From Book News, Inc.
Intended for beginners, this guide explains how to create data tables and queries in Access 2003, build forms and reports, and automate applications with Visual Basic (VBA) commands. More advanced chapters discuss enterprise applications, web applications, security, help systems, and action queries. The CD-ROM contains example files, chapters from other Office 2003 books, and demonstration software. Two of the three authors work for Database Creations, which provided most of the demo software.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description
* The most comprehensive reference on this popular database management tool, fully updated with the new features of Access "X" including increased use of XML and Web services
* Explores the new, tighter integration with SharePoint and BizTalk in Office "X" that enables greater flexibility for gathering and manipulating data
* Written by an international bestselling author team with several books to their credit, including previous editions of Access Bible
* Gets Access beginners started with hundreds of examples, tips, and techniques for getting the most from Access
* Offers advanced programming information for serious professionals
* CD-ROM includes all templates and worksheets used in the book, as well as sample chapters from all Wiley Office "X" related Bibles and useful third party software, including John Walkenbach's Power Utility Pak


From the Back Cover
If Access 2003 can do it, you can do it too... Databases can be complex. That’s why you need the expert guidance in this comprehensive reference manual to help you harness their power with a solid understanding of database purpose, construction, and application. If this is your first encounter with Access, you’ll appreciate the thorough attention to database fundamentals and terminology. If you’re familiar with earlier versions, you can jump right into Access 2003 enhancements like wider use of XML and Web services. Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Access 2003 Create tables, manipulate datasheets, and work with multiple tables Understand the seven database objects and design systems objects Apply the seven-step design method to build databases tailored to your needs Build forms with wizards, create bound and unbound forms, and add data validation Learn how to use Visual Basic® and the VBA Editor to automate Access applications Use XML to create basic and advanced Data Access Pages Automate query parameters, create functions and subroutines, and add programmed error routines Exchange data with Word, Excel, PowerPoint®, and other Office applications Bonus CD-ROM and companion Web site! All source code from the book as well as a complete working example Exclusive Office 2003 Super Bible eBook, with more than 500 pages of information about how Microsoft Office components work together Bonus shareware, freeware, trial, demo, and evaluation programs that work with or enhance Microsoft Office Searchable eBook version of Access 2003 Bible An easy-to-use interface that allows you to browse and install everything on the CD


About the Author
Cary N. Prague is an internationally best-selling author and lecturer in the database industry. He owns Database Creations, Inc., the world’s largest Microsoft Access add-on company. Their products include a line of financial software; Business! For Microsoft Office, a mid-range accounting system, POSitively Business! Point of Sale software, the Inventory Barcode manager for mobile data collection, and the Check Writer and General Ledger. Database Creations also produces a line of developer tools including the appBuilder, an application generator for Microsoft Access, the EZ Access Developer Tools for building great user interfaces, appWatcher for maintaining code bases among several developers, and Surgical Strike, the only Patch Manager for Microsoft Access.
Cary also owns Database Creations Consulting, LLC., a successful consulting firm specializing in Microsoft Access and SQL Server applications. Local and national clients include many Fortune 100 companies including manufacturers, defense contractors, insurance, health-care, and software industry companies. His client list includes Microsoft, United Technologies, ABB, Smith & Wesson Firearms, Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, ProHealth, OfficeMax, Continental Airlines, and other Fortune 500 companies.

Michael R. Irwin is considered one of the leading authorities on automated database and Internet management systems today. He is a noted worldwide lecturer, a winner of national and international awards, best-selling author, and developer of client/server, Internet, Intranet, and PC-based database management systems.
Michael has extensive database knowledge, gained by working with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. as a developer and analyst for the Information Systems Division for over 20 years and assorted Federal Agencies of the United States Government. Since retiring in June 1992, he runs his own consulting firm, named The Irwin Group, and is principal partner in the company - IT in Asia, LLC, specializing in Internet database integration and emphasizing Client/Server and net solutions. With consulting offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, Bangkok, Thailand, and Manila, Philippines, his companies offer training and development of Internet and database applications. His company has the distinction of being one of the first Microsoft Solution’s Providers (in 1992). His local, national, and international clients include many software companies, manufacturers, government agencies, and international companies.

Jennifer Reardon is considered a leading developer of custom database applications. She has over ten years’ experience developing client/server and PC-based applications. She has accumulated much of her application development experience working as lead developer for Database Creations. She has partnered with Cary Prague developing applications for many Fortune 500 companies.
Her most significant projects include a spare parts inventory control system for Pratt & Whitney’s F22 program, an engineering specifications system for ABBCombustion Engineering, and an emergency event tracking system for the State of Connecticut. She was also the lead developer of many of the Database Creations add-on software products including Business, Yes! I Can Run My Business, Check Writer, and the User Interface Construction Kit.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Microsoft Access 2003 doesn￯﾿ﾽt have to be intimidating. The authors of Access 2003 Bible have come up with a masterful approach to teaching it. Invest some time with them, and you￯﾿ﾽll be rewarded with deep enough mastery to accomplish virtually anything.

The authors have updated this book￯﾿ﾽs organization and content with great care. You￯﾿ﾽll first learn the core database development techniques that apply regardless of your environment -- beginning with a top-down, seven-step design process covering everything from overall system design to menus.

In this context, the authors introduce a sample application, Access Auto Auctions, which serves as a framework for everything that follows.

Later, once you￯﾿ﾽve systematically learned the key techniques of desktop database development, the authors show how to ￯﾿ﾽupsize￯﾿ﾽ your application for enterprise environments that require industrial-strength performance...and after that, how to extend your applications onto the Web.

That￯﾿ﾽs the high-level plan -- now for the details. The authors begin with essential definitions and questions: What￯﾿ﾽs a database? What are tables? Records? Fields? Values? Datasheets? Dynasets? Queries? What￯﾿ﾽs involved in designing a database? What happens if you don￯﾿ﾽt do it well? Why is it usually helpful to have multiple tables in your database?

Next, you￯﾿ﾽll take a close look at each step you￯﾿ﾽll need to follow to get from ￯﾿ﾽidea￯﾿ﾽ to efficient database. The authors offer examples of defining what your database must do (for example, maintain contact info, produce mailing labels); designing reports; organizing data; designing tables and relationships; providing for data entry and validation; and creating a Switchboard that helps users navigate your application.

Throughout the rest of Part I, you￯﾿ﾽll walk through every aspect of data tables, from data entry through basic queries and using external data. Next, the authors truly systematic coverage of forms and reports, from the basics (building forms with Wizards) through subforms, calculations, summaries, special report types, ActiveX controls, graphs, and Pivot Objects.

There￯﾿ﾽs a nine-chapter section on automating your applications -- covering everything from VBA to ADO and SQL, even programmed error routines.

Once you￯﾿ﾽve got a pretty solid application, the authors show how to upsize it. You￯﾿ﾽll walk through creating an Access Data Project that leverages the front end you￯﾿ﾽve already created, while using a more powerful, scalable back-end -- either the pricey SQL Server or the freebie Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE). There￯﾿ﾽs even a chapter on stored procedures and triggers.

When you￯﾿ﾽre ready to move your application to the Web, three chapters give you a strong grounding in Microsoft￯﾿ﾽs Data Access Pages (DAP), as well as Access 2003￯﾿ﾽs enhanced XML support. The book wraps up with wide-ranging advanced coverage -- everything from security to performance optimization, help systems to Access Developer￯﾿ﾽs Edition.

All the sample files you need are on the accompanying CD-ROM, along with a bundle of bonus content, including sample chapters from each of Wiley￯﾿ﾽs new Office 2003 Bibles, plus bonus third-party software. (A bonus for Excel users: John Walkenbach￯﾿ﾽs Power Utility Pak.) Bill Camarda

Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2000 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks for Dummies, Second Edition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Access is the popular database management tool included in the Microsoft Office suite, which has cornered more than 90 percent of the market for Windows-based application suites. With the most recent release of Office, Access has been enhanced with new flexibility in gathering and manipulating data. This book offers a comprehensive reference for using, troubleshooting, and getting the most from Access "X".

SYNOPSIS

If Access 2003 can do it, you can do it too...

Databases can be complex. That’s why you need the expert guidance in this comprehensive reference manual to help you harness their power with a solid understanding of database purpose, construction, and application. If this is your first encounter with Access, you’ll appreciate the thorough attention to database fundamentals and terminology. If you’re familiar with earlier versions, you can jump right into Access 2003 enhancements like wider use of XML and Web services.

Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Access 2003 Create tables, manipulate datasheets, and work with multiple tables Understand the seven database objects and design systems objects Apply the seven-step design method to build databases tailored to your needs Build forms with wizards, create bound and unbound forms, and add data validation Learn how to use Visual Basic® and the VBA Editor to automate Access applications Use XML to create basic and advanced Data Access Pages Automate query parameters, create functions and subroutines, and add programmed error routines Exchange data with Word, Excel, PowerPoint®, and other Office applications

Bonus CD-ROM and companion Web site! All source code from the book as well as a complete working example Exclusive Office 2003 Super Bible eBook, with more than 500 pages of information about how Microsoft Office components work together Bonus shareware, freeware, trial, demo, and evaluation programs that work with or enhance Microsoft Office Searchable eBook version of Access 2003 Bible An easy-to-use interface that allows you to browse and install everything on the CD