Periodically I have received an invitation from you to answer a quick survey on how I have enjoyed your videos. I believe I have answered once, but I know I have ignored others. Not because I have had no opinion, but because I felt a quick survey was an inadequate answer!
So now I am making time to respond more fully.
I have been trying to learn Access for a couple years. I have some very good books which I have studied as I can and use as reference. I have looked at some Microsoft on-line tutorials or help files. I have received from a few friends some other video tutorials. My first major problem with this project is my own time to devote to this. May life is extremely full! But nothing has helped me learn as much as your tutorials. They are, for me, the best.
Your teaching is clear, methodical, easy to listen to and generally easy to follow. And oh yes, often you make it fun! (Most people think I am kind of crazy when I say I am enjoying learning and working with Access!) As you advise, I usually listen before trying to do the examples, then go through the video again, slowing working along with you. I find this extremely helpful. If what I am doing does not seem to work as your examples do, with patience I can usually find my mistake. I was thoroughly stuck at one point in the SQL 2 Seminar and asked for help on the forum.
I am very grateful for the forum and for your tips. When I get an announcement of a forum update I try very hard to look at it, even if some of what is being discussed has no meaning for me at this point. Much IS helpful and I know as I need more information I will be able to search the site for entries about different topics.
Richard, you have been kind and generous to me (thank you, again!) but I see you being kind and generous over and over and I thank you for all of us, for making your web site a joy to visit. You are always kind and patient in your forum responses. When a while back someone questioned your teaching and the increasing costs, I cheered all who came to your defense. I had no time to respond myself then, but I was grateful others did so. You are so far from ripping anyone off! And I think the costs of your tutorials and seminars are reasonable and very up front. Thanks, too, for making your site light-hearted at times. Your generosity also is present in letting us buy the Beginner Access tutorials and then upgrade to the 2010 Beginners as they are available. I have eagerly awaited each of these and try to study them soon after a download.
I think you pace things well. Yes, I sometimes get tired of the preliminary info in the beginning of a new tutorial, but I think it is necessary, and I move through it quickly. I needed it once myself and I think it is wise to have it there. I am moving toward the completion of all that I received from you (and the continuing upgrades in 2010) and I am very grateful for it all.
My last couple months have been over-full with community demands (including two funerals, lots of guests, fall harvest, computer problems not related to Access) and I have had no time to work on the Access development for our office needs. I have found this frustrating, but what has helped me has been grabbing what time I could to keep working on your tutorials. This has kept Access fresh for me and continued my learning. Like you, I am a night-owl, so often that is the only time I can do this. Unfortunately, our community schedule begins early in the morning, so my night time Access interest and study often has to be curtailed!
If anyone were to ask me where to start in learning Access, I would certainly refer them to your sight. Your style is so enjoyable, Richard. Thank you. I know this is long, but it is truer feedback than a simple survey.
