If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Access user-friendliness needs to improve
Good post, Sunrise.
I certainly intended no offense. I do applaud what you are doing. I might offer a suggestion. There are consultants who could provide some training during your lunch sessions. It may be out of budget for you, but another thing I would offer to help with would be to get it done for free. If you can tell me where you are located, I will try to find an Access MVP close to you and see if I can coerse him/her into some free introductory basics to help you get started. Also, in addition to these newsgroups, there are several MVPs who have sites with lots of useful information. One that has more content that most is http://www.allenbrowne.com Hope to hear from you soon. -- Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP "Sunrise" wrote: As an administrative professional and someone who has a keen eye for improving efficiency in offices I am very excited to promote the use of Access within my office and department. I realize now that it is more intended for developers than for secretaries. But, we need it. In my view, databases can play an enormous role in reducing workload and improving our reporting function. The need to 'report' and 'measure' our productivity and effectiveness has been growing like a disease in our government (this is a documented fact). Everyone is complaining and struggling to find a way to cope. With the economy in decline there is no hope of creating jobs within our structure for Access developers. I have started voluntary 'lunch and learn' sessions for my staff where we share our software knowledge - tips and techniques etc. I also pair up employees who 'know' with employees who 'want/need to learn'. This works out great - we teach each other. So, through our software sharing we will endeavour to keep the Access knowledge/skill alive within our office. Thanks for listening. -- Sunrise "Klatuu" wrote: Actually, Microsoft has spent a lot of effort to make Access available to the masses. We professional developers some times think perhaps too much. Anybody can paint a wall, but only Michaelangelo could do the Cistene Chapel. For keeping track of some simplistic data, it doesn't take much to make Access useful. And it does not take knowledge of VBA to do so. There are some fairly complex databases around that have no VBA at all, but it is useful for manipulating more complex data and for creating user interfaces that prevent incorrect data from being entered. I have seen some good apps using only Macros. As has already been stated, Access is not as much an application as a development tool, but it can be used effectively without a lot of training. You do need to understand some basic Database Normalization methods and rules, but you also have to know some basic arithmetic to use Excel and be to some degree literate to use Word. Now, in parting, and with good will, if you are one of those agencies who wants to collect some of my money or impose more regulations on my life, I hope you never get it right; otherwise, I encourage you to keep at it. These newsgroups are about the best place to learn. -- Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP "Sunrise" wrote: Access is part of the suite of products supplied to all workers in my federal government offices - many thousands of workers. Conceptually it is a great product but rarely used due to its complex nature. IT support rarely has specialized knowledge of software packages and focuses mainly on the larger technical issues like connectivity problems and networking etc. As such, administrative staff are left to solve their own problems with software...which competes with heavy workloads. The result is that MS-Access is not used very often because you have to have a lot of experience and training for it to be useful and maintainable. Many offices have a high turnover of staff. A database is only useful if it is maintainable. Barely anyone knows how to use it. As an office manager I am creating databases for my office but am keeping them as simple as possible because I know that, if I don't, when I move on there will be no one in the office who can maintain them and they will be dropped. If I add complexities to the databases I am in essence 'wasting my time'. This tool of efficiency has so much potential but is not being used because no one has the knowledge or training to use it. MS should continue developing this wonderful administrative tool with an eye to making it easier for the beginner to produce reports more easily. Administrative staff become familiar with Word because they have no choice. It is not the same story with Access...because it is optional. It would be nice to see a twinning of the features in Word with those in Access so the transition would be seamless, quick, and easy for those who are comfortable with Word. An example is the line between columns. Through this community I received a response to my question on this topic. I am greatful but surprised that a simple line could require such in depth knowledge and VBA programming.. This is ridiculous. In Word you are asked if you want a line between columns and then click YES. People don't make the transition because the transition is too hard to make and they have too much work to do. -- Sunrise |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Access user-friendliness needs to improve
Sunrise wrote:
As an administrative professional and someone who has a keen eye for improving efficiency in offices I am very excited to promote the use of Access within my office and department. I realize now that it is more intended for developers than for secretaries. But, we need it. In my view, databases can play an enormous role in reducing workload and improving our reporting function. The need to 'report' and 'measure' our productivity and effectiveness has been growing like a disease in our government (this is a documented fact). Everyone is complaining and struggling to find a way to cope. With the economy in decline there is no hope of creating jobs within our structure for Access developers. I have started voluntary 'lunch and learn' sessions for my staff where we share our software knowledge - tips and techniques etc. I also pair up employees who 'know' with employees who 'want/need to learn'. This works out great - we teach each other. So, through our software sharing we will endeavour to keep the Access knowledge/skill alive within our office. As long as your folks are interested, I think lunch-learning discussions are an outstanding idea. To toss my two cents into your pot, I suggest that your group carfully study and discuss the concepts and ideas in Crystal's Access Basics article at: http://www.accessmvp.com/strive4peace/ Crystal is a professional technical trainer so she has an easily inderstood way of explaining the kind of stuff that relative beginners need to know. -- Marsh MVP [MS Access] |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Access user-friendliness needs to improve
Sunrise wrote:
As an administrative professional and someone who has a keen eye for improving efficiency in offices I am very excited to promote the use of Access within my office and department. I realize now that it is more intended for developers than for secretaries. But, we need it. In my view, databases can play an enormous role in reducing workload and improving our reporting function. The need to 'report' and 'measure' our productivity and effectiveness has been growing like a disease in our government (this is a documented fact). Everyone is complaining and struggling to find a way to cope. With the economy in decline there is no hope of creating jobs within our structure for Access developers. I have started voluntary 'lunch and learn' sessions for my staff where we share our software knowledge - tips and techniques etc. I also pair up employees who 'know' with employees who 'want/need to learn'. This works out great - we teach each other. So, through our software sharing we will endeavour to keep the Access knowledge/skill alive within our office. As long as your folks are interested, I think lunch-learning discussions are an outstanding idea. To toss my two cents into your pot, I suggest that your group carfully study and discuss the concepts and ideas in Crystal's Access Basics article at: http://www.accessmvp.com/strive4peace/ Crystal is a professional technical trainer so she has an easily inderstood way of explaining the kind of stuff that relative beginners need to know. -- Marsh MVP [MS Access] |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Access user-friendliness needs to improve
"Sunrise" wrote in message
... Thanks for your reply Keith. I've learned some new things from reading the responses to my posting. This has been helpful for me. Isn't that the point? To learn and discuss? I thought that this was a forum for discussion on MS Access reports. I didn't think that this was where we posted new threads on what a bad tool Access was, especially when that just isn't the case. We sometimes get clowns on here that poke their heads round the door, hurl abuse at the application and then run. That's how your posting came across to me, hence my reply, but clearly that was not your intention so I apologise for the tone. FWIW I learned to use Access "on the job" and (on and off) it took me years but the benefits are invaluable. I know it doesn't help your immediate situation but I would recommend taking "baby steps" to learn Access and review its usefulness to you at regular intervals. There's free help available here but also remember there are about a dozen or so different groups for support in reports, forms, tables, security et al. I'm no MVP but I would certainly try to help if it's within my capabilities. Good luck. Keith. www.keithwilby.co.uk |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Access user-friendliness needs to improve
I have also successfully used lunch-learning sessions to provide basic
training. The best part of it is that all of the training was directly applicable to our office. On a more general note, it seems to me that there are two approaches to using Access in an office. EIther you can have an Access developer who has in depth knowledge, or you can have a lot of people who have a basic understanding of Access. A developer can create an application that is highly user friendly and idot proof (mostly). However, someone with no more than a basic understanding of tables and the Report Designer can use Access successfully to track and report data. What they can't do is build/code menus and automated solutions. It comes down to your office strategy. Do you hire a developer (or choose someone in the office to attend training and spend much of their time on Access related projects), or do you provide a little training and allow individuals to develope small-scale reporting systems? There are pros and cons for each approach. The decision depends on what works for your office. Or what you have to work with due to budget constraints. I agree with you that Access is underutilitzed. But I also think that something as potentioally powerful as Access will, by its very nature, have complexities. I think they've done a pretty good job of keeping the basics simple, while allowing the advanced user/developer to manipulate those complexities. Good luck to you and may I also add my encouragement to use these message boards? There are many highly talented people here, who generously help those of us who are learning on the fly. Kari "Marshall Barton" wrote: Sunrise wrote: As an administrative professional and someone who has a keen eye for improving efficiency in offices I am very excited to promote the use of Access within my office and department. I realize now that it is more intended for developers than for secretaries. But, we need it. In my view, databases can play an enormous role in reducing workload and improving our reporting function. The need to 'report' and 'measure' our productivity and effectiveness has been growing like a disease in our government (this is a documented fact). Everyone is complaining and struggling to find a way to cope. With the economy in decline there is no hope of creating jobs within our structure for Access developers. I have started voluntary 'lunch and learn' sessions for my staff where we share our software knowledge - tips and techniques etc. I also pair up employees who 'know' with employees who 'want/need to learn'. This works out great - we teach each other. So, through our software sharing we will endeavour to keep the Access knowledge/skill alive within our office. As long as your folks are interested, I think lunch-learning discussions are an outstanding idea. To toss my two cents into your pot, I suggest that your group carfully study and discuss the concepts and ideas in Crystal's Access Basics article at: http://www.accessmvp.com/strive4peace/ Crystal is a professional technical trainer so she has an easily inderstood way of explaining the kind of stuff that relative beginners need to know. -- Marsh MVP [MS Access] |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Access user-friendliness needs to improve
I've been off-line for a few days. I am overwhelmed by the positive
responses and generous support offered. Thank you to all for your support and suggestions. I have checked out the links that were suggested and they will prove to be very useful to me and those on my staff who are interested. Klaatu, I would be honoured to take you up on your amazing generous offer. I am reluctant however to mention my location on-line. I've tried to email you using addresses that I found on Google but they bounced back. If you have access to my actual email address I give you permission to use it. If not, can you provide me with yours? I have access to a network of administrative workers and am considering ways that I can promote the use of Access within their (my) community. Perhaps by developing and distributing basic templates that would be useful to all administrative people (i.e. managing phone lists, human resources data, and some financials too) and then broadening the lunch-and-learn sessions to a wider group. This will take a lot of time and thought and may not be feasible in the end. I am using my own office as a pilot and will have to assess the possibilities for the future. There is no question that developers have done some fantastic work on the development of Access. Thanks again. -- Sunrise "Klatuu" wrote: Good post, Sunrise. I certainly intended no offense. I do applaud what you are doing. I might offer a suggestion. There are consultants who could provide some training during your lunch sessions. It may be out of budget for you, but another thing I would offer to help with would be to get it done for free. If you can tell me where you are located, I will try to find an Access MVP close to you and see if I can coerse him/her into some free introductory basics to help you get started. Also, in addition to these newsgroups, there are several MVPs who have sites with lots of useful information. One that has more content that most is http://www.allenbrowne.com Hope to hear from you soon. -- Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP "Sunrise" wrote: As an administrative professional and someone who has a keen eye for improving efficiency in offices I am very excited to promote the use of Access within my office and department. I realize now that it is more intended for developers than for secretaries. But, we need it. In my view, databases can play an enormous role in reducing workload and improving our reporting function. The need to 'report' and 'measure' our productivity and effectiveness has been growing like a disease in our government (this is a documented fact). Everyone is complaining and struggling to find a way to cope. With the economy in decline there is no hope of creating jobs within our structure for Access developers. I have started voluntary 'lunch and learn' sessions for my staff where we share our software knowledge - tips and techniques etc. I also pair up employees who 'know' with employees who 'want/need to learn'. This works out great - we teach each other. So, through our software sharing we will endeavour to keep the Access knowledge/skill alive within our office. Thanks for listening. -- Sunrise "Klatuu" wrote: Actually, Microsoft has spent a lot of effort to make Access available to the masses. We professional developers some times think perhaps too much. Anybody can paint a wall, but only Michaelangelo could do the Cistene Chapel. For keeping track of some simplistic data, it doesn't take much to make Access useful. And it does not take knowledge of VBA to do so. There are some fairly complex databases around that have no VBA at all, but it is useful for manipulating more complex data and for creating user interfaces that prevent incorrect data from being entered. I have seen some good apps using only Macros. As has already been stated, Access is not as much an application as a development tool, but it can be used effectively without a lot of training. You do need to understand some basic Database Normalization methods and rules, but you also have to know some basic arithmetic to use Excel and be to some degree literate to use Word. Now, in parting, and with good will, if you are one of those agencies who wants to collect some of my money or impose more regulations on my life, I hope you never get it right; otherwise, I encourage you to keep at it. These newsgroups are about the best place to learn. -- Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP "Sunrise" wrote: Access is part of the suite of products supplied to all workers in my federal government offices - many thousands of workers. Conceptually it is a great product but rarely used due to its complex nature. IT support rarely has specialized knowledge of software packages and focuses mainly on the larger technical issues like connectivity problems and networking etc. As such, administrative staff are left to solve their own problems with software...which competes with heavy workloads. The result is that MS-Access is not used very often because you have to have a lot of experience and training for it to be useful and maintainable. Many offices have a high turnover of staff. A database is only useful if it is maintainable. Barely anyone knows how to use it. As an office manager I am creating databases for my office but am keeping them as simple as possible because I know that, if I don't, when I move on there will be no one in the office who can maintain them and they will be dropped. If I add complexities to the databases I am in essence 'wasting my time'. This tool of efficiency has so much potential but is not being used because no one has the knowledge or training to use it. MS should continue developing this wonderful administrative tool with an eye to making it easier for the beginner to produce reports more easily. Administrative staff become familiar with Word because they have no choice. It is not the same story with Access...because it is optional. It would be nice to see a twinning of the features in Word with those in Access so the transition would be seamless, quick, and easy for those who are comfortable with Word. An example is the line between columns. Through this community I received a response to my question on this topic. I am greatful but surprised that a simple line could require such in depth knowledge and VBA programming.. This is ridiculous. In Word you are asked if you want a line between columns and then click YES. People don't make the transition because the transition is too hard to make and they have too much work to do. -- Sunrise |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Access user-friendliness needs to improve
Thank you Marchall. What a great site.
-- Sunrise "Marshall Barton" wrote: Sunrise wrote: As an administrative professional and someone who has a keen eye for improving efficiency in offices I am very excited to promote the use of Access within my office and department. I realize now that it is more intended for developers than for secretaries. But, we need it. In my view, databases can play an enormous role in reducing workload and improving our reporting function. The need to 'report' and 'measure' our productivity and effectiveness has been growing like a disease in our government (this is a documented fact). Everyone is complaining and struggling to find a way to cope. With the economy in decline there is no hope of creating jobs within our structure for Access developers. I have started voluntary 'lunch and learn' sessions for my staff where we share our software knowledge - tips and techniques etc. I also pair up employees who 'know' with employees who 'want/need to learn'. This works out great - we teach each other. So, through our software sharing we will endeavour to keep the Access knowledge/skill alive within our office. As long as your folks are interested, I think lunch-learning discussions are an outstanding idea. To toss my two cents into your pot, I suggest that your group carfully study and discuss the concepts and ideas in Crystal's Access Basics article at: http://www.accessmvp.com/strive4peace/ Crystal is a professional technical trainer so she has an easily inderstood way of explaining the kind of stuff that relative beginners need to know. -- Marsh MVP [MS Access] |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|