[AccessD] Tech books ...

Charles is right on the money folks. If people would  buy them, I'd write
them. :) The book that caters to the largest market makes money. The rest of
them don't.

Susan H.


> Arthur,
>
> <lecture>
> The economics of book publishing do not allow for such specialized books
> as you envision.  You have noticed that several computer-oriented book
> publishers such as Wrox have ceased publishing lately, haven't you?
> Such specialized topics usually have to be done as white papers for
> which the authors receive no compensation.  You may also have noticed
> that most white papers are sponsored by organizations that employ the
> authors.
>
> There are few authors that can afford to give away the fruit of their
> labors.  I doubt that Susan is willing to live in poverty so you can
> freely benefit from her knowledge. <grin>
>
> Thus the advantage of lists such as AccessD, there are many on this list
> willing to freely share some of their knowledge.  However, the price you
> pay for this free knowledge is that it is not organized, you have to
> work to put all the pieces together. <grin>
> </lecture>
>
> Have a nice day and a nice weekend!
>
> Charles Wortz
> Software Development Division
> Texas Education Agency
> 1701 N. Congress Ave
> Austin, TX 78701-1494
> 512-463-9493
> CWortz at tea.state.tx.us
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Arthur Fuller [mailto:artful at rogers.com]
> Sent: Friday 2003 Mar 21 08:45
> To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com
> Subject: RE: [AccessD] Tech books ...
>
> As one of said writers, I hearily agree. 1500-page tomes such as ADH
> contain lots of good stuff, but 1000 pages of fluff as well (from the
> p.o.v. of an experienced developer). I would much prefer a series of
> books, each focused on a particular subject. For example, using classes,
> doing replication, upsizing, using parameterized sprocs in forms, and so
> on. Then you could spend $20 instead of $80 and get all and only what
> you need.
>
> Arthur
>
> "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither."
> -- Benjamin Franklin
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-admin at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-admin at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Tom Adams
> Sent: March 21, 2003 9:25 AM
> To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com
> Subject: [AccessD] Tech books ...
>
>
> To the whizzes that write books in this list.
>
> A recent post that said they learned better from examples than from
> reading books brought up a point I've been meaning to make.  I know the
> publishers push you to include all Access user levels in your books so
> more will sell. However that means that 80% of the book is useless for
> moderate to advanced readers.
>
> There are two points I'd like to point out (neither of which has a
> chance of making it). 1.  Have a few overly documented examples if you
> will - but include a bunch of heavy duty
>      code for examples for the advanced programmers - with little or no
> comments.  The documented
>      examples in books are usually too simple to be very useful.  Real
> code will teach most
>      developers without the comments.
>
> 2.  As there are millions of Excel and Access power users through
> developers
> - and sometimes they
>      will be doing other apps - eg. Excel to Access, Excel to VB, Access
> to VB and/or VB to Access,
>      Access to Sql Server and Sql Server to Jet - consider writing a
> >From X to Y Dictionary.  Eg.
>      From Access to VB, From Jet to Sql Server, etc.
>
>      I've moved into VB for the last 6 months and would have paid almost
> anything for an Access to Vb
>      book.  Eg. Combo Box.  What a pain in VB.  Can't tell you how long
> this took me to figure out.
>      Makes me want to find one of the Access guys at Microsoft and give
> them my first born child (I
>      know, I know - she's a teenager and that's a punishment worse than
> death to inflict on anyone but
>      the thought is grateful.)
>
>      I find that I know exactly what I want to do in Access but the
> differences are often difficult to figure
>      out.
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