Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #749265 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Well-known computer author John Smiley, has written Learn to Program Databases with Visual Basic 6, which features a very friendly approach to learning the basics of database programming with Visual Basic. Aimed at the novice Visual Basic programmer, this patient tutorial may be just what you've been waiting for in order to master databases within VB.

The most distinctive feature here is the format of this book, which features Q. and A. dialogues between the hypothetical students and the author as he works through the basics of database design with VB6. With an exceedingly patient presentation style, this approach will work best for the novice VB programmer. The book starts from square one, with the fundamentals of databases, before it proceeds to VB's database components, such as the Data Control. The book makes use of a single case study for a product catalog for a dishware shop. Readers will learn how to add tables using Microsoft Access, and then build forms that access data within Visual Basic.

Besides the fundamentals, the author does mention key Visual Basic technologies, such as an ADO primer on the syntax of SQL for querying databases. The goal of this book isn't so much a comprehensive tour as much as a how-to for demystifying databases within Visual Basic.

In all, this book's format makes it an ideal choice for the novice programmer who's had trouble making the leap into the world of database development. Learn to Program Databases with Visual Basic 6 can put the powers of the VB database into the hands of virtually any reader who's willing to spend a few hours reading and working through its effective code examples. --Richard Dragan, Amazon.com.

Topics covered: Visual Basic database tutorial, database basics, tables, records, fields, field types, primary and foreign keys, referential integrity, using Microsoft Access, the Visual Basic Data Control: properties and methods, ActiveX Data Objects (ADOs), Recordsets: properties and methods, record navigation and updating records, queries, SQL basics, updating records, the DBGrid control, and form design.

Synopsis
Discusses database design, incorporating data from Microsoft Access, crafting effective queries, and creating a user interface.

From the Author
A VB Database Book that actually teaches Database Design
Now on my third programming book, I write all my books with the belief that I can teach just about everyone to program a computer, and in this book I introduce you to a topic that causes many beginner programmers anxiety---Databases.

You'll follow along with my mythical University Class as we take the project developed in my first book, Learn To Program With Visual Basic, and enhance it to interact with a Microsoft Access Database. Along the way, you'll pick up some other tidbits that I didn't cover in my first book---such as how to create a VB Project with Multiple forms and a Standard Module.

And I just don't show you how to read from and write records to a database using Visual Basic---I show you how to Design, Create and Implement a Microsoft Access Database... something most Visual Basic books presume you already can do. After that, I spend the remainder of the book showing you how to View, Add, Modify and Delete Database records using the DAO Data Control, Data Access Objects and a bit of SQL to do it.

Some words of warning!!!

Even though the title of the book refers to Visual Basic 6, I wanted this book to be useful for readers with VB4 and VB5 as well. For that reason, plus the fact that this book is a book for beginners, I don't concentrate on the latest and greatest of Visual Basic's Database capabilities.

Latest and greatest is wonderful---there are a ton of Visual Basic books on the market like that.

Instead in this book I teach you Visual Basic Database programming using the classic DAO Data Control and touch upon Data Access Objects---not the newer ActiveX Data Control.

My belief (and I think I know what I'm doing having taught Visual Basic to beginners for the last 6 years) is to teach the slightly simpler DAO model. After you've learned DAO---if you want to move to the newer ADO, it will be no big deal for you.

As was the case with my highly successful first book, I think you'll marvel at the way all of your own questions are asked by members of the 'class' as you progress through the book.

By the time you complete this book, you'll have the confidence to move on and begin programming your own Visual Basic Database programs---I guarantee it.

John Smiley

Customer Reviews

Simple and easy to follow for d/b newcomers
If VB programming and/or databases are new to you this book is easy to get into and follow. Those used to the more terse style of many coding books may find Smiley's 'virtual' classroom style can get a little intrusive. However, it does allow the author to clearly point up common newbie's errors as you progress. (If you like something more terse, you might also try the VB series published by Wrox).

John Smiley's second book in this series builds on the project you may have started in his "Learning To Program with VB6" (also recommended). Alternatively, all files you will need are suplied on CD.

After numerous attempts to get into VB with more traditional style books and getting lost/bored, the 'Learn To Program' series has definitely got me started with VB.

The book concentrates on the (older) DAO data access methods but does make mention of ADO later in the book. This seems logical for the skill level of the intended student.

On the basis of successful completion and use of the book I'd recommend it to others new to this subject.

Mark Anderson

Wow, for lack of a better word
I picked this book up a few weeks ago and have been unable to put it down since, I use to do VB many years ago but left it alone for way to long. Thanks to John Smileys approach to teaching I have been able to get back in to VB very quickly and would reccomend this book to anyone novice or otherwise.

One thing that has impressed me more than anything else about this book is that one of the first things it does is to tell you how to develop a project from concept to realisation, this is something that I find is commonly ommited from other texts and yet is so important to programming.

Some people might find that some of the first few chapters are a little to simple for their taste but then as the book says it is for "absolute beginners" and to be honest I believe that an absolute beginner could pick this book up and feel just as comfortable with it as someone who has come from other languages.

John Smiley's book kicks a**
If you're a novice VB/DB person then this book is for you. It is totally idiot proof, but yet not overly simple. The style in which it is written is very original and refreshing, making it very easy to read. Though over 500 pages you could read it easily in a couple of days, - and not get bored. How many computer books can you say that about?

micko@ireland.com