Sarasota PC Monitor
Word 2007 & Access 2007
A Book Review
by Sharon Rump
Member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc.As software developers continue to make their products more fully featured to give us more functionality, there seems to be a trend to include less and less of a manual that will help us to accomplish these tasks. Usually included is a very brief "Getting Started" booklet and the full manual that explains how to use the product is generally included as a PDF file on the disk. I find it much more beneficial to have a book in front of me that I can page through and find the answer to the problem that I am experiencing or give me some useful tips to make my project look better and accomplish more tasks with a greater ease.
"The Missing Manual" series has a statement on the cover that says "The book that should been in the box" and I do agree with that. The new offerings by Microsoft in Office 2007 which includes both Word and Access have an entirely new look and when I opened the software for the first time I knew that I was going to have to have some help!
The Missing Manual that covers Word 2007 by Chris Grover is written in very easy to understand language. The book is divided into five parts. The first part guides you through the most basic functions that you would utilize in general word-processing documents. Since there is a complete redesign of the interface, it is good to have a handy reference that guides you through the different areas. The second part helps you create longer and more complex documents. Part three covers sharing and collaborating with other people including web pages and forms. Part Four covers some of the included tools and gives step by step instructions to help customize the workspace. Part five is the Appendix and includes the index and covers the help you will find within the program and on the internet in various place. There are many pictures which make it easier to understand exactly what you are looking at and tips that help make your project more professional looking with simple to follow instructions. I actually took this book to bed for reading and it did not put me to sleep. Instead I was tempted to get up and go play with the program and try out all of the new features.
The Missing Manual/Access 2007 by Matthew MacDonald is divided into seven parts. I guess there are more parts as this is a bigger book at well over 700 pages. I believe Access 2007 has a lot more functionality and needs more guidance to begin to understand how to use the program.
The first part deals with creating a simple database and then goes on to explain how things can be changed and customized as your progress. I can remember my very first database and how I slowly moved along and added more and more information as I felt comfortable with the different options available. I had a good book and went from chapter to chapter with a friend and we basically taught ourselves using the book. This book is one that would be a useful tool to use in this manner as it will allow you to start from scratch and build as you go. Again, the plain English language that it is written in helps to more easily understand how to use a more complex program like Access 2007. The second part shows how to manipulate the data that you have using queries. This was an area that I didn't understand at all when I first started, but with a well written guideline, it becomes the most useful tool that a database user has available.
Part four explains how to set up forms that will enable users to input data for you. This can be an important key to a successful database. Part five deals with macros which can have things accomplished automatically and make your job lot easier. Part six is titled "Sharing Access with the Rest of the World" and explains how you can import information that is already available to make it easier to use in your application and how to export the information that you have gathered and share it with others.
It also deals with some more complex features such as XML, SQL and Share Point servers which are much more advanced than I would ever use. The last part is the Appendix which walks you through customizing the Quick Access Toolbar and also the index for the book.
Both of these books will help you on your way to learning the new Office 2007 programs with much more ease and help from getting you too confused. It is a wonderful resource that is right at your fingertips as you work with each program.
The last feature that I think is a wonderful addition is "The Missing CD ROM" feature. They didn't include one and this helps to keep the price of the manual more affordable. (They indicate that this saved you $5) Instead, all of the add-on software mentioned in each book is available at www.missingmanuals.com. Simply click on the Missing CD icon and you will find a list of shareware programs described in the book and available for download. The website also offers specials with discount codes and reviews of the individual books. They even offer a sample chapter that you can open and read to see if you like the way that the information is presented.
I find this series one of the best offered on the market today. Get 35% off from O'Reilly on these and all books that you order directly from them. Free ground shipping on orders of $29.95 or more in the US. Just use code DSUG when ordering online or by phone 800-998-9938.
Word 2007: The Missing Manual Chris Grover
Progue Press, O'Reilly
$29.99, 522 pages
Access 2007: The Missing Manual Matthew MacDonald
Progue Press, O'Reilly
$34.99, 378 pages
Copyright 2007. This article is from the April 2007 issue of the Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For further information about our group, email: admin@spcug.org/ Web: http://www.spcug.org/
The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,100+ members and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are members of the America Online Ambassador Program.
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