Compared to industrial-strength database products such as Microsoft's SQL Server, Access is a breeze to use. It runs on PCs rather than servers and is ideal for small- to mid-sized businesses and households. But Access is still intimidating to learn. It doesn't help that each new version crammed in yet another set of features; so many, in fact, that even the pros don't know where to find them all. Access 2007 breaks this pattern with some of the most dramatic changes users have seen since Office 95. Most obvious is the thoroughly redesigned user interface, with its tabbed toolbar (or "Ribbon") that makes features easy to locate and use. The features list also includes several long-awaited changes. One thing that hasn't improved is Microsoft's documentation. To learn the ins and outs of all the features in Access 2007, Microsoft merely offers online help.
Access 2007: The Missing Manual was written from the ground up for this redesigned application. You will learn how to design complete databases, maintain them, search for valuable nuggets of information, and build attractive forms for quick-and-easy data entry. You'll even delve into the black art of Access programming (including macros and Visual Basic), and pick up valuable tricks and techniques to automate common tasks -- even if you've never touched a line of code before. You will also learn all about the new prebuilt databases you can customize to fit your needs, and how the new complex data feature will simplify your life. With plenty of downloadable examples, this objective and witty book will turn an Access neophyte into a true master.
Storing Information in Tables
Chapter 1 Creating Your First Database
Understanding Access Databases
Getting Started
Saving and Opening Access Databases
The Navigation Pane
Chapter 2 Building Smarter Tables
Understanding Data Types
Design View
Access Data Types
The Primary Key
Six Principles of Database Design
Chapter 3 Mastering the Datasheet: Sorting, Searching, Filtering, and More
Datasheet Customization
Datasheet Navigation
Advanced Editing
Printing the Datasheet
Chapter 4 Blocking Bad Data
Data Integrity Basics
Input Masks
Validation Rules
Lookups
Chapter 5 Linking Tables with Relationships
Relationship Basics
Using a Relationship
More Exotic Relationships
Relationship Practice
Manipulating Data with Queries
Chapter 6 Queries That Select Records
Query Basics
Creating Queries
Queries and Related Tables
Chapter 7 Essential Query Tricks
Calculated Fields
Query Functions
Summarizing Data
Query Parameters
Chapter 8 Queries That Update Records
Understanding Action Queries
Update Queries
Append Queries
Delete Queries
Tutorial: Flagging Out-of-Stock Orders
Chapter 9 Analyzing Data with Crosstab Queries and Pivot Tables
Matthew MacDonald is an author, educator, and programmer extraordinaire. He's the author of over a dozen books about .NET programming, and the author of Excel: The Missing Manual. In a dimly remembered past life, he studied English literature and theoretical physics.
Sanders Kleinfeld was the production editor for Access 2007: The Missing Manual. Mary Brady and Marlowe Shaeffer provided quality control. Lucie Haskins wrote the index.
The cover of this book is based on a series design originally created by David Freedman and modified by Mike Kohnke, Karen Montgomery, and Fitch (www.fitch.com). Back cover design, dog illustration, and color selection by Fitch.
David Futato designed the interior layout, based on a series design by Phil Simpson. This book was converted by Abby Fox to FrameMaker 5.5.6. The text font is Adobe Minion; the heading font is Adobe Formata 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 MX and Adobe Photoshop CS.
Comments about oreilly Access 2007: The Missing Manual:
I bought the pdf from [...]and it has been a real help to me. Becoming an Access Fleet DB developer isn't easy, but this book is helping me get it done.
7/17/2010
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Access 2007 With The Missing Manual
By BuckeyeBob
from Leesburg, Florida
About Me Developer
Pros
Accurate
Concise
Easy to understand
Helpful examples
Well-written
Cons
Best Uses
Intermediate
Comments about oreilly Access 2007: The Missing Manual:
Access 2007 "The Missing Manual" by Pogue Press/O'Reilly
I am a casual Microsoft Access user and have been for many years. I have used several different manuals and instruction books to get a handle on using Microsoft Access. At times I have had to get several manuals to help answer my questions. When I purchased Access 2007 I decided I needed further instruction and got "The Missing Manual", not only to help in utilizing the new "ribbon" format, but also to better understand how to use Access to my advantage.
I find the inclusion of pertinent matter while devoid of extraneous material in "The Missing Manual" extremely helpful as I put together programs for different uses. Although I have downloaded all the software mentioned in this book, I have used only some of them to help answer my questions, as I work through a database program. I use my own tables and queries as I develop my programs, rather than doing double work, so to speak, and have found that this works well for me. As I work into other programs, I am sure I will look at more of the downloaded materials.
My work has included utilizing most if not all the functions available in Access. That includes: making tables, queries, forms, reports and macros. Some are simple but many are complex. I know I have some way to go in mastering Access, like using "Null Values", but in looking ahead I believe "The Missing Manual" will be a great help.
My programs have included making a rather extensive Church Membership program, an address book with lookup features, a membership listing for veterans in our area using lookup features and an attendance program for the computer society I belong to. In the Church program it provides for recording of church members and their weekly contributions, providing monthly, quarterly and yearly financial reports to the church body, and quarterly and yearly giving reports to the individual members. I am also able to provide reports of selected time periods for birthdays and anniversaries of members, as well as membership reports.
While the new format of Access 2007 has greatly helped the casual user, I believe "The Missing Manual" has filled that need of helping individuals understand and use Access 2007.
1/28/2008
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Champion league author
By Albrik J. Wiederkehr
from Undisclosed
Comments about oreilly Access 2007: The Missing Manual:
A great applause goes to Matthew MacDonald and the entire team, who helped develop this marvelous book. This is the first time in my forty year business career, that someone presents a manual that explains complicated processes in such an easy-to-follow way. Especially educational are the notes and tips, which provide insights into the not so obvious situations. This is invaluable to people who want to learn how to use ACCESS 2007 in an effective way.
Albrik J. Wiederkehr, Senior Business Consultant, Geneva, Switzerland
3/15/2007
(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Access 2007: The Missing Manual
By Frederick Eccher Jr
from Undisclosed
Comments about oreilly Access 2007: The Missing Manual:
Title: Access 2007: The Missing Manual
First Edition: December 2006
Series: The Missing Manuals
ISBN 10: 0-596-52760-8
ISBN 13: 9780596527600
Pages: 751
This book is light reading. The style is light and easy to enjoy. The author is definitely a wordsmith and has total control over the tone of the book. Some of the chapters start with non issues to people interested in Access, but this seems to be his writing style: a neutral or buffered start so you do not bolt before you get into that chapter.
This book is heavy reading. After a few paragraphs of light introduction, each sentence is packed with actions to take, issues to ponder, tables to study, and much more. The actions to take could not be done in one night. Look forward to a week, at least.
Annoying things for me:
1. His use of 's.
Code's means "code is" and not "code's use" in the sentence [not the possessive but the contraction].
This happens all the way through the book, so heads up.
2. His use of double negatives.
I found it harder to concentrate on the meaning when there was no evidence that it was not found [see what I mean?]. "no reason you can't get a little fancier" [page 531]. Why not just say:
You could get a little fancier?
You could get a little fancier within reason?
This happens all the way through the book, so heads up.
I liked the following chapters quite a bit:
Chapter 4 blocking bad data
Chapter 15 automating tasks with macros
Chapter 16 automating tasks with visual basic
Chapter 17 writing smarter code
Part Six was the best
Chapter 18 sharing a database with multiple users
Chapter 19 importing and exporting data
Chapter 20 connecting access to sql server
Chapter 21 connecting access to SharePoint
These last two chapters were the very best in the book, depending on whether you were more interested in the sql server database or the collaborative issues surrounding SharePoint.
On page 640, one of the top reasons to switch to Sql Server: Real security
So does Access have Unreal Security? Not enough of a fine grained model? That is real reassuring,
OK, so I did read it, scrutinize it, check the fine points. When I mention that it is worth 5 stars and every penny you might have to spend to get it, that takes everything into account. The book asks questions like: Can you trust Microsoft? [Page 641], so some balanced point of view is being used by the author. Well done.
I really like Access 2007 and find it to be a quantum leap forward. Try it, you'll like it.
Frederick J Eccher Jr
MBA
M.S. Management of Information Systems
A.B. Psychology
B.A. Biology
CIO, Community Partners
President, Board of Directors, Saint Louis Visual Basic Users Groupt
