports, etc.).

I am a long-time beginner with Access, but I have worked with
relational bds before and have worked with several programming
languages. My short term goals are to wtite a few simple personal db
applications (home inventory, car maintenance log, workout log, etc.)
My long-term goals are to become fluent in all aspects of Access and
database design.

 

[Top Spin]

Dear Top Spin:

In addition to Arvin's advice, you might consider going to a local bookstore
or library and browsing the shelves. Looking through various books will give
you some idea which would be most useful to you. Would you call yourself a
beginner, a power user, someone just starting out in programming or an
experienced programmer?

Access beginner, but experienced in programming. Software engineer
back in S/360 (mainframe) days. Some experience in relational
databases.

Your current skill level would be an important
factor in your book choices. For example, the Access Developer's Handbook is
an essential book for all serious Access professionals, however, if you are
just beginning to learn to use Visual Basic for Applications, you might be
better off with a more general book, perhaps one by Viescas, or "Beginning
Access XXXX VBA" by Sussman and Smith. These books are not cheap, so a bit
or research might be worthwhile. Sample chapters are often available at
online bookstores. You might also try the following link:
http://www.viescas.com/Info/books.htm

FWIW, I began with Running Access 97 by Viescas (spine is completely worn
out with pages fluttering about like autumn leaves), then added Beginning
Access 2000 by Sussman, Smith. Eventually I purchased Mastering Access 2002
by Balter, Microsoft Access 2000 Visual Basic for Applications Fundamentals
by Callahan, the Access Developer's Handbook, and my latest Designing
Effective Database Systems by Riordan.

Also, if you don't mind my long-windedness, and some more advice, visit
these newsgroups regularly, you'll learn more here than in many books. Also,
if you are just beginning in VBA, you might save yourself a lot of time and
energy if you pay atttention to the following:
http://www.mvps.org/access/tencommandments.htm

I completely agree that these ngs are probably the single most
valuable resource short of a live-in db professional and personal
coach. ;-)

Good Luck!
Fred Boer

 

[Larry Linson]

VBA is one of my primary interests. Is the
Handbook mainly for VBA? I mean as
opposed to about Access itself (table design,
form design, reports, etc.).

The Developer Handbook covers Access itself and VBA. It is "deeper into"
Access VBA than any other book I've dealt with. I've read some other "VBA"
books, but they are "generic" and much of what we do with VBA is to
manipulate the Access object model, so a book specific to Access is a good
idea.

Like Arvin, I have every edition of the Litwin, Getz, et al _Access
Developer Guide_, and John Viescas' _Access 2003 Inside Out_. I saw Paul
Litwin in April 2004 and asked him when the 2003 edition would be out -- he
said that Sybex, the publisher, had decided that there would not be a 2003
edition. That probably makes a lot of sense, because there were very few new
features in Access 2003 over what was in Access 2002.

In answer to your earlier question, yes, the Access 2002 edition will serve
you well with Access 2003. The "big thing" that I can think of that would
be missing is that the DoCmd.OpenReport now includes an OpenArgs argument
like the DoCmd.OpenForm has included for many versions.

I suspect the authors and publishers will revisit the decision for a revised
version when they get a mid- to late-beta test version of the next Access
and can see how much change there will be to the content.

MVP Rebecca Riordan has a new, revised book out on _Designing Effective
Relational Database Systems_. I haven't read it, but know that I've been
well-pleased with everything she's done in the past. You'll find it at
Amazon.Com. That would be a good base for becoming fluent in relational
database planning and design.

And, for people just moving from power user to developer, and just getting
into VBA, I like Dr. Rick Dobson's _Programming MS Access <version>_. It is
heavy on ADO, which I do not use with Jet, since DAO is the native language
of Jet -- so you might want to find it in a well-stocked bookstore and look
it over before deciding to buy.

As a final suggestion -- in Access 2003's help pane, go to Office Online,
and follow the links for Training. There are quite a number of (free) Access
online training courses. Some of them might be useful, for refreshers, if
nothing more.

Best of luck with your learning efforts.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP