Help with MS Access 2007 - book recommendations?

evilsheep

Hello there

I'm desperately trying to streamline all of my work-related data into a nifty little database, thus enabling me to leave all the heavy files at home, and skip from place to place with my lovely little netbook.

Slight flaw in this plan: Haven't got a clue about databases ... However, I am eager to learn, and willing to put the hours in.

I bought 'Access 2007 for Dummies', as I thought it might be useful, but unfortunately it's a great big pile of steaming poo. The screenshots are so small it's nigh-on impossible to pick out the text, the explanations seem to cover only certain types of database (home inventory, customer orders etc.), and, most disappointingly of all, it seems to refer to a previous version of Access when giving step-by-step commands! I'll be composing a letter to these 'Dummies' and pointing out their flaws, but in the meantime, could anyone recommend some decent books on Access 2007. I'm not completely inept, and can find my way around a computer, but I'd still like a walkthrough-type book.

Any help, guidance, humourous comments gratefully accepted.

Cheers!

PROLIANT

Hello EvilSheep, I would be more than willing to help you.
Part of my role in life is to work with database's.

PhilCo_2

Sign up for an ECDL in databases at your local college. Only takes about 2-3 months and should get you used to working with databases.

evilsheep

I don't think the ECDL is what I'm looking for, and it's quite expensive. I started an ECDL qualification whilst temping about 8 years ago, and soon abandoned it, as it appeared to be geared towards absolute novices. There are advanced ECDL courses I know, but I haven't the time or the money to attend these.

PROLIANT: thank you for your kind offer of assistance. I've got as far as creating tables, and I think I've related them appropriately (using the autonumbered 'ID' field usually), but I'm stumped as to how to create a form with multiple dated entries for each record. For example, say I've created a table containing a customer's name, address, telephone number etc; I would now like to create a form (tabbed preferably), where tab 1 is customer details (for viewing and/or editing), tab 2 is items purchased, and tab 3 is a form to enter details of communications (in date order). Tab 3 is the issue I'm really struggling with.

Since my first post I've bought 'Access 2007 in easy steps', which is far better than the 'Dummies' book, but still can't sort out the dated entry thing.

I'm determined to crack this database by Monday!