Hi FullName,
This message brings you good news from ProgrammingMSAccess.com. It's been a while since the site sent out a message. That's because our site's Webmaster has been busy making the final effort to complete his seventh book on Microsoft database technology and Visual Basic programming. Starting with the November 2005 newsletter, ProgrammingMSAccess.com will resume a normal schedule for updating registered members and other friends of the site about new content and special items of interest promoted by the site. In spite of our name, ProgrammingMSAccess.com serves the needs of SQL Server and VB developers as well as those creating solutions with Access. For example, if you are interested in SQL Server, see our SQL Server Resources page. Those of you who are interested in Visual Basic .NET can visit our .NET Resources page.
This message highlights four topics. First, we alert you about a bunch of T-SQL scripts added to a code sample section as well as a general re-organization of the content. Second, we announce the title of the Webmaster's new book as well as give you a heads up about what you can expect to find in the book. Next, we remind you about our plans to offer a seminar based on the new book in the first quarter of 2006. Fourth, the message concludes with a reminder about our Database Developers Group. This is a premiere selection of our registered site visitors who wish to receive extra benefits in exchange for a modest membership fee.
Major Revisions to the Code Samples section
Initially, the Code Samples section at ProgrammingMSAccess.com featured VBA excerpts from the Webmaster's Programming Microsoft Access 2000 book. The early samples highlighted how to use VBA with Access 2000. As the Webmaster extended his scope of interests, the site added additional code samples on using VBA with ADO for SQL Server and Web applications, T-SQL programming, and VB.NET procedures. Many of these samples are excerpts from his six prior books and three DVDs. Before talking about the changes to the Code Samples section, I want to remind you that our Book and DVD section includes additional code samples with commentary that you may find helpful.
In early November, we made two changes to the Code Samples section. First, we re-organized it. Previously, we had VBA samples in the SQL Section if they queried a SQL Server database or used an .adp project to manage a SQL Server instance. All VBA samples whether or not they relate to SQL Server or Access appear in the new General and SQL Server VBA Scripts sub-section. Second, we vastly expanded the T-SQL sample scripts; these can be found in a new T-SQL scripts sub-section. At the start of November, we added about thirty scripts to the sub-section. Whether you want to query or create a database with T-SQL, you are likely to find some helpful samples in this section. The selection of samples on joins is an example of the kind of valuable content that you can find. If you have ever been stumped about how to write a join between two or more tables or even about how to join a table with itself, these samples can help.
Webmaster's Seventh Book is on the Way
The seventh book by the site's Webmaster is almost ready to ship to the printer. At this point, I am working with the rest of the book's team to perform the kind of quality control that will make this book a valuable addition to your personal database development library. The book's tentative title is Pro SQL Server Express Database Applications with Visual Basic Express and Visual Web Developer Express.
The book focuses on techniques for creating database solutions. The primary database covered is SQL Server Express, which is a substantial upgrade to MSDE that Microsoft will officially announce on Nov 7. The book introduces you to SQL Server Express along with step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring it for use with Visual Basic Express, Visual Web Developer Express, and other clients, including Microsoft Access. You'll learn how to develop database solutions with T-SQL as well as with Visual Basic 2005 for Windows and Web solutions. The book also includes extensive coverage of built-in visual database tools and graphical form design resources that especially target the needs of power users, database administrations, and Access developers who want to learn about SQL Server Express.
This book is a combination between a reference guide and a cook book. For example, you'll gain exposure to all the most important T-SQL techniques for programming SQL Server Express. This content will empower you to generate query reports, manipulate database values, and even perform database administration tasks, such as backing up your databases. In addition, the book illustrates selected Visual Basic programming guidelines -- especially as they relate to getting you ready to build database solutions.
The book complements and extends the built-in Help files or online resources available for SQL Server Express, Visual Basic Express, and Visual Web Developer Express without merely duplicating them. The book features clear and concise instructions on how to perform specific tasks that bring the Help files and online resources to life with material that you can use to create your own solutions. Whether the book is covering a code sample or the step-by-step instructions to use some graphical technique, you'll learn the details that can make the difference between success and failure in adapting the samples in the book to your own personal requirements.
You can pre-order this book at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590595238).
Get Ready for our Webcast Seminar
One of the major motivations for launching the ProgrammingMSAccess.com was the Webmaster's desire to get the word out about his first seminar tour, which was based on his Programming Microsoft Access 2000 book. Since that beginning, annual seminar presentations have offered site visitors and others quality training in a three-day format. The idea behind the seminar series was to present valuable database training for developers creating solutions for small businesses and departments in larger organizations.
We always aimed to keep the price highly competitive so that our seminar training would not unduly stretch the resources of developers creating solutions for small organizations and departments in larger organizations. Over time, our seminar presentations evolved from a hotel-based format to an Internet-based format supplemented by an 800#. The 800# provides two-way communication so you can ask questions about topics that are vital to you. Our three-day format makes it possible for you to dive into a topic and even learn from the questions of others as we exhaustively consider many of the topics that you need to know in order to create better database solutions more rapidly. Classes are intentionally restricted in size so that you will have time to interact with the seminar leader.
We are currently planning our next three-day webcast seminar for the first quarter in 2006. All seminar registrants will receive a copy of my book titled Pro SQL Server Express Database Applications with Visual Basic Express and Visual Web Developer Express. If you are interested in learning about SQL Server Express and how to use it with T-SQL and Visual Basic, we urge you to reserve time to attend our seminar. Future newsletters from our site will include additional details, including precisely when the webcast seminars will be held and how much it will cost to register for them. We will offer encore presentations of the three-day webcast seminar at different dates and day parts so that you can find a time that is best for your schedule.
Please Join Our Database Developers Group
If you like the free content at our site or you are a professional developer specializing in database solutions for small and mid-sized organizations, we ask that you join our Database Developers Group (DDG). This group serves two roles. First, it gives the site a chance to provide extra value to those who want to partner with us. Second, it gives you a chance to show your appreciation for the free resources available through the site and to gain access to a much larger proprietary library of code samples, book excerpts, white papers, presentation slide decks, and even custom solutions.
Around this site, we like to say that membership has its privileges, and the membership to which we refer is DDG membership. For example, we have a proprietary library with scores of database development resources available exclusively to DDG members. In addition, you can view contact information for fellow DDG members at your proprietary site. While the bulk of its members are from the US, the DDG has members from around the world. Since its inception, we have had members from Europe, Canada, Australia, Africa, South America and many states in the US. Two other member benefits based on the ProgrammingMSAccess.com site traffic include referrals for consulting and tech support opportunities as well as the chance to promote your business, product, or resume through the ProgrammingMSAccess.com site. Our pages are heavily indexed by Google. Our site serves over 1,000,000 pages annually, and some of these visitors seek professional database support. DDG members are fed these requests. In fact, we pre-screen the requests to make sure that prospects are willing to pay for professional support before forwarding them to DDG members.
Feel free to browse our online summary of the full set of benefits of DDG membership. You can join online with your credit card. Our e-commerce provider features the normal web-based security encryption to protect your credit card information.
I hope that you found this message interesting. I encourage you to try some of the links in this message to visit ProgrammingMSAccess.com. If you have a question about Access, SQL Server, VBA, or Visual Basic .NET, you may well find what you need at our site. Content at the site is available for your perusal without charge. Don't forget that we also offer custom database support for those who have a priority need and are willing to pay for a solution. Also, take a moment to forward this message to one or more of your colleagues who may also be able to benefit from our news about code samples, webcast seminar presentations, professional consulting support, or DDG membership opportunities. If you no longer wish to receive messages from ProgrammingMSAccess.com, just reply with Remove in Subject field.
Rick