Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for Beginners or 'Teach Yourself-ers'
Review: After getting my feet wet with John Smileys 'Learn to Program with Visual Basic 6' I very much wanted more. 'Learn to Program Visual Basic Databases' was the most logical choice. It continues a project started in the VB6 book so there is a nice continuity right away. On the surface it may seem a bit wordy since it is based around John Smiley teaching a ficitional class. The whole point of buying ANY Visual Basic book, to me at least, is to actually LEARN Visual Basic. We can't all afford or have the time to take Visual Basic classes at the local college or online. If you want to learn Visual Basic on your own time and feel confident about what you are doing I would recommend any of John Smiley's books. You can always get more advanced books later.
Rating:
Summary: The best book I have ever read on vb
Review: From the very beginning of this book I knew that I was going to enjoy it. I had read the reviews that other people had written about it and they where very complementary. After reading other books about programming, I had just about given up hope of ever learning programming. Now all that has changed with this book. John Smiley really simplifies vb6 so that dunderheads like me can learn. The real life application of Joe Bullina's China Shop brings programming down to earth. The only Part of the book that I was disappointed with was (because I was using the learning edition of vb6 and not the professional edition)on page 180, John was using the Data Bound Grid Control which is not available on the learning edition so I could not follow the examples as well. Apart from that I am really looking foward to John Smiley's next book: Learn to Program Objects with Visual Basic 6.
Rating:
Summary: Personal service, immediate response
Review: I don't usually write reviews of books but this book is exceptional. I consider myself a near expert with Microsoft Office VBA but struggled with Visual Basic (the application). The unusual classroom setting of this book made me feel as if I were in the classroom with John Smiley teaching. I was finally being taught by someone who knew how to teach. In chapter 4 I finally ran into a problem I couldn't figure out. John Smiley was gracious enough to post his email address in the front of the book so, at half past midnight I sent him a note discussing my problem. I recieved a response from John at 8:30 that morning. John knew exactly what my problem was and gave me instructions on how to fix it. Once applied, my project worked perfectly. I can't express enough how much I appreciate this kind of customer service. Thanks, John.
Rating:
Summary: Personal service, immediate response
Review: I don't usually write reviews of books but this book is exceptional. I consider myself a near expert with Microsoft Office VBA but struggled with Visual Basic (the application). The unusual classroom setting of this book made me feel as if I were in the classroom with John Smiley teaching. I was finally being taught by someone who knew how to teach. In chapter 4 I finally ran into a problem I couldn't figure out. John Smiley was gracious enough to post his email address in the front of the book so, at half past midnight I sent him a note discussing my problem. I recieved a response from John at 8:30 that morning. John knew exactly what my problem was and gave me instructions on how to fix it. Once applied, my project worked perfectly. I can't express enough how much I appreciate this kind of customer service. Thanks, John.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a good book for a quick learning experience
Review: I found this book difficult to use and written in a poor manner. It seems that all he did was record a class that he taught, and then transcribed every word to paper.Reading what eighteen students said word for word was a waste of valuable time. He does not even provide an Appendix where he outlines teh various methods, properties, and explanations of each one. If you need to learn Database programming quickly in Visual Basic, stay away from this one. UGH. Thumbs down.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: If ever you need a book to take you step by step into database programming, this is it. Professor Smiley takes his students slowly and very carefully into the subject of Database programming. This book is focused on depth rather than covers a whole bunch of topics and at the end you learn all of none. I particularly like the classroom setting. You really feel an environment of learning and- who knows? You may even make a few new friends. This book is so well explainde, that you do not need to read over and over to make sense of what he is explaining. I must complement him for writing a really great book. If you have not yet already gotten copies of his other titles. I think you should do so, He makes learning fun.
Rating:
Summary: Learn to Program Visual Basic Databases
Review: John Smiley's book is supposed to be an introductory level book for novice level programmers. At the time it was written, I'm sure it was. However, the book is written around Access 97 and a lot has changed since then. The code simply will not work without patches, work arounds and lots of digging. It takes far more than a novice programmer to figure this one out. It defeats the purpose. If you don't like frustration, find a more recent book..
Rating:
Summary: I think it's a great book
Review: Let me begin by saying that I'm the author, so let's get that out of the way. I'm posting here to point out that the book has a tremendous amount of support materials that have never been advertised. Each of my books has a support page containing a current list of errata, downloadable files (completed exercises from the book), extra links to extra materials I have written and my email address in the event you have problems. I also run a series of online classes so that if you would like to learn with me in a more structured setting, you can do that also. You can access those materials via this link http://www.johnsmiley.com/books.htm I should also say that this book isn't for everyone---and you can read through some of the other reviews posted here to see why and why not. I wrote this book for beginner level programmers, and the book is written in a unique style. You (and I) can thank the now defunct Wrox Publishing house for the style of the book that some people absolutely love and others (primarily hotshot programmers with lots of experience) hate. The book is written as if you are participating in an actual classroom---many people, particularly those learning on their own or in an Independent study setting find comforting. My thanks to the many people who have written to me to tell me how much they've enjoyed my books and how they have helped them achieve their goals of learning to program. John Smiley
Rating: 
Summary: Buy this book if you are CLUELESS
Review: The "classroom atmosphere" of this book is far too excessive. For a beginner that has no idea what computer programming is, this book is ok. The concepts and methodologies in this book are great. The part that annoys me the most is that EVERY SINGLE term that is brought into this "class" generates like 5 dumb questions from the class members.
Ex.:
Professor: "..this recordset must be set to 'updatable' for you to be able to update it"
Student 1: "so it can't be updated if it is 'read only'?
Professor: "Thats correct Johnny. Boy you are catching on quick"
Student 2: "why can't it be updated if it is 'read only'?
Professor: "Well Suzie, once upon a time...." In summary, this book could be great if they took out all the redundant mundane questions shortening the page count to about 50. Also, I don't need to read: " 'ok students, next class we will talk about more recordsets'. I then allowed the class to go home early so they can go to the movies to see spider man.' "
Rating:
Summary: Great Database Book
Review: This book is an excellent tool for beginners, and intermediate level programmers. The way it reads is as close to being in the classroom as you can get without paying tuition.
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