M
Mike375
Guest
What do you think of forums as the "quick answer"
Mike
Mike
Last edited:
Did you gain your Access knowledge through books, trial-error/courses....or internet?
David Eagar
Registered User.
- Local time
- Tomorrow, 02:39
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2007
- Messages
- 924
Got mine from a one-on-one 'course' through somebody who knew it much better than I. From this forum, what I have learnt is I was not necessarily taught only good things!
I have had to undo a few bad habits
I have had to undo a few bad habits
Mile-O
Back once again...
- Local time
- Today, 17:39
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2002
- Messages
- 11,316
I learnt most of what I know from trial and error, along with some books. When I first arrived on this forum I was starting out with Access and had a question about the Calendar Control. Now and again I also pick up little snippets here that are always helpful.
Darth Vodka
Registered User.
- Local time
- Today, 17:39
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2007
- Messages
- 344
i remember reading "Access For Dummies", it's actually quite good
then it was a long slog of trial and error and as i learnt VBA, getting snippets off the internet
deconstructing other people's databases was very helpful, anything they did that was useful, i nicked
and having somebody take the time to read through a database and give you guidance helps a lot
then it was a long slog of trial and error and as i learnt VBA, getting snippets off the internet
deconstructing other people's databases was very helpful, anything they did that was useful, i nicked
and having somebody take the time to read through a database and give you guidance helps a lot
Brianwarnock
Retired
- Local time
- Today, 17:39
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2003
- Messages
- 12,701
I was thown in the deepend when a Db for a charity I worked part time for needed changing, the original guys long gone. After that it was trial and error + this forum. I used to get in early to read though the posts, Pat Hartman was good because she always gave clear explanations not just a solution, MIlo was good that way too. If stuff looked useful I would create a test DB and try it out during lunch and slack periods.
My knowledge was neither deep nor extensive and even that little is fading now, but I can still do research, read help, and think logically, thus I'm able to help many , well some, posters who find those things difficult.
Brian
My knowledge was neither deep nor extensive and even that little is fading now, but I can still do research, read help, and think logically, thus I'm able to help many , well some, posters who find those things difficult.
Brian
R
Rich
Guest
I learnt just how not to do it by reading the original posters posts
Brianwarnock
Retired
- Local time
- Today, 17:39
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2003
- Messages
- 12,701
I learnt just how not to do it by reading the original posters posts
LOL,
That also reminds me that that first database taught me the value of normalisation as it wasn't. All newbies should have to work on a non normalised database then they would no longer question its worth.
Brian
CraigDolphin
GrumpyOldMan in Training
- Local time
- Today, 09:39
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2005
- Messages
- 1,582
Can honestly say I learned about 50% of what I know about Access on this forum, and another 10% from other internet sources, the rest from Access help, trial and error, and attempting to help others.
I think the most valuable lesson I learned here was regarding normalization: a concept that is not an obvious one for someone, like me, who was weaned on Excel. A helpful normalization tutorial that was posted on the forum, I think, by Kraj was my introduction to the topic, and some excellent discussions and explanations by posters like The Doc Man were truly educational for me.
One of these days I might actually pick up a book on Access just to see if they offer anything else. I'm also tempted to do one of the MS ACCESS classes just to have fun messing with the instructor's head
I think the most valuable lesson I learned here was regarding normalization: a concept that is not an obvious one for someone, like me, who was weaned on Excel. A helpful normalization tutorial that was posted on the forum, I think, by Kraj was my introduction to the topic, and some excellent discussions and explanations by posters like The Doc Man were truly educational for me.
One of these days I might actually pick up a book on Access just to see if they offer anything else. I'm also tempted to do one of the MS ACCESS classes just to have fun messing with the instructor's head
- Local time
- Today, 11:39
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2001
- Messages
- 30,501
Some years ago our shop was an ORACLE shop. Learned normalization and base principles that way. Did a lot of other things, too, since we were always short-handed so had to pitch in to help. You learn a lot that way because it is an intensive, knowledge sharing environment. Before that, we were a DATATRIEVE shop. (Go ahead, look THAT one up... try not to gasp.)
Got involved with Access 2.0 when Paradox for MS-DOS 5.x got replaced by Paradox for Win3.1, and I realized that in terms of giving control to the users, PDOX screwed the pooch when compared to Ac2.0, just wasn't even close to the same level of quality.
Got tapped out at work to pick up the DB of someone who departed for greener grass. Last I heard, he was experiencing the "greener grass" rule up close and personal. Which is to say, "from a distance, you don't realize the grass on a lawn is so much greener because of the extra depth of the poop that got it that way."
The guy who departed did me a great favor because I had to learn a LOT to fix the mess he left behind. That chunk of our area should have been pretty green itself given the pungency of his contribution to my personal progress.
Got involved with Access 2.0 when Paradox for MS-DOS 5.x got replaced by Paradox for Win3.1, and I realized that in terms of giving control to the users, PDOX screwed the pooch when compared to Ac2.0, just wasn't even close to the same level of quality.
Got tapped out at work to pick up the DB of someone who departed for greener grass. Last I heard, he was experiencing the "greener grass" rule up close and personal. Which is to say, "from a distance, you don't realize the grass on a lawn is so much greener because of the extra depth of the poop that got it that way."
The guy who departed did me a great favor because I had to learn a LOT to fix the mess he left behind. That chunk of our area should have been pretty green itself given the pungency of his contribution to my personal progress.
Ron_dK
Cool bop aficionado
- Local time
- Today, 18:39
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2002
- Messages
- 2,141
In the 80's I started with an Atari ST computer and did my first database on that with DBMan , I think the program was called.
Later I moved to Filemaker and some 10 years ago, I started to use Access. Most of the knowledge that I gained came from this and Utteraccess forums.
I did a two day access course here in NL ( in dutch) , but must say that the course confused me even more. So I went back to my trial and error dbases and gradually started to become more and more enthousiast for Access.
Again, very much help was given to me thru this forum.
To date I'm trying to understand all petit secrets of VBA, but reckon that I still have a long way to go. Since I'm not working in an IT department, I don't have that much time, but hopefully will be able to do some little fancy coding
( Thanks very dutch WayneRyan) in the future.
Later I moved to Filemaker and some 10 years ago, I started to use Access. Most of the knowledge that I gained came from this and Utteraccess forums.
I did a two day access course here in NL ( in dutch) , but must say that the course confused me even more. So I went back to my trial and error dbases and gradually started to become more and more enthousiast for Access.
Again, very much help was given to me thru this forum.
To date I'm trying to understand all petit secrets of VBA, but reckon that I still have a long way to go. Since I'm not working in an IT department, I don't have that much time, but hopefully will be able to do some little fancy coding
( Thanks very dutch WayneRyan) in the future.
BarryMK
4 strings are enough
- Local time
- Today, 17:39
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2002
- Messages
- 1,350
I started by trying to deconstruct one of the Access sample databases. Built my own flat file databases (I know - but they did the job!) then found this site and have built some fairly (for my skill level) sophisticated databases with help from you generous lot.
Finally getting to understand normalisation a bit better and my new databases are much more relational although I know I've along way to go with that.
It still comes back to the more you know the more there is to know but it's been interesting and challenging - I have an artistic sort of mind rather than a logical/scientific one which hasn't helped but persistence and using the search facilities in Access and here have helped me develop working databases that dozens of people here use.
I'm upgrading my stuff to 2007 now so that's a real learning curve ahead.
Finally getting to understand normalisation a bit better and my new databases are much more relational although I know I've along way to go with that.
It still comes back to the more you know the more there is to know but it's been interesting and challenging - I have an artistic sort of mind rather than a logical/scientific one which hasn't helped but persistence and using the search facilities in Access and here have helped me develop working databases that dozens of people here use.
I'm upgrading my stuff to 2007 now so that's a real learning curve ahead.
Len Boorman
Back in gainfull employme
- Local time
- Today, 17:39
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2000
- Messages
- 1,930
Got onto Databases as part of degree. Okay very theoretical but used access as learning vehicle so leart basics like normalisation as a basic principle. This forum did open my eyes in terms of what can be done. Totally failed to understand some of the questions and the answers were even more a mystery. Plugged away and more and more began to make sense.
Do not think that some of you people who refer to pot luck or trial and error are quite right in what you say. probably the actual learning process to to understand a little and use this little knowledge to explore more complex situations... hence knowledge growth. Think about it. How many times have you created the same database. Very few indeed, You may have improved, added additioned functionality and similar actions but if you want the same database again all you do is copy the original. So I think that Access (and similar) people are those that like to continually push back the boundaries of their knowledge, develop ideas into practical solutions, explore new uses for existing knowledge and finally find new better solutions for existing situations. So what does this ramble mean.
Knowledge will be gained from a variety of sources and it is the individual that uses a multitude of sources that will be best placed to provide innovative solutions.
I have used University, courses, books, forum, experience and finally curiosity.
They all play a part so use them all
Bit of a sermon but whisky level is going down which may have something to do with it... the sermon tha tis
L
Do not think that some of you people who refer to pot luck or trial and error are quite right in what you say. probably the actual learning process to to understand a little and use this little knowledge to explore more complex situations... hence knowledge growth. Think about it. How many times have you created the same database. Very few indeed, You may have improved, added additioned functionality and similar actions but if you want the same database again all you do is copy the original. So I think that Access (and similar) people are those that like to continually push back the boundaries of their knowledge, develop ideas into practical solutions, explore new uses for existing knowledge and finally find new better solutions for existing situations. So what does this ramble mean.
Knowledge will be gained from a variety of sources and it is the individual that uses a multitude of sources that will be best placed to provide innovative solutions.
I have used University, courses, books, forum, experience and finally curiosity.
They all play a part so use them all
Bit of a sermon but whisky level is going down which may have something to do with it... the sermon tha tis
L
David Eagar
Registered User.
- Local time
- Tomorrow, 02:39
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2007
- Messages
- 924
Actually, I found this one of the most lucid responses so far - the learn from your 'mistakes' method is a well proven one
R
Rich
Guest
Ron_dK
Cool bop aficionado
- Local time
- Today, 18:39
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2002
- Messages
- 2,141
What's pot luck ?
Wiki says : food given away to guests , but can't bring that into the context of learning access ..
David Eagar
Registered User.
- Local time
- Tomorrow, 02:39
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2007
- Messages
- 924
What's pot luck ?
Wiki says : food given away to guests , but can't bring that into the context of learning access ..
Pot Luck - The process of sticking your finger in a pot (of you know not what) and if you are lucky, it's edible
Instead of contaminating the forum with (mon dieu!) French, learn English
BarryMK
4 strings are enough
- Local time
- Today, 17:39
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2002
- Messages
- 1,350
What?
An Aussie giving lessons in English! I thought you only spoke Strine?I fear war is about to break out between Holland and Australia.
Mind you I apologise for my contribution in the French language (or an approximation of) but I shall be driving through that country in a few weeks time in order to reach the more civilised climes of La Bella Italia and need to brush up on communicating with the natives.
My favourite traveller's phrase translated into French is " Have a care with that pigskin suitcase you oaf, show some respect to your relatives" - Doesn't seem to go down too well though....
Still it's more use then "Stop the coach - my postilion has been struck by lightning".
