Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Microsoft Office Out Now

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Microsoft Office Now Available Use .NET Framework version 2.0 to extend Microsoft Office 2003 Editions applications, such as Word, Excel and Outlook, using Visual Basic and Visual C#.

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Sample: Status Report Application for Word 2003 This download contains sample code for a Word Status Report solution developed in Visual Basic and C# with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System.

Free Power Tools for MS Office Developers

My free Developer ToolPack for Microsoft® Access, which is listed at Microsoft's Office Marketplace, has been updated today with the Access Database Mechanic and Table Links and Connections Manager applets, coming out of Beta.

The Toolpack comprises:

Access Database Mechanic A tool that automates the process of attempting to recover a corrupt Microsoft Access database, using three operations: compact & repair, decompile, and complete rebuild of an .mdb. The applet also features a fail-safe mechanism that creates a uniquely named back-up copy of the .mdb before each recovery operation.

Ezy Debug Simplify debugging in Microsoft Access 2000 and later. Ezy Debug is launched from the right-click popup menu in the code window of the VBA Editor. The applet provides quick access to the error-trapping settings in the code window, and once invoked it is available both in the Database and VBE windows. The current error-trapping setting is displayed and can be changed on the fly.

The Table Links and Connections Manager finds all the Microsoft Access files in the location you select and an Access report will display all table links and base string connections, and any connect errors grouped by:

• Jet Version
• File Type: mdb/mde/mda or adp/ade
• Linked Database Paths and linked tables: for mdb/mde/mda's
• Depend on me table links
• Base Connection String: for adp/ade's
• Separate reports are produced for .mdx and .adx files.

The A Better ZoomBox property builder lets you edit the following control properties when designing Access forms and reports:

• Record Source
• Row Source
• Control Source

With full Find/Replace functionality and saving of customized font and Enter key settings.

New v2.0 of Object Dependency Browser Add-In for Microsoft© Access

Use Object Dependency Browser *(OBD) to dynamically explore all objects, object collections, and dependencies of your Access database. Microsoft introduced a native object dependency viewer in Access2003, where objects can be viewed in separate treeviews:

• objects that depend on me, and
• objects that I depend on.

ODB goes much further:

• Supports Access 97, Access 2000, Access 2002, and Access2003
• The two dependency views are integrated in the one treeview. For example, in the above screenshot, ODB displays not only the fields collection for the Customers table, but linked tables and joins, and all other objects in the database that depend on the Customers table.
• Clicking on a join field will show the related to table/field and the type of join.
• Full dependency details are also displayed in the adjacent properties pane
• Each object can be fully documented in a formatted Access report by clicking the Document button.
• Copy of all object details from the properties pane to the Windows clipboard by clicking the Copy to Clipboard button.
• Open database objects in design view with a click of the Design button.

ODB v2.0 offers these new additional features:

• Explicitly documents Union query source tables/queries
• Documents for Queries: depend on me queries
• Documents Data Access Pages (Access 2000 and later)
• Documents Custom Command Bars
• Documents for Forms: custom Menubars, Toolbars, and Shortcut Menus

This update completes the recent upgrade cycle for three Access add-ins, which offer exceptional functionality and ease of use:

Ezy Documenter Premium Edition Automatically documents and prints in fully formatted Access reports all the objects in your Access database: tables and fields, table relations, query definitions, forms and record sources, reports and record sources, code modules, macros, data access pages, references, custom command bars, and database properties. The Premium Edition allows user customization of each Ezy Documenter Database Report. Reports can be exported in varied formats.

123 Error Handler Wizard Instantly add error-handling to your databases: 1. The Wizard reviews your database and identifies all procedures without error-handling, and reports the On Error... statement for all other procedures. 2. You select which procedures to add error-handling. 3. The Wizard adds error-handling to the selected procedures in one automated operation.

Object Dependency Browser The easy way to explore all objects, objet collections, and dependencies of your Access database. Microsoft introduced a native object dependency viewer in Access2003. ODB goes much further. ODB supports Access 97, Access 2000, Access 2002, and Access2003, and all dependency views are integrated into the one treeview.

Latest Microsoft Access Knowledge Base Articles

Courtesy of KBAlertz.com:

Access 2000

• 907349 How to troubleshoot video issues in Office programs

Access 2002

• 908475 You cannot embed an Adobe OpenType font in a document that is in an Office program
• 905867 You are offered an update for Access 2002 when you check for updates on the Microsoft Office Update Web site or on the Microsoft Update Web site
• 904018 Description of the update for Access 2002: October 18, 2005
• 905862 Description of Office XP post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: September 6, 2005
• 905863 The Private Bytes counter in Performance Monitor may continually increase when an ActiveX control is updated in an Office XP document
• 908125 Description of Office XP post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: October 5, 2005
• 904953 You cannot change, add, or delete data in tables that are linked to an Excel workbook in Office Access 2003 or in Access 2002
• 903727 Description of the Access 2002 post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: July 12, 2005

Access 2003

• 907347 You receive an "Unable to open " error message when you try to access the Office Online Web site in an Office 2003 program

The Easy Way to Document Access Databases:
Ezy Documenter Premium Edition for V6.0
















A new version of my MS Access add-in, Ezy Documenter Premium, is now available. Ezy Documenter automatically documents and prints in fully formatted Access reports all the objects in your Access database: tables and fields, table relations, query definitions, forms and record sources, reports and record sources, code modules, macros, data access pages, references, custom command bars, and database properties. The Premium Edition allows user customization of each Ezy Documenter Database Report.

New in v6.0:

• Linked table paths
• Data Access Pages: name, linked URL, and Data Source
• Custom Command Bars All Database Object Properties

Try the Demo

Microsoft Office Live Communications Server Labs and Tools Kit

Add real-time collaboration to your applications. Get complimentary controls and sample code for incorporating presence and real-time collaboration into line-of-business applications by ordering the free Microsoft Office Live Communications Server Labs and Tools Kit.

New Improved 123 Error-Handler Wizard for MS Access

A new improved version 1.3 of my very popular MS Access tool, 123 Error-Handler Wizard, is now available.

The Wizard reviews your database and identifies all procedures without error-handling, and reports the On Error... statement for all other procedures. You select which procedures to add error-handling. The Wizard adds error-handling to the selected procedures in one automated operation. You can also optionally add global error-handling to your database at the same time.

Version 1.3 fixes these issues:

1. In some rare cases depending on the existence of pre-existing error-handlingcode and/or Access incorrectly returning the last line of a procedure, the error-handler was not added to the last procedure in a module.
   
2. Due to Access incorrectly returning the procedure type for a Function in certain instances, the line "Exit Sub" was inserted instead of "ExitFunction" in the error-handler.
   

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Sample Code

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Sample: Outlook Snippets This download contains IntelliSense code examples for developing custom add-ins for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003. (November 7, 2005)

Jet vs MSDE vs SQL Server Express

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Overview This MSDN article discusses the integration of SQL Server Express with Visual Studio 2005 and compares this product with the existing free Microsoft databases like MSDE and Jet.

Microsoft Office 12 Open XML Formats Guide

The White Paper, Microsoft Office Open XML Formats Guide, provides detailed information on Microsoft Office 12 Open XML Formats, the new XML-based file formats for Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel, and Microsoft Office PowerPoint. The new file formats will be made available not only to customers who adopt the next release of Microsoft Office products, but also to customers using previous versions of the Microsoft Office.

Microsoft Office 2003 Security White Paper

The Microsoft Office 2003 Security White Paper addresses the most troublesome security threats to Office 2003, and how Microsoft deals with these threats.

Microsoft Jet Database Engine Programmer’s Guide

Today I found tucked way in the SQL Server 7.0 section of the Microsoft TechNet site, the very useful Microsoft Jet Database Engine Programmer’s Guide - URL corrected 2:00 PM 11/25/2005

Demos of Ezy Filter PLUS and Ezy Reporter PLUS

You can now download a demo of the Ezy Filter PLUS and Ezy Reporter PLUS Data Analysis Pack for Microsoft© Access.

Two tools for the price of one:

• Ezy Filter PLUS - Easily filter any data form in any Access database.
• Ezy Reporter PLUS - Easily create output for any Access database.

An add code options allows developers to add each tool to their applications.

Download from aadconsulting.com

Latest Office Articles and Resources at Office Developer Portal

The Future Of Microsoft Office: Office 12 Preview Site During the coming months Microsoft will be announcing new capabilities that will be part of Office 12. Get the latest news and register to get the beta when it's available.

Repurpose SharePoint Services Data Using Excel's SpreadsheetML Microsoft has opened up the file formats of Excel and Word through the Microsoft Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas. These schemas free developers from using the Excel and WordObject Models to create documents on the fly and provide anyone with knowledge of XML a powerful method for building reports inside Excel. This article shows how to retrieve data from a SharePoint list to build a formatted report using Excel's XML Schema.

Updated Infopath Developer Portal InfoPath 2003 is a new application in the Microsoft Office System for gathering enterprise information in rich, dynamic forms. Learn how to share, re-use, and re-purpose information throughout your team or organization to improve collaboration and decision-making.

Over 600 Links to MS Access and MS Office Articles, Software, Tools, and Sample Code.

I have just updated my Access Resources page at aadconsulting.com with another 50 links. There are now over 600 Links to MS Access and MS Office articles, software, tools, and sample code on the page in the following categories:

• Access Projects and SQL Server
• Access/Office Automation
• Access/Office Deployment and Migration
• Access/Office Runtime & ODE
• Access Security
• ADO
• Forms and Reports
• How To...
• InfoPath
• Jet SQL and_Queries
• SDKs
• Smart Tags
• VBA Language References
• Visual Studio for Office
• Web and Research Services
• XML
• Microsoft Support Site Map
• Useful Links and Downloads
  

Improve the Performance of InfoPath 2003 Forms

Improve the Performance of InfoPath 2003 Forms Avoid performance issues when designing an InfoPath 2003 form template and troubleshoot existing form templates that display poor performance.

Free Book Chapter On Advanced Access 2003 Reports

Download this sample chapter from Microsoft Access 2003 Forms, Reports, and Queries, which discusses various useful methods for controlling report output. Learn about sorting and grouping, adding calculations, launching reports using command buttons and macros, and more.

Latest Downloads from Microsoft

Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 MSXML6 has improved reliability, security, conformance with the XML 1.0 and XML Schema 1.0 W3C Recommendations, and compatibility with System.Xml 2.0.

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Sample: Outlook Business Contact Assistant Sample This download accompanies the MSDN article "Creating an Outlook Business Contact Manager Add-in with Visual Studio Tools for Office"

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Sample: My.Blogs Outlook Sample This download accompanies the MSDN article: "Creating an Outlook My.Blogs Managed Add-in"

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Evaluation Edition Download or order the SQL Server 2005 180-day Trial Software. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a data management and analysis solution that enables companies of all sizes to gain greater insight from their business information, apply that insight to enhance their decision-making process, and achieve faster business results for a competitive advantage.

Free Visual Studio Express Editions Available for Download

The following products will be free for ONE YEAR ONLY:

• Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition
• Visual C# 2005 Express Edition
• Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
• Visual J# 2005 Express Edition
• Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition
• SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

A new Express Editions web site has also been launched by Microsoft.

The Express Editions are lightweight tools for hobbyists, students, and novice developers who want to build Windows applications, Web sites, and Web services. There are no licensing restrictions for applications built using the Express Editions.

Microsoft Office 12 BETA Leaked







Microsoft Office 12 BETA Leaked Microsoft has made the first beta version of Office 12 available to testers, which has been leaked. There are a few torrent files floating around the web.

Microsoft Previews Office Live Microsoft will in 2006 launch on-line services that can be used independently but also integrate with Microsoft Office application. Rajesh Jha, General Manager of Information Worker Services at Microsoft says: “A key objective of Office Live is to provide small businesses with the power to easily and inexpensively manage their business in a way that large enterprises already enjoy today. With Office Live services, we make complex technology affordable and easy to use for small businesses, empowering them to reach their business goals.”.

The standard package, Office Live Basics, helps a small business establish an online Internet presence including a domain name, a Web site with 30 MB of storage and five Web e-mail accounts at no charge through an advertising-supported model. Office Live also provides a set of subscription-based services with more than 20 business applications to help automate daily business tasks such as project management, sales and collateral management, customer management, expense reports, time and billing management, and secure internal and external collaboration. Built on Windows SharePoint® Services, these applications can be customized and extended to specific customer needs by an extensive Microsoft partner ecosystem.

Office Live services initially will be released via an invitation-only beta in the U.S. in early 2006. Small-business customers can sign up at officelive.com.