About two years ago I wrote a review on a book by Peter Norton on Access programming. Now I am writing a review on another Peter Norton book on Access programming. This new one is called Peter Norton's Guide To Microsoft Access 2000 Programming. It is an updated version of the earlier book, Peter Norton's Guide to Access 97 Programming. Sams Publishing published both books.

The book is broken down into seven different parts, with the last one being a two-part appendix. The parts range from an introduction to Access programming "Getting Your Bearings" to "Advanced Access Programming."

The first chapter asks the question Why Program In Access? It covers things like using Access as a front -end development tool to use with other applications. It goes on into creating end-user applications and what macro coding and Structured Query Language is. The second chapter covers some of the basic elements in Access. Learn about control objects and using unique identifiers for the elements in the program. Learn about the parts and pieces that go into a programmed Access database. And the third chapter takes you on a brief tour of object-oriented programming.

The second part of the book deals with the various wizards that Access makes available to help you in your programming quest. You begin in Chapter 4, Creating An Application With A Wizard. The book has you establish a database for Omni-Sport magazine. You will figure out what you need and have the various wizards guide you through the steps necessary to set up the database. In chapter 5 you peek under the hood of the Access programming code and find out how it all works. And chapter 6 covers all the different ways that you can get help when it's needed the most.

Part 3 is titled Diving Into Syntax. This is the meat and potatoes of Access programming. Chapter 7 works you through the various aspects of programming with SQL. Learn what types of queries are available and how the tables can be joined together to make some intense queries. Chapter 8 is all about creating macros in Access. Learn how to create and debug macros in this chapter. Learn how to set up and maintain the event flow of an Access program through macros.

For those of you who might be into Visual Basic, chapter 9 deals with writing Visual Basic Procedures in
Access. The chapter takes you into the world of Visual Basic modules and how they can be written for use in Access. After you learn all about how to mess up the Visual Basic code, Chapter 10 will show how to debug it and produce some awesome finished code.

Part 4 has you jumping through some hoops as you learn more advanced techniques. Learn how to set up a multiple table application from an existing database in Chapter 11. Chapter 12 has you customizing the data entry and the way it's displayed on the screen. Chapter 13 runs through the printing processes that can be added and Chapter 13 is about adding Real Time features to your Access program.

Parts 5 and 6 are the heavy hitters of the book. In Part 5, Peter Norton takes you through programming a database to have decision-making capabilities. Learn what a Database Decision Support System is and how it affects the overall program. Learn how to design one of those fancy DDSS things and implement it. Chapter 16 goes through the various input and output structure for your program.

Chapter 18 has you programming elements for a multi-user environment. Learn what pessimistic and optimistic record locking is. Learn how to refresh the data views and change a shared database design.
Learn about adding security features to your application in Chapter 19 and posting your database on the web in Chapter 20.

The appendixes cover what the new features are in Access 2000 and how to convert from earlier versions of the program.

Before I forget to mention it, the book comes with a CD-ROM chock full of the source code and samples from the book.

This book is a "must have" for anyone who is seriously considering trying to program in Access 2000.

Peter Norton's Guide To Microsoft Access 2000 Programming can be found at most book resellers in either the Computer Programming or the Microsoft Access/database sections. It has a list price of $ 34.99.

For the latest information about titles from Sams Publishing, visit their web site at www.samspublishing.com.

Copyright © 2000 Bruce E. Von Stiers