Beginning Access™ 2007 VBA

Chapter 3. Programming Applications Using Object

This chapter explains the basic concepts of the object-oriented programming environment, such as using objects in your programs. You will learn the definition of properties, methods, and events, and when to use each one. Because the code is encapsulated into objects with properties, methods, and events available for the objects—a concept called object-oriented programming (OOP)—you can build reusable objects that save a lot of development time. Coding is simplified because the system is organized into smaller sets of interrelated objects, instead of one huge object. Your code will be easier to maintain because it will be easier to understand.

Object-oriented programming is a scary concept for most people, but this chapter demonstrates that it's really not that complicated. After covering basic object-oriented programming concepts, you will also learn about several Microsoft Access objects and how to use them. Chapter 4 covers cover object-oriented programming in greater detail.

You may want to create a new database for use with examples in this chapter. From within Access, click the Office Button on the top left and select New. Enter the database file name as Ch3CodeExamples in the panel on the far right side, and click Create. You can also simply click the New Database link when you first launch Access.

Note that the file menu no longer says the word "File," but has a circular graphic in the upper-left corner of the screen called ...