Access 2003 Post-Service Pack Hotfix

The Access 2003 Post-Service Pack 3 Hotfix Package (18-Dec-07) fixes issues that may arise in Access 2003 after installing SP3.

Access 2007 SP1 Problem: "This database is in an unrecognized format"

A user of Access 2007 without SP1 will get an error when trying to open an ACCDE or MDE made using Access 2007 SP1:

This database is in an unrecognized format. The database may have been created with a later version of Microsoft Office Access than the one you are using. Upgrade your version of Microsoft Office Access to the current one, and then open this database.

The only fix is to install SP1.

Details: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/946205

SQL Server 2000/2005 Management Pack
12/21/2007 - updated version 6.0.6247.5

The SQL Server Management Pack monitors the availability and performance of SQL Server 2000 and 2005 and can issue alerts for configuration problems. Availability and performance monitoring is done using synthetic transactions. In addition, the Management Pack collects Event Log alerts and provides associated knowledge articles with additional user details, possible causes, and suggested resolutions. The Management Pack discovers Database Engines, Database Instances, and Databases and can optionally discover Database File and Database File Group objects.
Feature Summary:

• Active Directory Helper Service
• SQL Server Agent
• Backup
• Databases and Tables
• DBCC
• Full Text Search
• Log Shipping
• Clustering
• DB availability
• Replication monitoring
• Agent jobs
• Backup Query Engine
• Replication
• Web Assistant
• SQL XML

Access SideBar: New FREE Access Add-In
for Access 2000/2002/2003
Uses only native Access controls: no DLLs or OCXs to install.

I have just uploaded my latest free Access Add-In.

The Access SideBar is the easy way to navigate objects in your Access MDB.

After opening an object the SideBar is hidden, and pops-up again by moving your mouse to the left edge of the screen.

The SideBar window size is independent of the size of the Access application window, so you can locate all objects without resizing the application window. A custom right-click pop-up menu gives easy access to useful Access Menu commands that are otherwise in disparate locations.

Office 2003 Developer Content on MSDN

Microsoft MSDN staffer, Erika Ehrli in her Adventures in Office Development and .NET blog has published a very useful image map of all the Office 2003 Developer content on the MDSN portal in this post: Where in the World is all the Office 2003 Developer Content?.

This is a screenshot of the image map:

Tips On Using Office 2007 Help

Video: Quick Tips on using VBA Help with Office There are some quick and easy things you can do to make sure you are getting the optimal VBA Developer Help experience when working with the 2007 Office System. Watch this three minute video to learn more. From the Office Client Developer Content and Resources portal.

Guide to Migrating from Microsoft Access to SQL Server 2005

This white paper from Microsoft covers migrating Access databases to SQL Server 2005, and discusses the differences between the two platforms.

SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access (SSMA Access) is recommended as the best tool for this type of migration, and the paper tells you how to use it to mitigate potential problems in database conversion. For additional information, also see the white paper Microsoft Access or SQL Server 2005: What's Right in Your Organization?

Access Files Security Warning

From www.infoworld.com:

Online criminals are exploiting a flaw in the Microsoft Office Access database to install unauthorized software on computers, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) warned Monday.

In its brief warning, US-CERT offered few details on the attack, saying simply that the organization is "aware of active exploitation" of the problem by criminals who have sent specially crafted Microsoft Access Database (.mdb) files to victims.

These files are "designed for the sole purpose of executing commands," so they should not be accepted from untrusted sources, Microsoft said in a note on its Web site.

Run by the U.S. Department of Defense, US-CERT is charged with coordinating the nation's response to cyberattacks.

Companies typically block the use of .mdb files, but criminals could be using this attack in a targeted strike against an organization that is known to use this particular file-type, said Ben Greenbaum, senior manager for Symantec security response. Symantec itself has seen no evidence of the .mdb exploitation that prompted the US-CERT alert.

Office 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Now Available

You can now download the just released Office 2007 SP1. Get more information from Description of the 2007 Microsoft Office suite Service Pack 1.

I recommend you go to the Microsoft Update site to get all updates required for Windows, IE, and all Office versions, as MS has today also released a swathe of updates for Windows, IE, and other Office versions.

Also Secunia Site Inspector will provide direct links to security updates it identifies as being needed.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview

Microsoft has released a white paper summarizing what is new in Windows XP SP3.

Access Junkie: THE Access 2007 Portal

Jeff Conrad, MVP Alumni and Software Development Engineer at Microsoft, has recently updated his uber cool Access 2007 portal, Access Junkie, with a swathe of new resources:

• Access 2007 FAQ Page
• Access 2007 Help Articles Page

For anything Access 2007, this site must be your first stop.

Office 2007 Office SP1 to be released Tuesday December 11th

Next Tuesday, December 11th 2007, the Office System team at Microsoft expects to announce the availability for download of the 2007 Microsoft® Office System Service Pack 1 (SP1). This is sooner than previously announced.

SP1 is said to deliver significant stability and performance improvements to Office applications.

The use of Automatic Update (AU) Deployment has been an issue for MS customers in recent months, and SP1 will not be released to AU immediately.

For more information go to the Office Download Site.

SQL Server 2005 Books Online (September 2007)

SQL Server 2005 Books Online (September 2007) Download an updated version of the documentation and tutorials for Microsoft SQL Server 2005. See the "Additional Information" section for an update on SQL Server Express Books Online.

Virtual Lab: What's New in SQL Server 2008 for Database Administrators

What's New in SQL Server 2008 for Database Administrators Sponsored by Microsoft. In this lab, you will be introduced to some of the new features for database administrators in SQL Server 2008, including how to work with the new date data type, implement a Declarative Management Framework (DMF) policy, and more.

SQL Server Compact 3.5 Tools: Replicate SQL Server 2005 Data

SQL Server Compact 3.5 is a small footprint, in-process database engine that allows developers to build robust applications for Windows Desktops and Mobile Devices. SQL Server Compact 3.5 Server Tools installs DLL's on the IIS server enabling replication of data with SQL Server 2005.

NEW: Office Live Add-in for Microsoft Office

Open and save documents directly from Microsoft Office Word, Office Excel, and Office PowerPoint to Microsoft Office Live Workspace Beta.

The Office Live Add-In will install new menu options allowing you to open and save documents directly from Microsoft Office Word, Office Excel, and Office PowerPoint to Microsoft Office Live Workspace Beta.

The Office Live Add-in will install new menu options in Microsoft Office 2007 and a toolbar in Microsoft Office XP and Microsoft Office 2003. You will be able to open documents located in Office Live Workspace directly from Microsoft Office Word, Office Excel, and Office PowerPoint. You will also be able to save files directly from Microsoft Office Word, Office Excel, and Office PowerPoint to your Microsoft Office Live Workspace.

You can pre-register for Microsoft Office Live Workspace at http://workspace.officelive.com.

SQL Server Compact 3.5 Updates

SQL Server Compact 3.5 is a small footprint in-process database engine for Windows Desktops and Mobile Devices.

SQL Server Compact 3.5 and Synchronization Services for ADO.Net v1.0 for Windows Desktop This download contains the files for SQL Server Compact 3.5 and Synchronization Services for ADO.Net v1.0 for Windows Desktop platform.

SQL Server Compact 3.5 Books Online and Samples This download contains the Books Online and Samples for SQL Server Compact 3.5.

SQL Server Compact 3.5 for Windows Mobile This download contains the CAB files and DLL’s that are used to install SQL Server Compact 3.5 on the Windows Mobile Devices platform.

Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Office 2007 (v3.0 Runtime) (x86)

This free download (1.9mb) installs the Visual Studio Tools for the Office system 3.0 Runtime, which is required to run VSTO solutions for the 2007 Microsoft Office system built using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008.

Latest SQL Server News

Download the SQL Server 2008 July CTP

Now Available: SQL Server Compact 3.5 Beta SQL Server Compact 3.5 Beta 2 introduces a host of new features, including LINQ to SQL support, Microsoft Synchronization Services for ADO.NET, plus enhanced support for T-SQL statements

SQL Server 2005 Driver for PHP CTP

FIX: SQL Server 2005 may send error information for the same problem many times when a fatal error occurs

FIX: Some events are not logged correctly when you enable SQL Server event forwarding on a SQL Server Agent of SQL Server 2000 to forward events to SQL Server 2005

New Office 2007 Security Tool

Microsoft is scheduled to release a software tool to better tweak the security settings of Office 2007. The application offers detailed documentation of the security settings in Office 2007, as well as a free Group Publish PostPolicy Object Accelerator that allows administrators to change and set security policies across users through Active Directory. Full story

BETA 2 of Custom RibbonX Reviewer for Access 2007

Click on the image to zoom in...

Download the just released free BETA 2 of my Access 2007 RibbonX Reviewer and Builder Add-In

BETA 2 provides advanced Access 2007 RibbonX review and build features, and is now deployed as an Access 2007 Add-In. You can create new Ribbons, copy/paste controls, and add new controls and delete controls on-the-fly. Extensive reference resources are incorporated into the GUI.

The next update will add the editing of control attributes.

Installation is now via a SetUp.exe file which includes the required DLL's and OCX's. The XML Preview Pane requires IE v 6.x or later. Make sure you read the readme.txt file.

Office 2007 Security Guide

The 2007 Microsoft Office Security Guide (9Nov07) provides prescriptive Group Policy setting and security configuration recommendations to help strengthen the security of computers running the 2007 Microsoft Office release on computers that run Windows Vista or Windows XP in domain–based environments.

Web Seminar Series on Office 2007 Open XML

Microsoft Web Seminars 2007 Microsoft Office System Open XML
Sponsored by Microsoft December 10-20, 10:00 AM PST (USA)

Open XML builds on the original vision of XML, where broad inter-operability allows documents to be archived, restructured, aggregated and re-used dynamically. This Web seminar series will cover Open XML Architecture, programming with the Packaging API, WordprocessingML, SpreadsheetML, DrawingML Fundamentals, and PresentationML.

Free Web Seminar On SQL Server Security

On October 30, 2007 Windows IT Pro Magazine is presenting a free web Seminar on SQL Server Security: How to Secure, Monitor and Audit Your Databases. Register

Most companies remain focused on the security of the perimeter and ignore the database. This seminar will discuss the basics of database security and best practice for securing, monitoring and auditing SQL Server.

Other topics to be covered:

• The three layers of security in most systems today
• Why secure the database layer?
• Challenges securing the database layer
• Best practices for securing, monitoring & auditing SQL Server databases
• Tools to help secure SQL Server

Latest SQL Server 2005 Hotfixes

FIX: Error message when you run a query that references a column of the XML data type in SQL Server 2005: "The XML data type is damaged".

FIX: Error message when you try to delete some stored procedures concurrently in SQL Server 2005: "Temp table deferred drop doesn't scale for certain workloads".

Latest SQL Server 2005 Resources

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 SQL Server 2005 SP2 includes significant enhancements to maintenance plans, including an enhancement that lets users specify the cleanup interval in hours. SQL Server 2005 service packs are cumulative, and this service pack upgrades all service levels of SQL Server 2005 to SP2.
  
  
• How To: Determine the version of SQL Server 2005 Integration Services
  
  
• How To: Use Excel Services as a data source in Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 Monitoring and Analytics

Latest Office 2007 Resources

• 2007 Office System Sample: Setting Up a Development Environment This code sample accompanies the MSDN technical article Setting Up a Development Environment for the 2007 Microsoft Office System.
  
  
• 2007 Office Sample: Using the Office Open XML Formats to Support Electronic Health Records Portability and Health Industry Standards
  
  
• 2007 Office Document: Open XML Markup Explained

Automatically Schedule Access Reports For Printing

If you say need to print an Access report by 10:00 every Friday morning, you don’t have to do it manually. Follow this great tip from Tech Republic's Mary Ann Richardson.

Add Addtional Files to Access 2007 Deployment Packages

This How To shows you how to add an add-in to an Access 2007 deployment package using the Package Solution Wizard, containing your application, the Microsoft Office Access 2007 Runtime, and additional files.

Additional links:

• Deploying Access 2007 Runtime-Based Solutions

• Access Developer Portal

• Introducing the Access 2007 Developer Extensions and Runtime

• Microsoft Office Developer Center

Office Business Applications Developer Portal

This Microsoft Office 2007 Portal provides a comprehensive set of servers, clients, and tools to make it easier for enterprises, software vendors, and developers to build and deploy a new class of business applications called Office Business Applications (OBAs).

Latest SQL Server 2005 Fixes

. FIX: An access violation may occur intermittently when you run an Integration Services package that contains a Data Flow task in SQL Server 2005

. FIX: On a computer that is running SQL Server 2005 and that has multiple processors, you may receive incorrect results when you run a query that contains an inner join

NEW: Access 2003 to Access 2007 Interactive Command Reference Guide

Download a visual interactive reference guide to help you find Access 2003 commands in the new Access 2007 Ribbonbars.

You can also download the Access Ribbon mapping workbook, an Excel file that lists the commands on each tab of the Access 2007 Ribbon and the menu/toolbar location in previous versions of Access. Instructions on the first tab of the workbook provide tips for customizing, finding, and printing data.

Protect Your Access MDE's

I was reminded today of the security leaks that exist in MDEs. While the VBA code is stripped, declarations and procedure stubs are retained in the MDE file, and object designs can be hacked.

There are some on the Web, who should know better, selling so-called MDE unlockers and protectors. Ethically, there are two issues here:

1. These apps are marketed as protection aids, but they can also be used by the unscrupulous to do the opposite: get past MDE protection of someone else's database.
   
   
2. How these apps do what they do is not a secret and can be done by anyone with retail Access. If you want to improve the protection of your MDEs or you genuinely need to get into one of your MDE's, before spending any money on these products, read on.
   

On 1 May 2004, I posted on the MDE security issues and protection. The post has been updated and is set out below. Please note that the following does not apply to Access 2007 and ACCDE's, but can be applied to Access 2003 MDB's secured in Access 2003 and then compiled as an MDE in Access 2007. For reasons unknown Microsoft removed Access security from Access 2007.

Did you know that:

1. You can access the Start-Up properties (such as disabling the Shift key bypass) of an MDE through another MDB and change each property.

2. You can open an unsecured MDE with the Shift key, press Ctrl+G to open the Debug window, press F2 to open the Object Browser, and then search all the code modules for procedure stubs, declarations, and constants.

3. You can import all the form and report objects but not the code from an unsecured MDE into an MDB.

Securing An Access Database

To effectively secure an Access MDB you MUST demote the Admin user from the Admins group. Otherwise your database will not be secure, as Admin cannot be removed from the Users group, and anyone using the retail system.mdw file logs on automatically as Admin.

1. Use the Access Workgroup Administrator (AWA), wrkgadm.exe, to create a new workgroup (.mdw) file.

2. Join the new workgroup using the AWA.

3. Make a backup copy of your MDB.

4. Open Access and the database to be secured.

5. Using Tools, Security, User and Group Accounts..., in the User and Group Accounts dialog:

5.1 Create a password for Admin user.

5.2 Create a new user account. This account will be the new database owner account. For example, call the owner account DBOwner. Add "DBOwner" to all groups, including the critical Admins group.

5. Close and re-open Access, logging on as "DbOwner", and leaving the password blank, as you have not assigned one yet.

7. In the User and Group Accounts dialog, demote the Admin user account by removing it from the Admins group. Now Admin is only a member of the Users group and will have only those permissions assigned to that group by "DBOwner".

8. Create a password for "DBOwner".

9. Close and re-open Access, logging on as "DBOwner" using the password you created in step 8.

10. You can now start to secure the objects in you database.

11. In Access 2000 and later, you also need to additonally secure your code by using Password Protection in the VBA Editor.

Special Notes:

• You don't have to distribute your MDW file with your MDE to protect it using this method
  
  
• A User account inherits the permissions of the Group to which it belongs.

Testing:

I have tested an MDE protected with Access security and Password Protection in the VBA Editor with the demos of these two products: Access MDE Unlocker and Access MDE Source Protector, and both products failed to unlock the MDE.

You should test your own MDEs before distribution.

Caveat:

There is no bullet-proof protection against an expert hacker.

Office 2003 Document: Office 2003 Service Pack 3 White Paper

This white paper discusses the benefits of deploying Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) before upgrading to the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and details improvements to security and user experience.

Access 2007 Pain: RibbonBar

I was never a fan of the RibbonBar gui in Office 2007, but was ready to accept the need to work with it.

But at each step in the learning process , there is nothing but frustration. And I am not alone: read the comments to a post on the Access Team Blog.

A partial random list of annoyances:

1. There is no way to build or even review RibbonBars natively in Access 2007.
   
   
2. The XML for a RibbonBar does not parse in MS XML Notepad or by using the MSXML dlls - the XML needs to be modified to be read.
   
   
3. Using more than one period (.) in a row in a label breaks the XML.
   
   
4. There is no easy way to get the ImageID of a native image: you have to download an obscurely located Excel file.
   
   
5. The MS Custom Office UI Editor returns malformed XML errors by referring to the line and character number, but - you guessed it - the Editor screen has neither.
   
   
6. There is next to nothing on customizing the RibbonBar in the Access Help file. The only articles where you can get any coherent information have been written by third parties.
   
   
7. If you want to preview a native RibbonBar image in an Access form, you can't use the Access image control - you have to use the MS Forms image control, which is not fully supported in Access.

In one of the comments to the above-mentioned post, well-known Access writer Mike Groh, said:

"Without intellisense and without an Object Browser view of the ribbon hierarchy, it's very, very difficult to make headway on ribbon customization."

A correction: The RibbonBar gui does not have an object model, so the hierarchy has to be viewed in some other way.

On 20 Sep I posted my Custom RibbonX Reviewer BETA, for free download. The Reviewer loads a custom RibbonBar into a treeview to show the full hierarchy, and all attributes and values for each item, as well as displaying the actual RibbonBar. There are also extensive reference resources incorporated into the GUI. The next stage in the project is to deploy the app as an add-in that will work inside the users' ACCDB, and provide in-place editing of RibbonBars using a pseudo-object model.

I sent an email to the Access Team Blog on this app, in the hope I would get some support or feedback. The email has been ignored.

Excel 2007 Calculation Bug!

Microsoft has confirmed that Excel 2007 incorrectly displays the result of a calculation in 12 specific cases where a result should equal around 65,535. The issue is not in the calculation itself but in the result that is shown in the sheet.

For example, =850*77.1 will display an incorrect value, but if you then multiply the result by 2, you will get the correct answer (i.e. if A1 contains “=850*77.1”, and A2 contains “=A1*2”, A2 will return the correct answer of 131,070).

A patch is in the works. More

Office 2007 White Papers: Digital Signing and The New GUI

2007 Office System Document: Digital Signing of Microsoft 2007 Office System Documents The 2007 Microsoft Office system provides many security improvements over its predecessors, including digital document signing. This white paper introduces the reader to digital signatures: what they are and how to use them.

2007 Office System Document: The Microsoft Office Fluent User Interface: Information Worker Perception of Productivity, Training, and Support Requirements This white paper presents the results of a Forrester Research study commissioned by Microsoft to help organizations and individuals understand the benefits of the Fluent user interface and address some of the challenges they may have in transitioning to Microsoft Office 2007.

2007 Office System Document: The Microsoft Office Fluent User Interface: IT Decision-Maker Perception of Productivity, Training, and Support Requirements This white paper presents the results of a Forrester Research study commissioned by Microsoft to help IT organizations considering Microsoft Office 2007 adoptions anticipate the impact of the new Fluent user interface on their end users.

Custom RibbonX Reviewer for Access 2007


Click on the image to zoom in...

I am making available a free BETA of my Access 2007 RibbonX Reviewer for download. Make sure you read the readme file.

This is very much a stage 1 app, with the aim being in the next stage to deploy it as an add-in that will work inside the users' ACCDB, and eventually to provide in-place editing of Ribbonbars. I put the BETA out now, so that any bugs can identified before I go too far into the next stage.

Open the file RibbonXReview.accde in Access 2007 to review sample Access 2000 RibbonBars using the USysRibbons table.

Theres are also extensive reference resources incorporated into the GUI.

You can load your own USysRibbons table by importing it into the ACCDE and replacing the sample USysRibbons table.

Download Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3)

Download Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3). SP3 includes updated security and previously released hotfixes.

Some of the changes in Service Pack 3 modify the behavior of Office 2003, including changes that disable some features by default and increase control for computer administrators. Changes include:

• Office 2003 can no longer open or save certain file formats. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938810.
• MAPI forms do not run in public folders and user folders. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938816.
• Office 2003 can now be configured to allow or deny specific COM components. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938815.
• Some COM components with unusual characteristics may not function as expected. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938814.
• Changes have been made to the behavior of Microsoft Office Document Imaging. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938813.
• Attachments with the .gadget extension can no longer be opened in Outlook. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938811.
• Access add-ins can no longer be configured for use by all users. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938809.
• The Fast Save setting in Microsoft Office Word has been removed. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938808.
• Documents saved in certain formats no longer contain the version number of Office. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938807.
• Certain macros in older Excel file formats have increased security. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 938806.

Known issues after you install Office 2003 SP3:

• After you install a Microsoft Office service pack, you are prompted unexpectedly to restart the computer. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 905726 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905726/) You are unexpectedly prompted to restart the computer after you install an Office service pack or an Office update
• After you install Office 2003 SP3, an add-in, ActiveX control, or COM add-in may not work as expected in an Office 2003 program. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 938814 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938814/) The functionality of an add-in, an ActiveX control, or a COM add-in is reduced, or the functionality is blocked after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3
• After you install Office 2003 SP3, you may receive an error message when you try to create a new MAPI form in Outlook 2003. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 938816 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938816/) Error message when you try to create a new MAPI form in Outlook 2003: "contact the administrator"
• After you install Office 2003 SP3, attachments that contain the .gadget extension cannot be opened in Outlook 2003. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 938811 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938811/) Attachments that contain the .gadget extension cannot be opened in Outlook 2003 after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3
• After you install Office 2003 SP3, the Fast Saves feature does not work as expected in Word 2003. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 938808 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938808/) The Fast Saves feature in Word 2003 no longer functions after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3
• After you install Office 2003 SP3, the Microsoft Office Document Imaging program may not work as expected. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 938813 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938813/) You may experience issues when you run the Microsoft Office Document Imaging program after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3
• After you install Office 2003 SP3, you may receive an error message when you try to open or to save a file. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 941636 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941636/) You receive an error message when you try to open a file or to save a file after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3
• After you install Office 2003 SP3, you cannot open some Microsoft Excel workbooks that contain Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macros. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 938806 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938806/) You cannot open Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook files that contain Visual Basic for Applications macros in Excel 2003 after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3
• After you install Office 2003 SP3, the version number of Office is no longer saved in the properties of the document as expected. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 938807 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938807/) Office files that are saved in certain formats no longer contain the version number of Office after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3

Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3 Available Tomorrow

Office 2003 SP3, promising improved security and enhanced compatibility with Windows Vista, Office 2007, Internet Explorer 7 and Windows SharePoint Services, will be available tomorrow (September 18, 2007). Source

Excel 2007 XLL Software Development Kit

Excel 2007 Download: Excel 2007 XLL Software Development Kit The Microsoft Office Excel XLL Software Development Kit (SDK) contains conceptual overviews, programming tasks, and sample projects to guide you in developing Excel 2007 XLLs.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Second Edition Runtime

The Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Second Edition (VSTO 2005 SE) redistributable package (build 8.0.50272.891) (x86) installs the Visual Studio Tools for Office runtime, which is required to run solutions built using VSTO 2005 or VSTO 2005 SE.

Microsoft Office Hotfix Installer

Office Hotfix Installer is designed to help administrators deploy update files within their organizations, by reading a series of deployment instructions contained in an INI file, and then using those instructions to apply an update to a computer. Office HotFix can also check applications on a computer to determine which updates need to be applied, and it can order a group of update files so that an installation is optimized.

XML Schema Designer for Visual Studio

XML Schema Designer - August 2007 CTP This first Community Technology Preview of the XML Schema Designer is a graphical tool for working with XML Schemas. This CTP introduces XML Schema Explorer - a tool that helps you navigate, search and work with schema sets, and automatically apears when you open or create an xsd file in Visual Studio. It is docked with the Solution Explorer tool.

Prerequisite: Download and install Visual Studio 2008 Beta 2. Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Beta 2 is included in the installation.

Create a Windows Installer Package for an Office 2007 Solution

Deploying Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office 2007 Solutions Using Windows Installer Learn how to deploy a Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the 2007 Microsoft Office System (also known as Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Second Edition, or VSTO 2005 SE) solution using a Visual Studio 2005 Setup project to create a Windows Installer package.

How To Export E-mail Messages to Access using VBA

From TechRepublic.Com blogger, Susan Harkins.

Exporting Outlook folders and their contents is a common and simple enough task most of the time using the Import And Export Wizard. But you can’t append records to an existing file using the Wizard. If you want to export frequently to the same database, or if you just want to take the process out of user hands, use VBA to automate the export. Article and Code

Today Only: Free Licensed Copy of Multi-Edit Lite

For today only from Giveaway of The Day, a free licensed copy of the fully featured code editor Multi-Edit Lite 2006. Supports VB, VBA, VB.NET, ASP, ASP.NEt, and more. Download

Integrating Access Contacts with SharePoint and Outlook

The Access Team Blog has posted VBA code on using the new Add From Outlook feature in Access 2007 to work on a custom contacts table. This feature uses the same mechanism to determine that a table is a contact table, but more than that it needs to know how to map fields in your table to those in the Outlook contact store. This code will take any table, and make it into a contacts table. You just add the code to your solution, then update the table name and field names to reflect the fields in your custom contacts implementation, and run it.

Office 2007 Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS

This download from Microsoft allows you to export and save Office 2007 documents to the PDF and XPS formats. It also allows you to send email attachments in the PDF and XPS formats in a subset of Office 2007 programs.

You can now also copy and distribute the object code form of the add-in together and for use only with the Microsoft Office Access 2007 Runtime software, subject to the license terms accompanying the Microsoft Office Access 2007 Runtime software download.

Updated Links: Access 2007 Ribbon Customization

These are very useful resources:

Access Freak Access 2007 Tutorials
AccessRibbon.com
Ribbon Customizer

Thanks to robcooper of the Access Team Blog and Oli-S for these links.

Ribbon Customization For Access 2007

Rob Cooper of the Access Team Blog, has posted a tip on creating item templates for Access 2007 Ribbon customizations.

SharePoint Server 2007 SDK: Software Development Kit

The Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 SDK contains conceptual overviews, “How Do I…?” programming tasks, developer tools, code samples, references, and an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) starter kit to guide you in developing solutions based on Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007.

Office 2007 Sample: Building Server-Side Document Generation Solutions Using the Open XML Object Model

This download from Microsoft provides sample files in Microsoft Visual Basic.NET and Microsoft C# that show how to use the Open XML object model to assemble documents from a server-side application, and accompanies the following MSDN articles:

Building Server-Side Document Generation Solutions Using the Open XML Object Model (Part 1 of 2)

Building Server-Side Document Generation Solutions Using the Open XML Object Model (Part 2 of 2)

SQL Server Migration Assistant for Oracle V3.1

SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) is a free suite of tools from Microsoft to reduce the effort, cost, and risk of migrating from Oracle to SQL Server. SSMA is said to automate almost every aspect of the migration process including assessment, schema and data migration, business logic conversion, and validation. Companies such as Motorola and Simon & Schuster have used SSMA to migrate their business-critical databases.

Access 2007 Navigation Pane Demo

A new video demo on using the Access 2007 Navigation Pane has been published on the Office On-Line portal.

You can also access these articles from the portal:

• Use the Navigation Pane to quickly view and access objects
  
  
• Create and manage custom categories and groups in the Navigation Pane

New Version of Ezy Documenter Premium

Ezy Documenter Premium Edition New v6.1
Add-In for Microsoft© Access 97 - 2007

Standard Edition featured in Woody's Access Watch

Ezy Documenter Premium 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. Users can customize of each Ezy Documenter Database Report.

New in v 6.0:

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

New in v 6.1:

• Updated GUI
• Users can now select the export folder

Only US$39.95 including free upgrades to new versions.

MSDN Community Distribution CD August 2007

The MSDN Community Distribution CD Image Download for August 2007 is now available for download (693mb)

Office 2007 SP1 Technical Preview Now Available

From Bink.nu:

Microsoft Office 2007 SP1 Technical Preview Available If you were a member of the Microsoft Office Product Evaluation TAP, you should now have access to the Microsoft Office 2007 System Service Pack 1 Technical Preview. Just log into Connect, and check under Microsoft Office. This is going to be a short one preview. Microsoft is only accepting feedback for about 30 days, so start downloading now!

Latest Access 2007 Articles from Office On-Line

Exploring a desktop Access 2007 database

Create an Access 2007 database using templates

Build forms in Access 2007 using design tools

Automate applications with macros in Access 2007

Access 2007 Database Engine

The new Access 2007 database engine, which reads and writes .accdb files, is available as a redistributable EXE file (25mb) for those developers who need to code against the file directly, by-passing Access/VBA.

The download installs a set of components that can be used by non-Microsoft Office applications to read data from 2007 Office system files such as Microsoft Office Access 2007 (mdb and accdb) files and Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (xls, xlsx, and xlsb) files. Connectivity to Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services and Text files is also supported.

ODBC and OLEDB drivers are installed for application developers to use in developing their applications with connectivity to Office file formats.

Latest Access Knowledge Base Articles

Courtesy of KBAlertz.com:

Access 2000

935370 Issues that you may encounter when you open or are using a Microsoft Office Access database on a computer that is running Windows Vista
934526 Description of the security update for Office 2000: May 8, 2007

Access 2002

932857 You may receive an error message when you try to install or run an Office program: "This patch package could not be opened" or "The installation source for the product is not available"
927680 Error message when you try to create a database from a Visual SourceSafe project in Access 2003 or in Access 2002: "Failed to import file"
927680 Error message when you try to create a database from a Visual SourceSafe project in Access 2003 or in Access 2002: "Failed to import file"

Access 2003

934151 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package for Office 2003 Proofing Tools: March 12, 2007
934182 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package for the Italian thesaurus and for the Italian MUI: March 9, 2007
932844 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: February 12, 2007
932848 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package for the Office 2003 proofing tools: February 21, 2007
932841 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package for the Italian MUI and for the Italian proofing tools: February 21, 2007
932840 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package for the Italian thesaurus, for the Italian MUI, and for Office 2003 Proofing Tools: March 6, 2007
933734 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package for the Italian version of Office 2003: March 1, 2007
934180 Description of the security update for Office 2003: May 8, 2007
936748 Issues that are fixed in Access 2003 by Office 2003 Service Pack 1

New Office Developer Resources

From Microsoft:

Office 2003: Overview of Developer Technologies A white paper that presents an overview of developer technologies and tools to help enable solution developers to build custom solutions for Microsoft Office 2003 Editions.

Office 2007: Developer Posters Download these posters to learn more about the new features of and enhancements to the 2007 Microsoft Office System.

SQL Server Magazine Events

Upcoming Web Seminar

Get the Most from DFS This web seminar on August 14, 2007 will cover what DFS is and how it works, the server and client OS versions that support DFS, how to configure DFS, the limitations of DFS, using DFS-N and DFS-R, as well as managing DFS. We will explain the basics of DFS and provide a quick "how-to" on implementing DFS-N and DFS-R in your Windows Server 2003 environment.

On-Demand Web Seminars

High Performance Connectivity for SQL Server 2005 and SSIS Learn how best-of-breed high-speed data interconnects to the new SSIS environment make plug-and-play with mainframe, legacy, Teradata, and other database systems a reality. These new connectors are drop-in solutions that are cost-effective, and provide best-of-breed bi-directional data movement.

Keep Exchange Running - The High Availability Imperative If there is a "killer app", it's email. Business communications rely heavily on email, and an increasingly mobile base of users and clients continually lowers the tolerance for email downtime. Attend this informative eSeminar sponsored by CA XOsoft, and hear from Paul Robichaux, who will share helpful information that can help you meet your enterprise's HA needs. Register now so you won't miss out on this chance to learn how to keep your Exchange servers running — and what to do if disaster strikes.

Keep Unsecured Machines Off Your Network Tune into the hottest up-to-date network security protection through this exclusive podcast featuring Windows IT Pro editor Karen Forster and Microsoft’s Ian Hameroff. Learn how Network Access Control (NAC) and Network Access Protection (NAP) work and what technologies are involved, as well as what third-party products are poised to work with these technologies.

Access 2007 Template Files Explained

The MS Access Team Blog at Microsoft has posted a timely article explaining how the new format Access 2007 database ADDT template files work, and there is a tip on how you can create your own template with a button click! More

I would also add that by renaming an ADDT to a ZIP, you can unzip any template into a folder hierarchy of the component objects, and you can then review/edit the individual XML documents .

CodePlex Portal for SQL Server

Codeplex is the project hosting site for Microsoft SQL Server Samples and Community Projects. The portal catalogs samples included with Product Releases, samples from the community, and independent SQL Server Community projects.

You can also download samples databases. The Product samples are the latest Microsoft samples released with Service Packs or major releases of SQL Server. Community samples are sample code and applications from Microsoft, MVPs, and the SQL Server community at large. There are release notes and brief descriptions of all the sample databases and code.

Free Office Tutorials

The Office Lecture site offers a range of free MS Office tutorials. There is also an affiliate site Free Programming Books with a range of free downloadable eBooks. Both are ad-driven portals, but definitely worth browsing.

SQL Server Administration: New Articles

New articles on SQL Server Administration from TechRepublic.com:

• Creating table partitions in SQL Server 2005
• Partition switching in SQL Server 2005
• Installing and Configuring Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005 w/ SQL Server
• Installing and Configuring MOM 2005 w/ SQL Server Part II

Access 2007 Quick Tips #1: Add a Total Row to an Access 2007 Table

Before Access 2007, you could calculate totals on your data in an Access query, report, or form. Now Access 2007 lets you add a Total row field to your tables. Article from Mary Ann Richardson ot TechRepublic.com.

Latest Office 2007 Articles from Microsoft

• 2007 Microsoft Office System Document Encryption
• Migrating to the 2007 Microsoft Office System
• How to Use Information Rights Management in the 2007 Microsoft Office System
• Office Communicator Web Access (2007 release) Planning and Deployment Guide
• Office Communications Server 2007 Release Notes
• Office Communications Server 2007 Command-Line Reference Guide
• Office Communications Server 2007 Technical Overview
• Office Communications Server 2007 Standard Edition Deployment Guide
• Office Communications Server 2007 Enterprise Edition Deployment Guide
• Office Communications Server 2007 Active Directory Guide
• Office Communications Server 2007 Archiving and CDR Server Deployment Guide
• Office Communicator 2007 Quick Reference Card
• Office Communicator 2007 What's New Guide
• Office Communicator 2007 Quick Reference Card for Keyboard Shortcuts
• Office Communicator 2007 Quick Reference Card for Phone and Video
• Office Communicator 2007 Quick Reference Card for Phone and Video
• Office Communicator 2007 Frequently Asked Questions
• Office Communicator 2007 Group Policies
• Office Communicator 2007 Getting Started Guide

ITSearchEngine - Focused Search For IT Products



I have just discovered this cool new IT-focused portal: ITSearchEngine

Access 2007 Runtime Re-Issued

The Access 2007 Runtime is similar to previous runtimes in that all design-related UI is either removed or disabled. You do NOT need to buy any special SKU in order to redistribute the Access 2007 Runtime. You can freely redistribute it or point users to this download.

You can also download the Access 2007 Developer Extensions package.

Latest SQL Server Hotfixes

FIX: The Cluster Discrimination tab is empty when you browse a clustering
model of SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services in SQL Server BIDS

FIX: You cannot cancel an MDX query that runs for a long time in SQL Server
2005 Analysis Services

FIX: A server may start slowly if you have SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services
installed and if many objects are stored on the server

Zoho: David's Office Suite



An interesting review of the ZOHO On-Line Office-Style Applications Suite.

Use Pre-Built Style Features to Format Excel 2007

This article from TechRepublic.com shows you how to use the the Styles section of the Home tab in the Excel 2007 Ribbon.

Use Excel Services to Enable Business Intelligence on Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Applications

Excel Services is a new way to interact with Excel spreadsheets, allowing you to add spreadsheets and workbooks to your enterprise dashboards and portals on Office SharePoint Server 2007. This free sample chapter from the Microsoft Press book, Programming Excel Services, covers:

• Understanding Excel Services and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
• Understanding the History of SharePoint
• Installing and Configuring Excel Services

Migrating From Oracle to SQL Server 2005

Migrating from Oracle: When SQL Server 2005 Makes Sense From DevX.com An article that rounds up a few ways to make longstanding Oracle adherents feel not only comfortable but highly conversant with SQL Server.

Latest SQL Server 2005 Fixes

FIX: You may experience poor performance after you install SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1

FIX: Error messages when you run a query against a linked server that you create in SQL Server 2005: "Statement(s) could not be prepared" and "The column prefix '' does not match with a table name or alias name used in the query"

Office Security Updates for July 2007

Security Update for the 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB936514) A security vulnerability exists in the 2007 Microsoft Office System and the Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office System that could allow remote code execution. This update resolves that vulnerability.

Security Update for Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 (KB936646) A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 that could allow remote code execution. This update resolves that vulnerability.

Security Update for Excel Viewer 2003 (KB936508) A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2003 that could allow arbitrary code to run when opening a malicious document. This update addresses that vulnerability.

Security Update for Excel 2002 (KB936513) A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel 2002 that could allow remote code execution. This update resolves that vulnerability.

Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 (KB937608) This update fixes a problem in which a calendar item that is marked as private is opened if it is found by using the Search Desktop feature.

Security Update for Excel 2000 (KB936511) A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel 2000 that could allow remote code execution. This update resolves that vulnerability.

Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (KB936509) A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office Excel 2007 that could allow remote code execution. This update resolves that vulnerability.

Security Update for Excel 2003 (KB936507) A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office Excel 2003 that could allow remote code execution. This update resolves that vulnerability.

Access 2007 on Vista Woes

As more users deploy Access 2007 on Windows Vista desktops, Access developers can expect a quantum leap in support calls. I have found that simple VBA code that works in all 32-bit versions of Access, including Access 2007 on pre-Vista Windows, does not work in Access 2007 on Vista.

Service packs are required now!

SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer (July 2007)

SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer (July 2007) The SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer (BPA) gathers data from Microsoft Windows and SQL Server configuration settings, using a predefined list of SQL Server 2005 recommendations and best practices to determine if there are potential issues in the database environment.

Access Development Tip

I just bought my-self a new PC and a 19in wide-screen monitor. While the actual screen area is 94% of my old standard 19in LCD, the Office VBA window for all versions after Office 97, is now more user-friendly, with the sidebar object browser sitting nicely at the side of the screen, with no loss of characters in the code panel.

In Access 2007, the new Database Window sidebar comes into its own, and also provides a natural border where you can adjust the actual width of a form as you work on it, while the shorter screen enforces a more disciplined form design.

Automated Access Front-End Database Management

Access MVP, Tony Toews, has developed a free tool for helping to manage and publish front-end Access databases. Download Auto FE Updater. Tony also explains why you should front-end.

Access 2007 Runtime: Product Recall

Perhaps it may be wiser to be a tortoise rather than a hare for downloads like this...

From the What's New In Access 2007 Blog:

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 10:57 AM Access Runtime is on Hold. It turns out that there was a recall class issue with one of the Access Runtime components. After we released the Access Runtime yesterday it was discovered that patches on Microsoft Update would not automatically detect and patch this component. We unfortunately had to pull down the Access Runtime download until we can ensure that all components are supportable.

We are sorry for the inconvenience, and we are aiming to have it back up in a couple of weeks. If you happen to be one of the few to download the Access Runtime, please wait for the new, supportable version before deploying to your customers.

Office 2000 Ribbon Customizer

From the What's New in Access 2007 Blog:

For those of you who have been struggling a little with Ribbon customization in Access 2007 and miss the old world of CommandBars where you could design the command experience directly through the UI, Patrick Schmid has a cool add-in that allows you to make graphical design changes to your Ribbons from right within Office. It works with all Office apps that have the Ribbon.

His tool is free to try, and he's also currently got a beta program going. You can pick up the trial here: http://pschmid.net/office2007/ribboncustomizer/download.php, and join the Beta here: http://pschmid.net/office2007/ribboncustomizer/betaprogram.php.

Access 2007 Developer Extensions and Runtime are LIVE and FREE!

Access 2007 Download: Access Developer Extensions

Access 2007 Download: Access Runtime PS: This download pulled by MS on 27 June 2007 - see Access Extra Post 27 June 2007

Free eLearning Software Training from Microsoft

You need an MS Live ID to access this content:

• Changing the Appearance of Documents Using Microsoft® Office Word 2003
• What's New in Microsoft® Office Professional Enterprise Edition 2003
• What's New: Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional to Windows XP Professional
• Introduction to the New Microsoft® Office Fluent™ User Interface
• Getting Started with Windows Vista
• Getting Started with Microsoft Office Word 2007
• Getting Started with Microsoft® Office Excel® 2007
• Getting Started with Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
• Getting Started with Microsoft® Office Outlook® 2007
• Creating a New Database Using Microsoft® Office Access 2003 Finding and Organizing E-Mail Messages
• Using Microsoft® Office Outlook® 2003
• Getting Started with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
• Making Presentations Look Consistent Using Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2003
• Managing Business Contacts and Payroll Data with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
• Managing Cash Flow with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
• Managing Customer and Vendor Data with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
• Performing Calculations on Data Using Microsoft® Office Excel 2003
• Reporting and Administering with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
• Working with Files and Folders Using Microsoft Windows® XP Professional Service Pack 2