Access Database Design & Programming, 3rd Edition

Larger Cover

By Steven Roman, PhD

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: January 2002

Pages: 448

Access Database Design & Programming takes you behind the details of the Access interface, focusing on the general knowledge necessary for Access power users or developers to create effective database applications. When using software products with graphical interfaces, we frequently focus so much on the interface that we forget about the general concepts that allow us to understand and use the software effectively. In particular, this book focuses on three areas:

Database design. The book provides an enjoyable, informative overview of database design that carefully shows you how to normalize tables to eliminate redundancy without losing data.
Queries. The book examines multi-table queries (i.e.,various types of joins) and shows how to implement them indirectly by using the Access interface or directly by using Access SQL.
Programming. The book examines the VBA integrated development environment (IDE). It then goes on to provide an excellent introduction to Data Access Objects (DAO), ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), and ADO Extensions for Data Definition and Security (ADOX). These sections serve as a handy introduction and primer for basic database operations,such as modifying a table under program control, dynamically adding and deleting a record, and repositioning a record pointer. The concluding chapter focuses on common programming problems, such as computing running sums and comparing two sets.

Unlike other Access books that take the long, detailed approach to every topic of concern to Access programmers, Access Database Design &Programming instead focuses on the core concepts, enabling programmers to develop solid, effective database applications. This book also serves as a 'second course' in Access that provides a relatively experienced Access user who is new to programming with the frequently overlooked techniques necessary to develop successfully in the Microsoft Access environment.

Anyone interested in learning Access in depth, rather than just scraping the surface, will enjoy and benefit immensely from reading this book.

Database Design
1. Chapter 1 Introduction
  1. Database Design
  2. Database Programming
2. Chapter 2 The Entity-Relationship Model of a Database
  1. What Is a Database?
  2. Entities and Their Attributes
  3. Keys and Superkeys
  4. Relationships Between Entities
3. Chapter 3 Implementing Entity-Relationship Models: Relational Databases
  1. Implementing Entities
  2. A Short Glossary
  3. Implementing the Relationships in a Relational Database
  4. The LIBRARY Relational Database
  5. Index Files
  6. NULL Values
4. Chapter 4 Database Design Principles
  1. Redundancy
  2. Normal Forms
  3. First Normal Form
  4. Functional Dependencies
  5. Second Normal Form
  6. Third Normal Form
  7. Boyce-Codd Normal Form
  8. Normalization
Database Queries
1. Chapter 5 Query Languages and the Relational Algebra
  1. Query Languages
  2. Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus
  3. Details of the Relational Algebra
2. Chapter 6 Access Structured Query Language (SQL)
  1. Introduction to Access SQL
  2. Access Query Design
  3. Access Query Types
  4. Why Use SQL?
  5. Access SQL
  6. The DDL Component of Access SQL
  7. The DML Component of Access SQL
Database Architecture
1. Chapter 7 Database System Architecture
  1. Why Program?
  2. Database Systems
  3. Database Management Systems
  4. The Jet DBMS
  5. Data Definition Languages
  6. Data Manipulation Languages
  7. Host Languages
  8. The Client/Server Architecture
Visual Basic for Applications
1. Chapter 8 The Visual Basic Editor, Part I
  1. The Project Window
  2. The Properties Window
  3. The Code Window
  4. The Immediate Window
  5. Arranging Windows
2. Chapter 9 The Visual Basic Editor, Part II
  1. Navigating the IDE
  2. Getting Help
  3. Creating a Procedure
  4. Run Mode, Break Mode, and Design Mode
  5. Errors
  6. Debugging
3. Chapter 10 Variables, Data Types, and Constants
  1. Comments
  2. Line Continuation
  3. Constants
  4. Variables and Data Types
  5. VBA Operators
4. Chapter 11 Functions and Subroutines
  1. Calling Functions
  2. Calling Subroutines
  3. Parameters and Arguments
  4. Exiting a Procedure
  5. Public and Private Procedures
  6. Fully Qualified Procedure Names
5. Chapter 12 Built-in Functions and Statements
  1. The MsgBox Function
  2. The InputBox Function
  3. VBA String Functions
  4. Miscellaneous Functions and Statements
  5. Handling Errors in Code
6. Chapter 13 Control Statements
  1. The If ...Then Statement
  2. The For Loop
  3. The Exit For Statement
  4. The For Each Loop
  5. The Do Loop
  6. The Select Case Statement
  7. A Final Note on VBA
Data Access Objects
1. Chapter 14 Programming DAO: Overview
  1. Objects
  2. The DAO Object Model
  3. The Microsoft Access Object Model
  4. Referencing Objects
  5. Collections Are Objects Too
  6. The Properties Collection
  7. Closing DAO Objects
  8. A Look at the DAO Objects
  9. The CurrentDb Function
2. Chapter 15 Programming DAO: Data Definition Language
  1. Creating a Database
  2. Opening a Database
  3. Creating a Table and Its Fields
  4. Creating an Index
  5. Creating a Relation
  6. Creating a QueryDef
3. Chapter 16 Programming DAO: Data Manipulation Language
  1. Recordset Objects
  2. Opening a Recordset
  3. Moving Through a Recordset
  4. Finding Records in a Recordset
  5. Editing Data Using a Recordset
ActiveX Data Objects
1. Chapter 17 ADO and OLE DB
  1. What Is ADO?
  2. Installing ADO
  3. ADO and OLE DB
  4. The ADO Object Model
  5. Finding OLE DB Providers
  6. A Closer Look at Connection Strings
  7. An Example: Using ADO over the Web
2. Chapter 18 ADOX: Jet Data Definition in ADO
  1. The ADOX Object Model
Programming Problems
1. Chapter 19 Some Common Data Manipulation Problems
  1. Running Sums
  2. Overlapping Intervals I
  3. Overlapping Intervals II
  4. Making Assignments with Default
  5. Time to Completion I
  6. Time to Completion II
  7. Time to Completion III—A MaxMin Problem
  8. Vertical to Horizontal
  9. A Matching Problem
  10. Equality of Sets
Appendixes
1. Appendix A DAO 3.0/3.5 Collections, Properties, and Methods
  1. DAO Classes
  2. A Collection Object
  3. Connection Object (DAO 3.5 Only)
  4. Container Object
  5. Database Object
  6. DBEngine Object
  7. Document Object
  8. Error Object
  9. Field Object
  10. Group Object
  11. Index Object
  12. Parameter Object
  13. Property Object
  14. QueryDef Object
  15. Recordset Object
  16. Relation Object
  17. TableDef Object
  18. User Object
  19. Workspace Object
2. Appendix B The Quotient: An Additional Operation of the Relational Algebra
  1. Step 1
  2. Step 2
  3. Step 3
3. Appendix C Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
  1. Introduction
  2. The ODBC Driver Manager
  3. The ODBC Driver
  4. Data Sources
  5. Getting ODBC Driver Help
  6. Getting ODBC Information Using Visual Basic
4. Appendix D Obtaining or Creating the Sample Database
  1. Creating the Database
  2. Creating the BOOKS Table
  3. Creating the AUTHORS Table
  4. Creating the PUBLISHERS Table
  5. Creating the BOOK/AUTHOR Table
  6. Backing Up the Database
  7. Entering and Running the Sample Programs
5. Appendix E Suggestions for Further Reading

Colophon

Title:

Access Database Design & Programming, 3rd Edition

By:

Steven Roman, PhD

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Ebook
Safari Books Online

Print:

January 2002

Ebook:

June 2009

Pages:

448

Print ISBN:

978-0-596-00273-2

| ISBN 10:

0-596-00273-4

Ebook ISBN:

978-0-596-55603-7

| ISBN 10:

0-596-55603-9

Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover of Access Database Design and Programming is a Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla), one of three species comprising the anteater family. The Southern tamandua is also known as the collared anteater (although vested anteater might be a better name). Tamanduas live in the tropical rainforest. They spend much of their time in the forest canopy, feasting on ants and termites; they often move awkwardly when they descend to the ground. Tamanduas use their powerful forearms for self-defense. When attacked, they will back up against a rock or cling to a tree branch with their hind legs, while fighting and clawing with their forearms. Amazonian Indians sometimes use tamanduas to clear their homes of ants and termites. Despite this useful trait, the tamandua is an endangered species. They are often killed for their tails, the tendons of which are used to make ropes. Jeffrey Holcomb was the production editor and proofreader for Access Database Design and Programming. Clairemarie Fisher O'Leary and Tatiana Apandi Diaz were the copyeditors. Rachel Wheeler, Matt Hutchinson, and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Brenda Miller wrote the index.

Edie Freedman designed the cover of this book. The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

David Futato designed the interior layout. Mihaela Maier converted the files from Microsoft Word to FrameMaker 5.5.6 using tools created by Mike Sierra. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Clairemarie Fisher O'Leary.

Description

Table of Contents

Product Details

Colophon

Recommended for You

Recently Viewed

Web Security Testing Cookbook

Systematic Techniques to Find Problems Fast

By Paco Hope, Ben Walther

October 2008

Ebook: $31.99

Print & Ebook: $43.99

Print: $39.99

Learning JavaScript, 2nd Edition

Add Sparkle and Life to Your Web Pages

By Shelley Powers

December 2008

Ebook: $27.99

Print & Ebook: $38.49

Print: $34.99

Effective UI

The Art of Building Great User Experience in Software

By Jonathan Anderson, John McRee, Robb Wilson, The EffectiveUI Team

January 2010

Ebook: $35.99

Print & Ebook: $49.49

Print: $44.99

Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

oreilly Access Database Design & Programming, Third Edition

4.9

(based on 7 reviews)

Reviews

Reviewed by 7 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-7

1/2/2007

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Excellent Book

By Motolep

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Access Database Design & Programming, Third Edition:

this book is very benefit and very excellent.

Unlike other Access books,most access database books focus about access interfaces , but this books focus on the design & programming rules.

I advise every one who want to learn access database to buy this book .

7/13/2004

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

A true no-nonsense book

By Samid_V

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Access Database Design & Programming, Third Edition:

In my experience of reading beginner´s books, I have only encountered authors that think you have never seen a computer in your life and keep everything as simplistic as possible. Steven Roman is not that kind of author.

This book is a perfect introduction not only to Access but to Database Design. The author first introduces some mathematical concepts regarding databases and keeps building a strong ground based on that. SQL queries, VBA programming, ActiveX Data Objects, everything is here challenging the reader in a highly gratifying manner.

I look forward to read all the Roman Saga.

4/21/2004

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Access Database Design & Programming

By Alex G

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Access Database Design & Programming, Third Edition:

A clear, informative guide to Access programming. I got this book due to it's coverage of ADO and ADOX, as most books only seem to cover this in the context of ASP. It was very informative in these respects but also useful for the sections of Relational Algebra. This book now lives on my desk and I use it at least once a week. A must for anyone who has to programme Access on a regular or semi-regular basis.

4/2/2004

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Access Database Design & Programming, 3rd Edition Review

By *

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Access Database Design & Programming, Third Edition:

Good price and well written informative book about access database design and design. Nothing more nothing less!

Emo

5/18/2002

4.0

Access Database Design & Programming, 3rd Edition Review

By anom

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Access Database Design & Programming, Third Edition:

really nice book especially explaining design, DAO, VBA

need more infos on ADO !

2/8/2002

5.0

Access Database Design & Programming, 3rd Edition Review

By Tristan Blais

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Access Database Design & Programming, Third Edition:

I really recommand this book. Its absolutly amazing. Anyone who has a hard time understanding normalization or other database design concepts will find this book a life saver. Its also a great refresher or reference for others who have to use Access from time to time. I'm looking forward to this 3rd Edition. In fact, I'll buy it today. Keep up the great work!

1/25/2002

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Access Database Design & Programming, 3rd Edition Review

By h

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Access Database Design & Programming, Third Edition:

as a reader of v.2 i was interested to see what was new in v.3. basically, all of the good stuff in the prior book was kept intact and some new good stuff was added. my primary complaint is that the size has grown enough so that it doesnt use lay-flat binding. as the preface mentions, it added a couple extra chapters at the end for ADOX and some more example problems. the examples are heartily recommended, but the ADOX was difficult to follow (not the authors fault, but rather MS for making it so hard to do). i liked the change in the grammar from 1st plural to 1st singular so that sentences went from "we can do xxx" to "i now do xxx". yet this jarred when i came across politically-correct examples later on that referred to "she can" when i assume the author is male. but this is a nitpick when the book is decidedly general. as a general book on access and db-design it is without peer. if you buy it for no other reason that to understand how to normalize your initial db-design then it is money well-spent.

Displaying reviews 1-7

Save a Tree - Go Digital what is this?

Ebook: $27.99

Formats: DAISY, PDF

Print & Ebook: $38.45

Print: $34.95

Safari Books Online - Read now >

Database Design

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 The Entity-Relationship Model of a Database

Chapter 3 Implementing Entity-Relationship Models: Relational Databases

Chapter 4 Database Design Principles

Database Queries

Chapter 5 Query Languages and the Relational Algebra

Chapter 6 Access Structured Query Language (SQL)

Database Architecture

Chapter 7 Database System Architecture

Visual Basic for Applications

Chapter 8 The Visual Basic Editor, Part I

Chapter 9 The Visual Basic Editor, Part II

Chapter 10 Variables, Data Types, and Constants

Chapter 11 Functions and Subroutines

Chapter 12 Built-in Functions and Statements

Chapter 13 Control Statements

Data Access Objects

Chapter 14 Programming DAO: Overview

Chapter 15 Programming DAO: Data Definition Language

Chapter 16 Programming DAO: Data Manipulation Language

ActiveX Data Objects

Chapter 17 ADO and OLE DB

Chapter 18 ADOX: Jet Data Definition in ADO

Programming Problems

Chapter 19 Some Common Data Manipulation Problems

Appendixes

Appendix A DAO 3.0/3.5 Collections, Properties, and Methods

Appendix B The Quotient: An Additional Operation of the Relational Algebra

Appendix C Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

Appendix D Obtaining or Creating the Sample Database

Appendix E Suggestions for Further Reading

Colophon

About O'Reilly

Community

More O'Reilly Sites

Partner Sites

Shop O'Reilly