Hi John,
My advice is to divide your learning sequence into three general phases:
Database Design
Access Interface
SQL & VBA Programming
Leave the SQL & VBA programming until you have learned some database design
and are fairly comfortable using the Access interface. For the present time,
don't concern yourself with all the events that are available for each
control type. Here are two documents on database design that you'll want to
make sure to read:
http://www.datatexcg.com/Downloads/DatabaseDesignTips1997.pdf
http://www.datadynamicsnw.com/accesssig/downloads.htm
(See the last download titled "Understanding Normalization")
The first one is a very easy read--it's only 4 pages. The second one is more
in-depth. Given that you have past XBase experience, you might find the
second paper to be an easy read as well. Michael Hernandez encourages people
to plan their designs on paper first, before starting to implement in any
RDBMS. The knowledge you gain by studying database design will transfer to
other relational database programs equally well.
My definition of learning the Access Interface simply means learning how to
create tables, create queries using the QBE (Query by Example) grid, create
simple forms and reports using the wizards and starting from scratch. Also,
learning how to add controls to forms and reports using the toolbox, both
with and without the wizards activated. I wouldn't spend any time attempting
to create tables by entering data--this is known euphamistically as the
denormalization wizard! I'd limit the time spent learning macros and data
access pages. Make sure to explore all of the menus available, including
Tools > Options...
After you are fairly comfortable with database design and using the Access
Interface to create simple database, then it's time to start digging into SQL
and VBA programming. You're very correct in the statement "you can really
take control by writing VBA code", but you need to learn to walk before you
can learn to run.
Good Luck!
Tom
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
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:
Im doing that now. I started a few days ago but was used to really old
xbase programming which I learned on my own ages ago and havent done
in a long while.
I dived into Access a few days ago thinking it was easy. Hmmmm. The
one thing is , its really automated with lots of wizards etc but you
can really take control by writing VBA code.
The big problem for me is , there are so many freaking options on all
the objects etc and so many objects - its hard getting a clear view of
whats going on and all the options you have with events, features you
can set.
The other is the way its broken down like that into objects. For
people sitll not used to objects --- its easier to see whats going on
if you had one long code sheet with a main program body that called
various things in a certain order.
In one sense its easy to bungle your way through setting various
options in the properties boxes and dropping controls onto forms etc
but Im getting a real murky view of whats going on.
Ive also looked at some books and many leave this or that out. Im
still getting used to it so I may radically change my opinion in a few
weeks but its kind of a pain right now though Ive already created the
databases and made all the rough input screens bungling my way through
so far.
