To start or not to start - Microsoft Access Forum


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To start or not to start

Mark Wright

5 years ago

Hi Richard,

I have been following your courses over the last few weeks, and once again thank you for so much detailed information and easy to follow courses. I have just started Expert 9, and I am at a point where I have to start building some kind of database for our organisation due to increased business.

We only offer services and have no products, and I feel that the knowledge I have acquired so far would allow me to start building the basics and then add to it over time especially with more complex areas of the database.

My questions is: If I start building my database now, I think I would be able to add more complex areas i.e. advanced calculations, replace buttons or Queries with coding etc - over time and as my knowledge increases. To this end, would you agree with my statement of - yes I have to start building, and yes I think I can add additional more complex areas and/or amend it in the coming months??

I'm aware that this may be a very much opinion based answer to this question, but any guidance would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Mark

	Adam Schwanz @Reply 5 years ago
Very opinion based, I started my businesses DB around mid-expert, and because I didn't understand relationships properly I had to do a bit of a big rework halfway through. Otherwise I just continued adding on stuff as I learned it. So it's certainly possible, it's just if you're up to remaking stuff as you learn the more efficient/proper ways to do things.

Mark Wright OP @Reply

5 years ago

Thanks for the response Adam, and I completely understand where you're coming from. I had an error at the end of Expert 8 with relationships, and managed to find the answer - however the problem made me understand relationships better. I do think we will never require an over complicated DB (I wonder how many times Richard has heard that!! lol), so I'm hoping I can start soon.

If I do start, then it will be with the areas I know will never be complex - this will also afford me a little natural pause while I learn more - I think! It's a tough one! lol

Scott Axton @Reply

5 years ago

My $.02 is go for it!

Sometimes the only way to truly learn is trial by fire so to speak.
The db I'm currently using is about 15 years old and has been "pretty good" for what the owners thought they needed.  The geek in me thinks otherwise. ( I know so much more now of what not to do!  LOL  It's especially tough modifying some one else's work. )

That being said get your core down solid with basics.  Then, little by little, add on what you need as you continue your education process.

Your V1 db won't be perfect I guarantee it!  BUT persevere.  Little by little you'll get closer each iteration.
Don't let Analysis Paralysis get you bogged down.

Keep in mind that there a great bunch of people here that are willing to laugh at you.....  Err... I mean lend you a helping hand along the way.

Mark Wright OP @Reply

5 years ago

HAHA! Scott. Thank you for your input, and it certainly has given me more confidence to just do it and get the core of it locked down - and like you said V1 will certainly be different to Vx.x! I never really thought about Analysis Paralysis before, but I do think this exists within me just now when I'm thinking about it.

I'm sure there will be a lot of laughing and thinking of 'what is this chump talking about!' lol - but it also reassuring to know there is plenty of help on hand when I hit a dead end!

Thanks Scott, and thanks to everyone in advance! :)

Richard Rost @Reply

5 years ago

Hi Mark. Welcome to the Forum. :)

I think you're far enough along to start building your database. I always tell BEGINNER students not to start any major projects until they've at least got the first 2 or 3 Expert classes under their belt. You're going to learn so much about relationships, subforms, combo boxes, and all that GOOD STUFF in the start of the Expert series. Once you're up to Expert 9, you're good.

Now, that's not to say you're not going to learn EVEN MORE good stuff in the future. You will. Especially when you get to the Developer classes and you start learning VBA and Event programming. That will take your database to a Whole. Nutha. Level.

But yes, you're to the point where you won't need to make FUNDAMENTAL changes to the core of your database - just upgrades as you learn more cool tricks.

And see, I told you if you posted in the Forum, my awesome guys would probably get back to you first. My students ROCK!

Richard Rost @Reply

5 years ago

And I completely agree with that analysis paralysis concept. In fact, I used to suffer from "don't let perfection keep you from good enough." When I first started recording videos, it would take me a WEEK to put together a 1-hour lesson. I would record something. Feel it wasn't good enough. Delete it. Start over. Second guess my teaching strategy. Go back and re-write my outline. Ad Nauseum. I was letting the perfectionist in me keep saying "this isn't good enough. I can do better."

I finally got to a point (about 10 years ago) where I had to start saying "it's good enough." That's not to say I lowered my standard too far... but I had to just accept that NOTHING will ever be perfect, and what I'm putting out is still a quality product.

Richard Rost @Reply

5 years ago

Today I just don't give a rat's ass.

No just kidding... but I've gotten a LOT more relaxed with my videos, with my presenting style, and with accepting that sometimes IMPERFECTION is a good thing. It gives me a chance to also show people that THEY TOO will make mistakes, and that's OK. Plus I now have almost 20 years of experience recording these damn videos, and over 25 years of teaching experience total. So... with age comes confidence...

And so too will be your database. Don't try to make it PERFECT. Make it WORK. You can always fix / patch / update later. Get it working. Get it in use. You WILL learn better ways to do things in the future. Heck, I'm STILL learning Access tips (Adam taught me something new this morning).

Keep learning. Keep improving. Don't try to be perfect. Have a beer and relax at the end of the day.

Cheers!

	Juan C Rivera @Reply 5 years ago
Keep the database as you make different ver. when you get better go back and look at it. You will have a ton of laughs as you see what you put together. Keep in mind cant make omelet if you don't break them eggs. Just do it.

Mark Wright OP @Reply

5 years ago

Hi Richard,

Thank you for the comments and insightful information, it is as always really helpful! I do have a similar problem to the one that you had, in that everything needs to be perfect! Coming from a varied background - including film - I know how easy it is to get bogged down with the grading, editing, post items etc. Although I am trying to get better, so it's good to hear that re your videos - although your style is soooooo relaxed and engaging!

I did start the basics of the database last night, getting my tables together etc, and it's amazing how much I have learned so far, as most of it came really easy - so thank you again!

Juan - thank you to for the comment. Now where's that whisk....

Adam Schwanz @Reply

5 years ago

Yea, I think part of why Richard's videos are so good is leaving the mistakes in there, editing them out like a lot of people do ruins half the learning experience. That's probably the most underrated part of learning to build a database is how to handle when things don't go as planned (because it happens a LOT). Great lesson to learn there. And it's always nice when I catch something as he's building it where I say there's no way this is going to work right. Then when he runs into the mix-up I know that I must be learning something to have seen that coming :). Then in the cases when somehow it does work that's even more rewarding to learn :).

	William Dowler @Reply 5 years ago
Mark, Remember that the time you spend planning your database will never be wasted. If you don't have access to a Data Modelling tool then just lay it out on paper (use a pencil with a good eraser!! lol). Get your tables and relationships sketched out before you start development. If the first thing you do is start building tables you'll come to regret it later.

	Mark Wright OP @Reply 5 years ago
Thanks William, that was some great advice! :)

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