Hands-On Microsoft Access

Bob Schneider's Hands-On Microsoft Access takes an entirely different approach to learning Access. Rather than treating it as a product to be conquered through a series of mouse clicks and "get the job done" techniques, Schneider provides readers with an introduction to the fundamentals of database systems and theory, using Access as the learning environment. If you really want to learn databases, this is the way to do it.

Pros

Cons

This book is great for two different audiences. If you're a current Access user and want to gain an intimate understanding of the "under the hood" details of how Access works, this is the book for you. On the other hand, if you're new to databases, you might find this book a more challenging read than most. In either case, if you're willing to invest the time and energy in reading this book from cover-to-cover, you have much to gain. The book begins with a detailed look at how relational databases are structured. Schneider then builds upon this knowledge throughout the remainder of the book, introducing new concepts through the use of Microsoft Access as a learning tool. The examples he includes are all quite good, with easy, step-by-step processes, such as "Press Escape and choose Records, Remove Filter/Sort to exit Data Entry mode." These instructions are accompanied by screenshots from the program itself.