Accessible Access 2000 - Softcover

Whitehorn, Mark; Marklyn, Bill

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1852333138 ISBN 13: 9781852333133

Publisher: Springer, 2000

Synopsis

Written by the team who brought you 'Inside Relational Databases'. About the authors: Bill Marklyn, as the Development Manager for the first two major releases of Access, oversaw the entire design and so provides an intimate knowledge of the product. Mark Whitehorn designs and builds databases but is best known for his popular and long running database column in the UK's 'Personal Computer World'. "These two authors make a perfect team. Bill Marklyn knows the product inside out and Mark Whitehorn makes the information Accessible" Neil Fawcett, Group Technical Editor, VNU Business Publications "PCW and Amazon.co.uk contributor Mark Whitehorn is that rare combination -- an expert in his field, databases, and a fine writer too, with a talent for honing a complex subject down to its essentials" Tamsin Todd - Computers & Internet Editor, Amazon.co.uk About the book: Accessible Access 2000 assumes that you start with no knowledge of Access or databases and takes you to the point where you can create and use a multi-table database. (For more information, see chapter one). It is written in the highly readable style of the authors' previous book; a style that was much appreciated by readers: "'Inside Relational Databases' is excellent. It is clearly and concisely written and full of humorous asides which ease the reader through an otherwise weighty topic. Probably the most engaging technical book I have read" Paul McGowan "As a result of ordering and studying your excellent book, 'Inside Relational Databases', it is now required reading for all my students. This e-mail is simply to say thank you for a superb and understandable publication. I've learned a lot from it, and I'm sure my delegates will too" Ian Wilshaw

About this title

Review

Written by a working writer and database designer with the man who co-wrote Access itself, this book successfully combines a mastery of its subject with a lucid, first-person writing style unusual--to say the least--in books on databases. The result is a readable book about an application type notorious for its dullness.

The authors assume a familiarity with Windows and the Office environment, but start with firing up Access 2000 for the first time. They assume no previous knowledge of database theory or practice. Accessible Access 2000 isn't just a book for beginners though, it's for those who want to use Access 2000 for real-world applications. To achieve this, the authors cover the features you need in depth while merely mentioning those you don't. In practice, a decade of creeping "featuritus" means you don't need most of them. The devil, though, is in the detail. This is where Accessible Access 2000 really scores. For example, on page 111 they discuss the difference between a null field and a zero length string. Null fields are ignored by Access 2000, so taking an average value when values are only entered for 20 of 30 records works correctly with null fields but not with zero length fields. Practical detail like this can save you hours of anguish. In fact, even if you don't actually have a use for databases, the style encourages enthusiasm. Who'd have thought closure--which enables you to build forms which take their input from an answer table--could be interesting?

The authors take you as far as making use of multiple tables. You'll learn how to join multiple tables, query them and produce forms to display their contents. You'll even enjoy learning it. Accessible Access 2000 is easily the most accessible (pun intended) book on Access available. --Steve Patient

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1852333138
• ISBN 13: 9781852333133
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336