Any suggestions of where to learn Access?

[Tyler1394]

Good morning,

I have spent the summer learning access to create a database for me work. However, must of this has been brute force attempts and youtube to cover basics of what I need to do. Although this is possible to learn access to a degree there is a wide range of information that I don't have, including general syntax requirements for access.

I have noticed there are many experts on this site and was wondering if anyone would provide information on good sites/books they used when learning access?

Regards,
Tyler

[Seth Schrock]

Almost everything that I know has been learned through this site. I learned by asking questions for the things that I was wanting to do. Allen Browne has a good website with lots of information: Allen Browne. You can look through all the Access articles here on Bytes as well.

When you start posting questions here, please read the following links first: Before Posting (VBA or SQL) Code and How to ask 'good' questions.

One link to help you get started: Database Normalization and Table Structures.

Just remember, there is no book that can tell you exactly how you should do it for your situation. Each database is different, so you will have to apply the best practices that you learn and adapt them to your situation.

[Tyler1394]

Thanks for the information,

I guess I realize theres a bunch of ways to do any one task I just don't know the basic communication language between me and the program.

ex.

task = "Select * from MainTableT where " & strCriteria & ""

I've learned to assume the * is the input data but I don't know what the & ____ & does, at first I thought it was string but then realized you had to add '' around whatever if it was string. It's just those little things but I do see this website is very useful. Helped me design my first database :D

[Seth Schrock]

I don't want to get too off subject from the main question, but here is a link that I use quite frequently for SQL syntax questions: w3schools SQL Page. If you go through its tutorials, it will help you to grasp the basics of SQL.

[Tyler1394]

That is perfect for SQL thanks, I was wondering if there was any of that for general VBA code or even for getting familiar with macros in access?

[jforbes]

YouTube, Blogs and Message Boards have changed the way people learn. But, most of this information is piecemeal and problem specific. And it's great!

But on the internet, there isn't much in the way out there that I've seen that spoon-feeds a beginner Access information in an order that builds on itself. I think Microsoft and MSDN have put forth some effort towards this, but it's only partially there:
Access 2013 videos and tutorials
Access training
How do I... (Access VBA reference)

Seth has already pointed out the w3schools.com, which is fantastic site and you'll want to bookmark it. Zmbd has put together a list of reading materials, hopefully, he'll send it to you.

I haven't bought an Access Book in quite some time. I've bought SQL and .NET books, but not Access, so I don't have a current list of books to recommend. ...The book that I read and learned a lot from is still on Amazon Access 97 VBA Programming When I read it, a long time ago, it was pretty much the best book out there and a litmus test for a programmer; if you couldn't read it, you shouldn't be a programmer. I read it straight through and when I was done it gave me confidence that the code I was creating was done correctly. Hopefully, you can find something similar. If you find one, post a link here.

[Seth Schrock]

Here is a copy of the post the ZMBD usually posts. Some links are redundant to what I have given you.

--- Corrected some typos and added a link ---

---Tools and Tutorials for New Access Developers---

The following is a boilerplate I made from several different posts I've sent out to several different members in the past. I've tried to compile all of these posts into a list of links that provided the most help, adding a subtracting as I've received feedback; thus, if something is really useless to you then send me a PM with the link and let me know why OR if something was really helpful - please do the same! Need some information that isn't covered? Once again, let me know - Help me to help you and others in the future!
If any of the following links are broken please let me know!

Here are some tools to get you started into the deep end of Access:

There are several links here:
The first set of tutorials is a hands-on db build that once completed will give you most of the basic tools. MORE OVER, has a link to database design concepts that if you've never developed a database before is most helpful!

You should also pay close attention to the link on database normalization - this concept will make your databases easier to develop and manage and the variable declaration link that follows it.
---
MS Access 2010 Tutorials
Access Basics - By Crystal
Introduction to Microsoft Access and VBA
.....(ignore the information in lesson 4 about the colon (:) and comma (,) operators for same line command statements: neither is considered to be good programing and using the comma in variables now returns variants and not the typecast expected.)
MSN: Getting started with VBA in Office 2010
.... has several links to developer sites... some those are broken... and the same advice about colons and commas in vba command lines.
Micrsoft: Office2010 tutorials
Microsoft: Getting started with Access 2010
>> Database Normalization and Table Structures.
>> Require Variable Declaration
Nassi-Shneiderman Charts
---
-It is best practice when naming fields, tables, and files to avoid the use of anything other than alphanumeric characters and the underscore (spaces although allowed are problematic from a programing point of view and best avoided) and it is VERY important to avoid all reserved words and tokens:
Access 2007 reserved words and symbols
AllenBrowne- Problem names and reserved words in Access

Scan the titles here, there's everything from the very basic to the esoteric: Microsoft Access / VBA Insights Sitemap

Same with this site: Allen Browne's Access Tips

And when you get into subforms:
This is the most simple and sweet: Allen Browne: Referring to Controls on a Subform

This is the reference I will use when I get lost:
Forms: Refer to Form and Subform properties and controls
I'm worried enough that this site might ever go down that I took advantage of the download offer of a hardcopy of the table - upper right hand corner!

and finally,

[*] POSTING_GUIDELINES: Please Read Carefully Before Posting to a Forum

[*] > Before Posting (VBA or SQL) Code
--------------------------------

[Tyler1394]

thank you very much for the help guys !