Microsoft Access 97 is a powerful database package, and Access 97 Bible provides comprehensive coverage of virtually all of its features. Whether you're a database administrator who works with Access 97 databases or a developer who wants to create powerful database front ends, this book gives you all you need to be productive with Access, which is one of the best end-user database tools.

The book begins with a tour of the extensive capabilities of Access 97, which includes everything from wizards and builders for automatically creating databases, to query and report generation, to a programming language (Visual Basic for Applications) used to create professional database front ends. Early chapters take the beginner through the basics of Access 97, including installing, configuring, and setting up an initial database. Clear prose and plenty of screen shots are the rule, making this a good tutorial for the beginner or intermediate database programmer.

After the basics, the book moves towards creating databases, forms, queries and reports. Access 97 Bible uses hands-on examples instead of theory and database jargon. Advanced sections look at Access 97 macros and add command processing to your database applications and to the Internet capabilities bundled with the product. Overall, this tool-centred approach in Access 97 Bible is perfect for those who want to be productive right away. This book makes a good case for the idea that Access 97 is all you need for creating robust, functional databases for the small business or corporate department. --Richard Dragan