Using ms-access can be compared to much like the construction industry.
You give me some wood, nails, hammer, and a few more tools, and I could
probably put together a very UGLY looking bird house.
However, what about building a house? We are still just using tools...right?
The problem is now I have to learn about cement, foundations, electrical
wiring etc. EACH ONE of these disciplines can take YEARS to learn. In fact,
building that house is so difficult that elements such as cement, pluming,
electrical etc is actually farmed out to sub contractions who EACH know
their particular skill.
So, ms-access is kind of the same way. There is MANY disciplines in
ms-access that can take YEARS and YEARS to learn. For example, ms-access
allows you to build and use sql quires. (sql = structured query language). I
used sql for about 14 years, and my sql skills are weak. On the other hand,
if you are in the construction industry, learning carpenter is a good skill
to have. Learning sql has been the BEST investment of my time for any
technology.. In fact, looking over the past years, sql is the ONLY language
that I still use. And, likely, I will continue to use sql for the next 20
years. In other words, many new programming lanugos may come and go..but sql
has stood the test of time. If you want to learn something, sql is nice
skill for the long run.
However, sql is just one of MANY features and systems in ms-access. Another
system in ms-access you will encounter is that of write code, or so called
learning a programming language. Again, just like learning English, or
French, this can take years. In fact, while learning the syntax of the
language is easy, learning to program can take years. So, just like learning
the alphabet easy, learning the language is hard. So, once you learn the
syntax, the difficult part is learning to write code. Again, this is a skill
that can take years and years (and, just like music, or whatever, you NEVER
stop learning).
Further, there are also many more skills that you can apply to the whole
development process. You have to learn how to design tables and normalize
data (this perhaps is one of the MOST important skills to learn). Learn this
skill, and applications will practically write themselves after you got the
tables normalized.
Look at the number of people today that can play a musical instrument, it is
amazing how many musicians there are, and when you think of the efforts and
time that a musician must put into their craft...it is rather amazing that
we go so many musicians.
So, just like construction, you can take some wood, and nails and start
banging away, and hoping that bird house comes out on the other side.
However, to build anything more complex then that bird house, you must learn
to DESIGN the project BEFORE you start hammering with nails. And, even if
you don't design the project before you start, you will still need those
skills. Much here depends on how complex of a problem you are trying to
solve.
You can pick up a guitar, and start playing with it to make music. However,
to make a very nice piece of music a lot of trial and error, and effort will
be required. This is called discipline, and when mixed with skills and
craft, then you can make software (or good music).
Having said the above, many people with NO software training and NO formal
training have used wizards, and forms to build some incredible applications.
Ms-access is a very interesting product, since both seasoned professional,
and newbie's can benefit immensely from this product.
I would first try building that simple bird house. Try making something like
a simply mailing list of your friends. Keep it simple, just name and
address. Work on this, and when you get the application working, you will
have built your first bird house. And, I have met secretaries, accountants
and many people who have written some very incredible applications with
ms-access just using wizards and the mouse to make forms.
At the end of the day, you have to decide if you want to work on your own
car, or hire someone. I mean, why bother to go to the dentist to fix a tooth
when you can learn how to do this on the internet? The same goes for fixing
your car, why hire a mechanic to change a starter motor when you can learn
to do this yourself? If you don't have the habit of fixing your teeth, your
car, or building an extension onto your house, then why would you attempt to
build software, which arguably can take more time and skill then any of the
aforementioned trades? At the end of the day, you have to decide if you
want to be a dentist, a machaine, or a sfotware devlepoer.
Perahps, your time is more valuable doing what you do best, and allowing
others do what they do best.
Try and enjoy life to the most. Get out side, enjoy the parks, go camping or
whatever you like. Life is to far to too short to try and do evetying your
self. Take a break...go out..have some fun. Hammering nails on a beatuafal
saturday afternoon is not the best use of my time. I love doing things, and
yes, I love writing sfotware and makeing really incudaling applctones. And,
I sure thsoe first reate house builders also love what they do, and great
musiens also love to play music. At the end of hte day..enjoy life..and do
what you do the best...
