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.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 31 Ratings

Excellent book to advance your Access skills. - 2009-11-12
Reviewer Rating:
I must say that this is really an excellent book. The "Missing Manual" title is quite fitting. This information should be provided with the product. It goes over nearly any basic task that you could want to accomplish in Access, even breifly delving into the land of VB programming and SQL Server Access Projects. Of course those topics don't go extremely in-depth because you could write another 700 page book on either of those, but it touches on them enough to give you a basic understanding and complete some basic tasks. So if your looking for an Access VB programming book, or looking specifically for a manual on SQL Server based Access Projects, you'll probably want to look elsewhere because it's beyond the scope of this book. For that, I gave the book only four stars, but I'd have given 4.5 if I could.

The book is written in a fun, easy to read manner which caters to both absolute beginners as well as some of the more versed Access users. I have used Access for several years and have created multiple databases via Access, and I have learned a lot from this book. I highly recommend it.

Very good introduction - 2009-11-26
Reviewer Rating:
This is probably the best book I have read at introducing Access. Somewhat like the included manual, Building Applications with Microsoft Access 97, it covers 60% of what is needed to take Access to higher levels. But this differs in being an introductory book that omits much of the DAO code that is justifiably endorsed. McDonald's strength is in object-oriented programming and interfaces so this natural. A book by Allison Balter would provide 85% of what is needed, but she now only includes ADO code. Some of his summations are only entirely true if using linked tables or SQL Server Express, not unlinked tables. These are very useful for learning table design, queries, maintenance and relationships as well as providing for simple database management that the even developers may use. Although this takes the user from beginning to advanced topics, it lacks the middle that is provided by Balter. She says little about macros. As an experienced user I will continue to find useful information (compact and at a cheap price) and no book or website I have seen substitutes for experience.

Access 2007 - The Missing Manual - 2009-12-19
Reviewer Rating:
Why can't Microsoft write manuals like this? This manual makes all the Microsoft assistance information seem even more useless than it really is. Don't waste your time with the on-line tutorials from Microsoft. Get this book and get on with the project! Wonderfully in-depth information, with background "why?" so you can apply the knowledge to tasks done later in the project. Definitely worth the price.Access 2007: The Missing Manual

Witty and Informative - 2009-12-13
Reviewer Rating:
I was curious to see how an instruction manual for a database would read, and if I would be able to get through it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the tone of the book is informative without taking itself too seriously, and there are even brief moments of wit (though not enough to detract from the overall progression). I'm halfway through at this point and am actually looking forward to reading the rest of the text. I wish now that I had chosen to learn some of the other programs I'm familiar with by using this series of guides.

is is not always 's - 2009-09-13
Reviewer Rating:
The content of this book is great. The author knows his subject. BUT, I'd really like to have an electronic copy so I could change all 's to [space]is. It's difficult, and tiring, to read a book in which you have to keep trying to figure out if the author means possession or a verb.

His other books are the same. Too, bad! Good author, bad grammer.

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