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Introduction
I believe that this book covers Microsoft Access 2010 in detail better than any other book currently
on the market. I hope you’ll find this book helpful while working with Access and that you enjoy
the innovative style of a Wiley book.Yes — If you have no database experience
If you’re new to the world of database management, this book has everything you need to get
started with Microsoft Access 2010. It also offers advanced topics for reference and learning.
Beginning developers should pay particular attention to Part I, where I cover the essential skills
necessary for building successful and efficient databases. Your ability as a database designer is con-
stantly judged by how well the applications you build perform, and how well they handle data
entrusted to them by their users. The chapters in Part I won’t necessarily make you an expert data-
base designer, but I guarantee that you’ll be a better developer if you carefully read this material.Yes — If you’ve used other database managers like
FileMaker
If you’ve been working with another database system (such as FileMaker, Paradox, or FoxPro) or
you’re upgrading from an earlier version of Access, this book is for you. You’ll have a head start
because you’re already familiar with database managers and how to use them. With Microsoft
Access, you will be able to do all the tasks you’ve performed with other database systems — with-
out programming or getting lost. This book takes you through every subject step by step.Yes — If you want to learn the basics of Visual Basic for
Applications (VBA) programming
I understand that a very large book is needed to properly cover the VBA programming language,
but I took the time to put together many chapters that build on what you learn in the forms chap-
ters (primarily Chapters 7, 8, and 19) of this book. The VBA programming chapters use the same
examples you’ll be familiar with by the end of the book. Part II of this book explains the nuts and
bolts, with a lot of gritty technical details, of writing VBA procedures and building Access applica-
tions around the code you add to your databases. Part II provides everything you need (other than
a lot of practice!) to become a bona fide VBA programmer.Yes — If you are an Access 2007 developer
Access 2007 and 2010 have much in common. For the most part, the user interfaces are the same,
with most of the differences in the arrangement of controls in the ribbon and the addition of the
Backstage in Access 2010. With the exception of the chapters on data macros (Chapter 15) and
publishing Access applications to SharePoint (Chapters 34 and 35), the material in this book
should run as described in Access 2007.03_475348-flast.indd xxxvi03_475348-flast.indd xxxvi 4/1/10 1:43 PM4/1/10 1:43 PM