Microsoft Access provides Window users with the most complete application development environment available by combining a database engine, programming language and graphic user interface tools in a single package. Certainly it has limitations – multi-user support is limited, it is a file-based DBMS and it can’t create executable images – but no other development tool exceeds its breadth and popularity for creating personal or small business applications. Many shops use it just for its report writer hooking it up to any number of back-end server DBMS systems.
An experienced Access developer will understand database design, user interface design, report writing, VBA programming, graphics design, XML, database object models and SQL. The number of skills involved to create an application is one of the reasons many developers enjoy using Microsoft Access. Writing efficient SQL is a must-have skill and there are many resources on the web that can help increase your knowledge of and comfort with SQL. This page provides some techniques I’ve used or helped others use to solve their data needs.
NOTE: Are you developing queries to use in your VBA code? Or troubleshooting SQL from your VBA code? This Microsoft Access Team blog entry may provide valuable insights for you. Worth checking out.