New Perspectives on Microsoft Office Access 2007, Comprehensive (New Perspectives)
Product Description: Following the critical thinking, problem-solving approach of the New Perspectives Series learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Access 2007, including the new features of the software. The case-based tutorials challenge learners to apply what they are learning to real-life tasks, preparing them to easily transfer skills to new situations. With the New Perspectives Series approach, learners understand why theyre learning what theyre learning, and are better situated to retain skills.
Subjects: General Theory of Computing, Computer Applications, Computers, Computers - Data Base Management, Computer Books: Desktop Publish, Desktop Applications - MS Access, Computers / Desktop Applications / General, Computers / General, Desktop Applications - General, Database management, Microsoft Access,
Good for a first edition
This is a good book for those new to Access and for experienced Access users who need hands-on work to get to know the ribbon. Granted, it has a handful of technical issues - out of the 7 chapters I've covered so far, I've found 5 relatively small items that didn't work the way they were supposed to. Experienced Access users should be able to figure these out with no problem. Inexperienced users will need to refer to the online Help or ask an instructor for help to resolve these. Still, if you actually read and follow the directions, you'll find it doesn't deserve the "horrible" rating given by another individual. It is easy to read, and the examples are easy to follow.
The book does assume a certain level of familiarity with computers and Microsoft Office in general, but then Access isn't a program for rank beginners. It's better for those new to computers to learn some basic word processing and spreadsheet applications before tackling a database program. (If you aren't comfortable with creating your own spreadsheets from scratch, start with a program more basic than Access!)
I've ranked this book with three stars at this time, primarily because I haven't finished the book yet. When I finish, if I think the ranking should change, I'll do another posting at that time. Given that it's the first edition, I'd say this book does a fairly good job at what it's supposed to do. (So far!)
HORRIBLE BOOK
One star is too generous. I'd give it none if I could. I am an experienced Access user, but like most people, I am confused by the new "ribbon" design. I took a course at a local community college which uses this book. It is terrible. It is more like a comic book, with little real direction. The tutorials are confusing, and do not include basic design info, such as copying the database periodically to avoid redos if a msitake is made. Many of the directions do not work (per using Microsoft for guidance). The formatting is pathetic. It is difficult to find anything. It really lacks focus and a clear methodology. The entire impression I have is that it was thrown together very quickly without a lot of thought, or review. Clear and concise are words evidently unknown to the authors. The format is almost comoc book in nature, and the color scheem becomes overwhelming after 2 pages. It's only use is in a landfill. I can't say enough negative things about it. My sympathies to poor students who have to pay the exhorbant price for garbage.
Requires abstracting the rule
This text takes you through step by step. However, formatting and technical aspects are given the same weight and are interspersed through each chapter. There is no list of generic steps to follow so you must abstract the rule when your database requirements differ from that in the text. The tutorials at the end (after chapter 4) require some skill that is not developed in the sample problems. It is unnecessarily wordy making it difficult to follow (there is no recognition that the user would have some basic Office skills like holding the shift key down to move a selected object). Often, a process is separated into several headings making it unclear how the process fits together as a whole. New Perspectives on Microsoft Office Access 2007, Comprehensive (New Perspectives)
