5 comments about Access 97 Macro & VBA Handbook.

1. It's a good book, but i think it could be better if you don't be so tecnical



2. When I flipped through the book in the store, it looked pretty good, better than the other book I looked at. (Access 97 Power Programming) Unfortunately, once I got down to using it, it left a lot to be desired. The main thing I was hoping for was a good, in depth, lesson on DAO. The examples are about on par with the ones in the online help, ie. they cover the trivial case, but don't really help with more typical cases. Also, as mentioned by someone else, there are far to many typos, especially in the examples. I didn't come close to trying every example, but there were several that didn't work as printed. Finally, why were the tables and appendices put on the CD instead of in the book where they belong? For the first day I had the book, I couldn't look at any of the tables, since my computer at work doesn't have a CD-ROM drive. All in all, it's not a bad book, but I can't recommend it at its full retail price. By the time bookstores are blowing it out cheap, it'll be 3 versions out of date, so there's really no reason not to buy something else.



3. This is not a good book to cuddle up with. I am a not-so-newbie with Access and when I had a difficult problem it was this book that saved me. There are two kinds of difficulties I have with Access: the obvious problems whose answers are staring me in the face, and the non-intuitive nit-picky boring problems that last for a week. This book is for the second type of problem



4. This could have been a good book, but Query by Form does not work as described in the book. Page 395 indicates that you can choose the Remove Filter/Sort command in the Records menu... and all records are displayed. Not true. Also, automated filter removal using macros (chapter 9) and DoCmd (chapter 18) do not work. You cannot drag Customer ID from the field list to the form, it is not in the list using the database on the supplied CD. Too many errors and omissions to be a usefull book.



5. This is my second book on Access. I find this book to be very well written. Many users are complaining about examples that don't work. I think this is intentional on the part of the author. I look at it as an impromptu test. Any good instructor will give you periodic exams. Look at the examples that don't work as exams.

No comments about An Introduction to Programming Using Microsoft Visual Basic 2005.

2 comments about Microsoft Office 2000 Visual Basic for Applications Fundamentals (Training Kit).

1. With so many books on Office 2000 out there it's hard to know which one to buy, especially when you're buying online. One deciding factor can be the author's background, if you're fortunate enough to know it. If you don't know David let me tell you there's no one more qualified to write this type of book. David works for Microsoft designing the parts of Office that make it possible to program it using VBA. He helped create many of the features you'll read about in this book. I've seen the book and it provides a great view of what you can do with all the Office applications--not an easy task in a single book! So if you're programming Office 2000, or even thinking about it, you shouldn't pass up a great chance to learn from *the* source how it's done.



2. I was looking for a great beginners book for vba. I've had this book one day and have learned alot of things that make my job 100% easier.

3 comments about Professional Access 2000 Programming.

1. Professional Access 2000 Programming is a combination of a training book to heighten your programming skills, and a reference work that will give you a complete overview of Access 2000 and it's related programming environment. It's written in the traditional Wrox style that is so easy to read and usable for developers.

   One thing I do miss, is the usual Wrox opening statement where it is described whom the book is written for and if any previous programming skills are assumed. It's not until chapter 3 that you find out VB or VBA programming experience is assumed to make use of the chapter. Don't start on this book without any knowledge of VBA, since it is used in most of the coding examples. If you don't know VBA check out the following books: ISBN 0782123244, ISBN 1861001762 and ISBN 0735605920. An understanding of ADO would also improve on the usability of the book.

   To make use of the books fullest potential, have a design plan of your database next to it and make notes or check for errors in your design when you go through the chapters. This helped me to improve on the design of my database.

   Not essential, but it would have been nice if the sample code used in the book had been made available to the reader. At one place in the book the author even writes that the sample code is available from Wrox' website, but as of today it is not.

   This book has given me the skills and confidence to start working on client/server solutions and integrating SQL server. It breaks down the entire complexity surrounding Access 2000 and database development to sizeable blocks and tools that I can piece together according to programming and design goals. A must have for any Access programmer on his way to become a true professional.




2. I've been consulting for over 5 years with Access in all it's iterations except 1.0 and I must say that this is the best book on intermediate topics that I have found. There is no "fluff" like in books from other publishers (especially Queue in my opinion). This book is concise with real world examples for real world issues. When I first opened this book and read a bit I realized this book was written by consultants/developers who have gotten there hands dirty and not "feel good" academics who have never written a line of code for a company. Keep this one handy if you're the Access guru at your firm.



3. I've created basic database structures and applications for about five years and pledged never to go past writing macros, because I didn't want to be forced to learn VBA. I run a realty and mortgage office and just couldn't spare the time. Now that Outlook and the Office suite is becoming more familiar with my crew and now that we've joined a WAN and some B2B data sharing, the basic stuff just didn't fill the bill. I've bought quite a few books on Access recently (not to mention dozens from the past few years) and have found this one to be one of the best in its presentation and content.

   It gave me some real insight on how I should be considering networking and upsizing. I answered more questions I had after spending 12 hours with the book, than I had spent searching the net or reading the other books for several months. I even read though the code and understood it, and contrary to the warnings the presentation still flowed well. I still know little VBA and am now going back to get a Wrox book on Beginnng Access 2000 VBA.

   Concise, very detailed, stuffed full of info and reference. I'm a Wrox fan now.

5 comments about Advanced Visual Basic 6: Power Techniques for Everyday Programs (DevelopMentor Series).

1. I simply can't accept people give below 5 stars for this book - have they read it correctly / reviewed the same book???

   It's BY FAR the best I've seen for the advanced user. Everything that you always wanted to do in VB - and it's here! It's an ABSOLUTE must for any serious programmer.

   This book is on the same level of every VB programmers bible - Dan Appleman's Guide to the Win32 API - if that gives you an idea of how good it is.

   I can't believe I haven't heard about this book before.




2. This book even surpasses the possibilities of McKinley's "Hardcore Visual Basic". You almost gain the power of C/C++ type Windows and COM programming.
   This book is not easy to read. You do need a C level expertise on Windows' and COM's inner working. Though no ATL or MFC is required.
   I did learn a lot of the apparently strange behavior of VB. It is now clearer to me. But should you really apply those grandiose tricks. (For proper clean up purposes you should not hit the stop button anymore.) The answer is the same as for optimization. Don't do it! But if I am really in need? Don't do it! ... After at least ten iterations including solid peer review you might try it. The author makes it pretty easy. (...)
   Is this book still relevant after the advent of VS.Net? I think so yes. It is an intellectual joy to read this book. (Why couldn't I read it 1996?) We and many other institutions still write a lot of code in VB 6. Anyhow this probably was my last book on VB 6.



3. Yes, I didn't read very carefully -- this is just the book, no CD. No idea of the source of this stupidity. Nor do a see a lower price.



4. This book is useless without the CDROM, which is not included!



5. En la categoria avanzado de visual basic 6, es un excelente libro, tiene todos esos tips que cuesta conseguir, manejo de performance a bajo nivel, trucos de desarrollo, etc... Por donde lo mires es un excelente libro.

5 comments about Visual Basic Oracle 8 Programmer's Reference.

1. This book is a easy introduction to practically all basic concepts and technologies involved in Visual Basic programming for Oracle 8 back end. Among many other things it covers ADO, OO4O, PL/SQL. Contains many useful tables. It could be very useful as a startup manual for Visual Basic programmers who are new to the Oracle world. However, if you are experienced in Oracle, VB and PL/SQL, look elsewhere. Even for inexperienced programmers this book could become worthless after a week. For thorough Oracle presentation I would recommend the following books: ISBN: 007212606X ISBN: 1565923359



2. An OK reference, but could use some reorganizing. The author chooses to cover OO4O in earlier chapters before covering ADO, which makes it difficult to follow the examples if you're only interested in ADO. I find myself constantly having to flip back to the OO4O chapters (which most people probably skip) to figure out what the author is trying to explain in the ADO sections. The PL/SQL sections are good, especially if you're a beginner.



3. This is quite possibly the most poorly written book I've ever purchased. This guy writes at a third grade level....absolutely painful to read. I went through the first two chapters and simply couldn't take anymore. How any of the previous reviewers could have possibly rated this book at more than two starts is beyond me. I highly recommend going to a local bookstore before ordering this book from Amazon and actually skimming through parts of the book.



4. If your like me, the main reason I bought this book was to use ADO to retrieve Oracle data from within my VB application. I go to that section of the book (chapter 13)and instead of solutions I find all sorts of excuses why Orcale and VB dont work together!!! His excuses include "Oracle and ADO have not been the best of partners" and after showing a code example he states "remember, you'll have to wait for ADO 2.5 before you can run this". I bought the book to get a project done now, I dont need an author telling me that "here's how its done but its not going to work until a new version of the software is released!!!!"



5. I just skimmed this book at a book store. It did not impress me. With most of the VB programmers using ADO, the author could have devouted less pages to OO40 and concentrated on the nitty gritty of ADO and VB. If you can read MSDN and browse the NET, you don't need the book. Especially if you have even an average understanding of programming front ends and back ends.

2 comments about Visual Basic.Net for Students.

1. I've tried to learn Visual basic net with other books, but I couldnt use them - they assume you are an expert already. With the Bell book, it started from the simple basics, and I recoomend beginners to get this book.



2. This book is incredible. I've tried several others, but there is often too much reading and not enough programming. This book starts you out immediately programming with the tools and concepts you'll need. The projects and the order of the material keeps you interested and moving at a quick paste. With other books, I started wondering if I would ever finish and learn what I needed. By the second chapter I was already up and running writing programs with graphics. Very well written and highly recommended. The last time I encountered a programming book this good was back on the old Commodore 64.

2 comments about Object-Oriented Application Development Using Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (Programming).

1. It Sucked.. Poorly writen..Bad examples..



2. I hated the book. The authors should have at least completed the entir project according to the class diagram and use cases.
   
   They should atleast have the complete project for download.

4 comments about Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Introduction to Programming.

1. this is one of the greatest books published for the VB newbie. it is not only informative but walks you through each lesson providing you with 1 or 2 example projects so that you quickly capture the point of each lesson. Read it now if you are intrested in learning Visual Basic!



2. You really must be having trouble getting your G.E.D to find this book helpful, everyone starts somewhere but Phillips starts in the gutter, try another book



3. This is quality stuff! After endless hours of reading my teachers useless notes that make no sense in logical english and don't work in the program anyways, i actually learned how to do something through the aid of this book. If this book is lame, my teacher is even worse. Count your blessings!



4. My son needed this book for school and we received in time for school. Great service!

No comments about Fundamentals of VB.NET.