Newbie requesting Info.

[CEVisker]

Hi, I am VERY new to Access. As in first-time user. The small non-profit
organiztion that I started working for about 2 months ago needs some
serious data organization. I will be attending a workshop on the 17th
and 18th and also hoping to learn with the help of this forum as well.
My question is where I can find some common uses for Access, examples
of databases, and some things that I could do with it. If I could even
get some ideals by the way you guys use it, I would greatly appreciate
it. Feel free to email me. Again, I would really appreciate any info I
could get from you.

Thank You,

Chad

 

[Gary Miller]

Chad,

To answer a few of your questions...

Access is a very powerful 'relational database' program that
can do a myriad of things with it's biggest limitations
being heavy multi-user use and network loads. It's greatest
advantages are flexibility and speed of development for a
skilled developer.

Uses include accounting, order tracking, sales tracking,
client tracking, organizational tracking, ad infinium... You
name it and somebody has probably done a variation in
Access. I even developed a ski race timing program in
Access. Since you are in non-profit, you will probably be
interested to know that Habitat for Humanity has a generic
program for all of their affilliates that is totally done in
Access. I believe that it is called 'Habi-Track'.

Every version of Access comes with the sample Northwind.mdb
database and M$ has some others available for download. A
lot of developers have small sample dbs available for free
download as learning tools.

Access is a great tool, and a properly developed database is
very easy for a rookie user to use. The challenge is
learning the skills to create the database that is easy for
the user to use <gr>. These groups are great for coaching
folks along, but there will be a big learning curve if you
are a total newbie at it. The learning curve is well worth
it IMHO.

If you are a first time user and this is a non-profit, you
may want to do some research on seeing if there is a
solution already done that is close to your model. Sometimes
these are done in Access and sometimes you can get the
source code rights so that you can modify it as you need. I
just found something like this to handle charity auctions
for our community. Much quicker to tweak a well written
program than to recreate the wheel.

I will expect that you will get some other great insights on
this from others as well.

--

Gary Miller
Gary Miller Computer Services
Sisters, OR
________________________

 

[CEVisker]

Thanks Gary!!!

Any other responses would also be appreciated and very helpful.

Thank You,

Chad

 

[tina]

hi chad. gary miller gave you some excellent info in his
post. if i may add another cent or two:

if you have experience with other programming languages,
it will be easier for you. if you don't have (like i
didn't), and expect to be mainly self-taught (like i was),
the learning curve defines the word "steep" - if your
purpose is to build a database that works easily
and "right", for other people to use.
but you can do it (like i have, and lots of other people)
if you're willing to invest the time and effort; it helps
if you love the work

suggest you take the extra time NOW to learn and
understand the concepts of data normalization, and table
relationships. these are essential to building the basic
database structure correctly. this is the part that most
newbies don't hear about until way down the road (me
again), or just skip because they think it's too tedious
or unimportant.
but trust me - the time you invest in these two concepts
will repay you 1000-fold in SAVED time and frustration,
for every task you try to accomplish in every db you
build. if the underlying foundation isn't right, you'll
spend TONS of time trying to patch, mickey-mouse and prop
up the structure above.

hth, and good luck

ps. i've several years experience in building "in-house"
dbs. also not working at the moment, with plenty of time
on my hands and developer "withdrawal". if you ever need
more specific or in-depth help than you can get from
posting on the newgroups, feel free to email me and i'll
help you if i can. (e-mail address removed)

-----Original Message-----
Hi, I am VERY new to Access. As in first-time user. The small non-profit
organiztion that I started working for about 2 months ago needs some
serious data organization. I will be attending a workshop on the 17th
and 18th and also hoping to learn with the help of this forum as well.
My question is where I can find some common uses for Access, examples
of databases, and some things that I could do with it. If I could even
get some ideals by the way you guys use it, I would greatly appreciate
it. Feel free to email me. Again, I would really appreciate any info I
could get from you.

Thank You,

Chad



------------------------------------------------

 

[Gary Miller]

Tina,

Excellent addition to my post.

Thanks,

--

Gary Miller
Gary Miller Computer Services
Sisters, OR
________________________