Access in the Cloud: Beta Testers Required

The Microsoft Sync Framework and SQL Services team are working on a new framework that allows Access developers to store their application and data in a Web 2.0 cloud using SQL Server Data Services, and they are looking for beta testers.

The initiative was announced yesterday at PDC and is code-named Huron, a set of synchronization processes built atop of the sync functionality in SQL Data Services’ cloud database and the Microsoft Sync Framework to provide business database sharing, and offers a a "simple" way to scale data to large numbers of users while not parting from the investment made in current technologies. It also enables users to subscribe and then edit the data locally in the format of their choice whether that is Office Access, SQL Server Express or SQL Server Compact and then push changes into SQL Data Services.

More details are available here on the Access Team Blog.

MS Office Inside Your WebBrowser



Microsoft today announced at the Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles that it plans to deliver Office Web applications – lightweight versions of Office – through the web browser.

Chris Capossela, Senior Vice President, Microsoft Business Division said : "As part of the next release of Office, we’re announcing that Microsoft will deliver Office Web applications - lightweight versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote - through a browser. With these new applications, people can use a browser to create, edit, and collaborate on Office documents. What’s great is that this provides a consistent Office experience when and where our customers want it, regardless of whether they are accessing their Office documents through the PC, phone, or browser.".

Full Story

Office 2007 SP2 Slated for Early 2009

An MS TechNet blog has announced that Service Pack 2 for Office 2o07 will be released on a date between February and April 2009.

Some details of changes in Office desktop applications in SP2 have been included in the announcement:

• Improved Outlook Calendaring Reliability
• Improved Outlook Performance
• Enabling Object Model support for Charts in PowerPoint and Word
• Improved cryptographic functionality by supporting all cryptographic algorithms offered by the operating system
• Improved functionality in Excel’s charting mechanism
• Ability to un-group SmartArt graphics and add animations in PowerPoint
• Ability for Visio to export UML models to an XML file compliant with the XMI standard
• Tool that enables the un-install of Office client Service Packs

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack: October 2008

Download the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack, a collection of stand-alone install packages that provide additional value for SQL Server 2008:

File Name: instructions_enu.htm
Version: 10.00.1600.60
Date Published: 10/17/2008
Language: English
Download Size: 29 KB - 37.9 MB

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services: Report Builder 2.0

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Report Builder 2.0 provides an intuitive report authoring environment for business and power users. It supports the full capabilities of SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services.

This download provides a stand-alone installer for Report Builder 2.0:

File Name: ReportBuilder.msi
Version: 10.00.1600.60
Date Published: 10/17/2008
Language: English
Download Size: 18.7 MB

Latest Access KB Articles

Courtesy of KBAlertz.com:

Access 2007

• 952699 Description of the Access 2007 hotfix package: May 23, 2008
• 954570 Description of the Access 2007 hotfix package: June 24, 2008
• 956054 Description of the Access 2007 hotfix package: August 26, 2008
• 956838 Description of the Access 2007 hotfix package: August 26, 2008
• 951944 MS08-055: Description of the security update for the 2007 Office system and for the Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office system: September 9, 2008
• 954326 MS08-052: Description of the security update for GDI+ for the 2007 Office system: September 9, 2008
• 956054 Description of the Access 2007 hotfix package: August 26, 2008
• 956838 Description of the Access 2007 hotfix package: August 26, 2008

Access 2000-2003

• 955179 Microsoft Security Advisory: Vulnerability in Snapshot Viewer for Microsoft Access could allow remote code execution
• 954193 Description of the Jet 4.0 Database Engine cumulative hotfix package for Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Windows Vista, Windows Vista SP1, and Windows Server 2008: July 2, 2008
• 955441 MS08-041: Description of the security update for Access Snapshot Viewer 2000: August 12, 2008
• 955617 MS08-041: Vulnerability in the ActiveX Control for the Snapshot Viewer for Microsoft Access could allow remote code execution
• 955440 MS08-041: Description of the security update for Access Snapshot Viewer 2002: August 12, 2008
• 955439 MS08-041: Description of the security update for Access Snapshot Viewer 2003: August 12, 2008
• 956722 Description of the Access 2003 hotfix package: August 20, 2008
• 954593 MS08-052: Vulnerabilities in GDI+ could allow remote code execution
• 956722 Description of the Access 2003 hotfix package: August 20, 2008
• 954478 MS08-052: Description of the security update for GDI+ for Office 2003: September 9, 2008
• 953404 MS08-055: Description of the security update for Office 2003: September 9, 2008
• 956131 Description of the Office 2003 hotfix package: August 20, 2008
• 956575 Description of the Office 2003 hotfix package: August 7, 2008
• 954192 Only the first 12,000 tables appear in the Link Tables dialog box in Microsoft Access 2000, Microsoft Access 2002, or Microsoft Office Access 2003
• 957198 MS08-041: Description of the security update for Access Snapshot Viewer: August 12, 2008

Free SQL Server 2008 eBook

Download for free the eBook version of the new Microsoft book: Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

Security Update for Access Snapshot Viewer 2003 (KB957198)

A security vulnerability exists in the Snapshot Viewer that could allow arbitrary code to run when you open a maliciously modified web page or document. This update resolves that vulnerability:

File Name:	access2003-kb957198-fullfile-x86-glb.exe
Version:	1.0
KB Article:	KB957198
Date Published:	10/14/2008
Language:	English
Download Size:	1.1 MB

Download Office 2007 Data Connectivity Components v2.0

This download will install a set of components that can be used by non-Microsoft Office applications to read data from Office 2007 files such as Access 2007 (mdb and accdb) files and Office Excel 2007 (xls, xlsx, and xlsb) files. Connectivity to 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.

Microsoft advises that the Office 2007 Drivers are not designed as a general replacement for Jet: if you need a general replacement for Jet you should use SQL Server Express Edition.

File Name: AccessDatabaseEngine.exe
Version: 2
Date Published: October 3, 2008
Download Size: 25.3 MB