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Rating: 
Summary: An Access book that dont try to sell a SQL program!
Review: First time reading a book about Access by MicrosoftPress, I dont have any problems running the examples from the CD. I have used Windows 98. Very well written, very professional, the way books about software programming should be written, not trying to make things difficult or showing off knowledge beyond the task it aims. All the examples use Access database, and the SQL softwares are not mentioned, as they are in most books about Access, whose authors couldn't resist to run an Access Form on a SQL database.
Rating: 
Summary: Good and Versatile
Review: This book covers all the basics of Access in a format that is easy to understand. It does require familiarity with Windows, but most people looking for this level of understanding in Access have that already. The CDRom files makes the lessons easy and informative. It is written for XP, but I have 2000 Professional, and with a few exceptions, I could do all the lessons in the book. If you are going to use the book for a different version than XP, though, you really have to have a working knowledge of Access already. All in all, a good resource that I believe will serve me well in the future as a reference book.
Rating:
Summary: Great for beginners, but not much for...
Review: This book is great for beginners, but not much for actually figuring out how something works to be able to use that 'something' in a personal database that you may create from scratch. But I do recommend it for beginners to learn how to operate Access and create a simple database.
Rating:
Summary: Good and Versatile
Review: This book uses a bogus garden store example to teach you how to go through various functions in Access. This book is great if you have never used Access before. However, if you are trying to set-up a database for more specific needs/functionality, I don't think step-by-step gives you enough information to accomplish this goal. After I read this book cover to cover and completing all of the exercises, I was able to create a basic (simple) database. If that is all you want to do, this book is perfect. The major problem I had with this selection, was there is not enough explaination as to why I was doing something. I could easily follow the concise step by step instructions and accomplish what they were telling me to do in the sample database, but there was no explaiation as to what each step I was performing was accomplishing. Now that I have created a simple basic database, I need another book to create calculations, and basically use the database the way I need to. Step-by-step was great for teaching me the absolute basics, but I think I would have done better by getting a different book that could take me beyond that. If I had, I probably could have actually acomplished what I need to to with Access. Instead, I am back again buying another book.
Rating: 
Summary: It's ok - especially if you own a garden store
Review: This book uses a bogus garden store example to teach you how to go through various functions in Access. This book is great if you have never used Access before. However, if you are trying to set-up a database for more specific needs/functionality, I don't think step-by-step gives you enough information to accomplish this goal. After I read this book cover to cover and completing all of the exercises, I was able to create a basic (simple) database. If that is all you want to do, this book is perfect. The major problem I had with this selection, was there is not enough explaination as to why I was doing something. I could easily follow the concise step by step instructions and accomplish what they were telling me to do in the sample database, but there was no explaiation as to what each step I was performing was accomplishing. Now that I have created a simple basic database, I need another book to create calculations, and basically use the database the way I need to. Step-by-step was great for teaching me the absolute basics, but I think I would have done better by getting a different book that could take me beyond that. If I had, I probably could have actually acomplished what I need to to with Access. Instead, I am back again buying another book.
Rating:
Summary: An Access book that dont try to sell a SQL program!
Review: This is a great book. I had used Access to perform queries and generate reports a few years ago, but had forgotten the details, and I had never made a database myself. Recently I needed to make a database and some reports from scratch. Since I thought I was not a "beginner" I first purchased Microsoft Access Version 2002 Inside Out (by Feddema), which was a mistake. That book may be a suitable reference once you know the Access basics (and I'm not even sure it's that great a reference), but it didn't help me learn the basics. Then I got Step By Step and by following the chapters and the samples from the CD I was able to make rapid progress. The book is well written, easy to follow in a logical order and has examples of all the basic skills needed to create and use a basic database. It took two full days to go through the examples, but I learned enough to create the database I needed to make. It will also be a good reference for the occasional Access user who needs a refresher in basic skills. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A great book for beginners
Review: This is a great book. I had used Access to perform queries and generate reports a few years ago, but had forgotten the details, and I had never made a database myself. Recently I needed to make a database and some reports from scratch. Since I thought I was not a "beginner" I first purchased Microsoft Access Version 2002 Inside Out (by Feddema), which was a mistake. That book may be a suitable reference once you know the Access basics (and I'm not even sure it's that great a reference), but it didn't help me learn the basics. Then I got Step By Step and by following the chapters and the samples from the CD I was able to make rapid progress. The book is well written, easy to follow in a logical order and has examples of all the basic skills needed to create and use a basic database. It took two full days to go through the examples, but I learned enough to create the database I needed to make. It will also be a good reference for the occasional Access user who needs a refresher in basic skills. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: Wow! This series has really improved since the 2000 version . . . and it is in color! (This series is for the version 2002 programs, which are part of Office XP - which replaces the Office 2000 programs.) I wasn't really planning to buy any of these books this time around until I looked a little more closely at them. They are very nice! So I bought them all! Basically, the Microsoft Press Step by Step series is geared to teach a beginner how to use each application program in step by step lessons. Even though they start from the beginning, these books are also great for intermediate and advanced users. More advanced users can also go to the Microsoft Press "Inside Out" Series, which is more of a comprehensive reference (the Inside Out Series replaces the "Running" Series). This book has several nice features: steps are clearly numbered; figures and screen images are in color; there is a comprehensive quick reference, glossary, and index; and a cd is included for additional study. One of the nicest new features is a section that lists all of the Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) objectives, and shows the page numbers in the book where the objectives are taught - this is a great help in preparation for the MOUS certification exams. This book contains ten chapters: Getting to Know Microsoft Access 2002; Creating a New Database; Getting Information Into and Out of a Database; Simplifying Data Entry with Forms; Locating Specific Information; Keeping Your Information Accurate; Working with Reports; Making It Easy for Others to Use Your Database; Keeping Your Information Secure; and Working with Pages and Modules. I also recommend Microsoft Office XP Introductory Concepts and Techniques; Microsoft Office XP Advanced Concepts and Techniques; and Microsoft Office XP Post Advanced Concepts and Techniques by Gary B. Shelly, et al.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: Wow! This series has really improved since the 2000 version! And it is in color! (This series is for the version 2002 programs, which are part of Office XP - which replaces the Office 2000 programs.) I wasn't really planning to buy any of these books this time around until I looked a little more closely at them. They are very nice! So I bought them all! Basically, the Microsoft Press Step by Step series is geared to teach a beginner how to use each application program in step by step lessons. Even though they start from the beginning, these books are also great for intermediate and advanced users. More advanced users can also go to the Microsoft Press "Inside Out" Series, which is more of a comprehensive reference (the Inside Out Series replaces the "Running" Series). This book has several nice features: steps are clearly numbered; figures and screen images are in color; there is a comprehensive quick reference, glossary, and index; and a cd is included for additional study. One of the nicest new features is a section that lists all of the Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) objectives, and shows the page numbers in the book where the objectives are taught - this is a great help in preparation for the MOUS certification exams. This book contains ten chapters: Getting to Know Microsoft Access 2002; Creating a New Database; Getting Information Into and Out of a Database; Simplifying Data Entry with Forms; Locating Specific Information; Keeping Your Information Accurate; Working with Reports; Making It Easy for Others to Use Your Database; Keeping Your Information Secure; and Working with Pages and Modules. I also recommend Microsoft Office XP Introductory Concepts and Techniques; Microsoft Office XP Advanced Concepts and Techniques; and Microsoft Office XP Post Advanced Concepts and Techniques by Gary B. Shelly, et al.
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