Access 2003 VBA Programmer's Reference

Rating:
Summary: "A Must Have Reference"
Review: As an Access Developer this is one of my most used Access VBA reference books. All of the authors present the material in a good comprehensive manner for all levels of Access development. There are many clearly presented code examples and Access information that will assist in all levels of development.
There are many good chapters in the book; however don't overlook the Appendices as they are exceptional.(Note: Appendix I "Tips and Tricks") I know most Access Developers are selective in the books they buy. If you scan this book you will see how much above other VBA reference books this particular book is.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, hands-on reference
Review: I have to agree with reviewer Paul E. that the authors did an outstanding job on this book.

The book is comprehensive, covering just about everything you need to know when you're working with Access application development.

For me, the 250 pages or so of appendixes have been the most useful, but there's also a sixty-page chapter on database security in the middle of the book that should be required reading for all Access developers.

Here's the table of contents from my copy of the book:

Introduction.

1. Intro to Access.

2. Access, VBA, and Macros.

3. New Features in 2003 (and 2002).

4. VBA Basics.

5. Using the VBA Editor.

6. Using DAO to Access Data.

7. Using ADO to Access Data.

8. Executing VBA.

9. VBA Error Handling.

10. Using VBA to Enhance Forms.

11. Enhancing Reports with VBA.

12. Creating Classes.

13. APIs.

14. SQL & VBA.

15. Working with Office Applications.

16. Security.

17. Understanding Client-Server Development with VBA.

18. Windows Registry.

19. Using the ADE Tools.

20. Macro Security.

Appendix A: Upgrading to Access 2003.

Appendix B: References for Projects.

Appendix C: DAO Object Method and Property Descriptions.

Appendix D: ADO Object Model Reference.

Appendix E: Access Object Model.

Appendix F: Windows API Reference Information .

Appendix G: Naming Conventions.

Appendix H: VBA Reserved Words.

Appendix I: Tips and Tricks.

Appendix J: ADO Object Argument Information.

Appendix K: Access Wizards, Builders and Managers.

Appendix L: Windows Registry Information.

Rating:
Summary: This book is for programmers - not beginners
Review: Read the title before you buy this book. The book is a reference for Programmers already familiar with Access and it shows a lot of examples which can be used by most Programmers. If VBA Programming is new to you, you should start with a "Step by Step" book and then afterwards carry on with this book. Personally I missed the declaration of variables in this book (as well as in most other books about Programming).

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Old School Approach to Access
Review: This book is breezy enough in tone and works well enough as a programmer's reference but the rah-rah Access! delivery grates after a while. The authors are old school in that they introduce an end of life data access model (DAO) at length and then make endless and confusing references to it while they document the current initiative, ADO. (They spend 64 pages on DAO--a legacy object model useful only for desktop databases and 46 pages on ADO, the preferred model, an evolving technology for use with everything from desktop to enterprise.) These topics should be treated in isolation from one another as a side-by-side comparison is just unnecessarily confusing, especially for users of Access 2000/XP/2003. It's almost like their only intent is to prove how long they've been Access developers instead of providing the most streamlined and useful documentation--in other words, it's more about them than it is you. They're also big on their own received wisdom as opposed to accuracy like encouraging readers to document their code as if they were writing a bible because there is no speed hit involved--this isn't necessarily true. They also have a bad habit of not declaring variables in their sample code (with annoyingly trendy scenarios like "how many lattes can I buy?"), which is a cause for concern in a book about programming. There is useful, if overenthusiastic, coverage of the new features in Access 2003. If you're comfortable with the series and need a lengthy reference to complement the Microsoft Access help files, you'll find useful information here...with large swaths of information (hundreds of pages at a time) that you'll probably never use.

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Old School Approach to Access
Review: This book is breezy enough in tone and works well enough as a programmer's reference but the rah-rah Access! delivery grates after a while. The authors are old school in that they introduce an end of life data access model (DAO) at length and then make endless and confusing references to it while they document the current initiative, ADO. (They spend 64 pages on DAO--a legacy object model useful only for desktop databases and 46 pages on ADO, the preferred model, an evolving technology for use with everything from desktop to enterprise.) These topics should be treated in isolation from one another as a side-by-side comparison is just unnecessarily confusing, especially for users of Access 2000/XP/2003. It's almost like their only intent is to prove how long they've been Access developers instead of providing the most streamlined and useful documentation--in other words, it's more about them than it is you. They're also big on their own received wisdom as opposed to accuracy like encouraging readers to document their code as if they were writing a bible because there is no speed hit involved--this isn't necessarily true. They also have a bad habit of not declaring variables in their sample code (with annoyingly trendy scenarios like "how many lattes can I buy?"), which is a cause for concern in a book about programming. There is useful, if overenthusiastic, coverage of the new features in Access 2003. If you're comfortable with the series and need a lengthy reference to complement the Microsoft Access help files, you'll find useful information here...with large swaths of information (hundreds of pages at a time) that you'll probably never use.

Rating:
Summary: This book has it all!
Review: This is a very special book. The authors obviously went way out of their way to include everything that you could need to be a successful Access developer. As far as I know, this extensive reference material has never before been assembled in one place. As a result, it is just the right thing for aspiring intermediate and advanced users of Microsoft Access. Even many developers with extensive experience will be surprised at what can finally become clear to them by checking out what this reference makes available. You'd have to search the Microsoft and other sites for weeks to assemble all this on your own.

This well-written reference covers everything from VBA basics to using the new Access Developer Extensions, which are part of Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System. In between it also covers error handling, enhancing forms, enhancing reports, SQL coding, and even working with the Windows Registry. The appendices go all the way from A to L, or from Upgrading of Access (what other book covers this subject at all, never mind so thoroughly?) to VBA Reserved Words.

I have never seen such comprehensive reference material! And is it loaded with tips, tips, tips! The authors have obviously lived in the trenches with Access for some time. They know what to watch out for. They know what kind of protocols you should set up yourself to boost your success.

It took the experience of four co-authors and several other contributors to bring this work together. Patricia, Teresa, Graham and Armen have provided a unique Access reference that will get you up and going fast and save you scads of time that you would otherwise have wasted learning "the hard way" or, at best, wasted digging through a multitude of written and online references. This is a special, one-of-a kind reference work!