New Free MS Access Tool: The Access DASHBOARD®
Manage all your Access databases in one free application

I have just launched my latest free Access tool: The Access DASHBOARD®. Launch multiple versions of MS Access Databases. Supports Access 97 or later and JET 2 or later, and these Access files types:*.mdb;*.mda;*.mde;*.adp;*.ade. Windows file associations are NOT affected.



Download from the Free Access Tools tab on my Access Tools page.

The DASHBOARD® automatically determines in which version of JET adatabase was created. Each file is opened in the appropriate versionof MS Access. Users can manually override the version applied bythe DASHBOARD. You can use the Shortcut Builder to create customDesktop shortcuts.

In-built Tools allow you to Backup, Repair, Compact, and Decompile database files without leaving the DASHBOARD.

As an option, you can have your Windows Explorer Right-click PopUp Menu available friom within the DASHBOARD.

Office 2007 and OBAs: Customizable Business Applications

Building Office Business Applications: A New Breed of Business Applications Built on the 2007 Microsoft Office System This white paper introduces Office Business Applications (OBAs), a new breed of easily customizable solutions that address real-world business problems through the 2007 Microsoft Office system.

Data Access Tracing in SQL Server 2005

Data Access Tracing in SQL Server 2005 Learn how to apply the new tracing functionality in Microsoft data access technologies such as ADO.NET 2.0, MDAC 2.82, SQL Server Native Client, and the JDBC driver; and in the SQL Server network protocols and the SQL Server 2005 database engine.

MSDN Magazine August 2006: Focus On Office Development

The just released August 2006 issue of MSDN Magazine features these Office-related articles:

Business Apps: What You Need To Know About Using Office As A Development Platform

Gathering MOSS: New Dev-Centric Features In Office SharePoint Server Keep Your Apps Rolling

Add-In Power: Let Users Customize Your Apps With Visual Studio Tools For Applications

InfoPath 2007: Designing Form Templates With The New Features Of InfoPath

SQL Server Migration Assistant for Microsoft Access Requires License Key

Microsoft has just announced that the SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) for MS Access, to operate properly requires registration, download, and update of a license key. This page provides access to a download of the license key as well as instructions on how to update the SSMA installation.

Ezy Exporter Premium Edition:
New Version 3.0 for Access 2000/2002/2003

The functionality Microsoft forgot... Export unlimited MS Access objects and data in bulk. The Access 2002/2003 version supports XML.

I have just launched a new Version 3 of Ezy Export Premium:



New features include:

• Export these additional object collections: Relationships, CommandBars, Import/Export Specifications, and References
• Select the folder to receive data exports
• New GUI

MS Access Database Repair and Recovery:
New v1.1 of Access Database Mechanic

My Access Database Mechanic tool is the top free download on aadconsulting.com.

The Mechanic automates the process of attempting to recover a corrupt MS Access database, using four operations: compact & repair, JET compact, 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 any recovery operation is attempted. Versions are available for Access2000/2002/2003.

Version 1.1 adds:

• Support for the Microsoft JET Compact Repair Utility
• Now features rebuild for additional objects: Import/Export Specifications, References, and Custom CommandBars
• File download is one-fifth the size of v1.0 with a new and faster Install set

On the download page there are also comprehensive resources and links to assist you in your Access database recovery efforts.

Classic Database Window and MenuBar for Access 2007 BETA 2:
Free Code

Get my free download of a sample database for Access 2007 BETA 2 that recreates the Classic Access Database Window - just import the objects into your ACCDB:

Access 2007: First Impressions

I installed the Access 2007 BETA 2 over the weekend. These are my first impressions:

• Install went smoothly and existing Access installations were not affected.
  
  
• I was unable to open the sample applications/templates and received an error saying that I needed to load SQL Server Data Management Objects (SQL-DMO)? Running SQL Server 2005 Express did not fix the problem, and all download links for the sample databases from the BETA site were broken...
  
  
• The RibbonBar navigation paradigm is bewildering and, from a developer's perspective, possibly a big mistake. It takes up a lot of screen space and the eye candy does not make up for the loss of accessibility and functionality from the ditching of the classic menubar/toolbar paradigm. It is telling that the VBA Editor retains the classic menubar and toolbars. It seems that Microsoft is deliberately pushing developers away from Office and VBA, while the Visual Studio Express applications retain the classic menus. There is a customizable QuickToolbar, to which you can add all available RibbonBar commands, but you can't create groups or nested hierarchies, and you can't add text to the icon buttons.
  
  
• The change in the database format seems to stem from the need to handle RibbonBars and the new themes. This hardly compensates developers for the loss of Access security and the inability to implement classic menus. Changes to MDBs made in Access 2007 will be saved only in the new format. So for MDBs, Access 2007 offers only legacy support.
  
  This means that developers that need to support multiple Access versions, now also need to cope with incompatible file formats, as well as switching to and from the classic menus in Access prior versions and the clunky RibbonBars in Access 2007, and back again in the Access 2007 VBA Editor.
  
  
• Ironically, the Switchboard Manager does not receive a make-over, using the Access 95 navigation paradigm AND the Access 95 format and colors.

Expect more posts as I delve further.

Download Office 2007 Object Model Posters

2007 Office System Document: Object Model Posters Download these files to view object model posters for products and technologies relating to the Microsoft Office 2007System.

Improving SQL Server Performance

From TechRepublic.com:

Diagnosing SQL Server performance issues using sp_lock DBAs can effectively diagnose database locking issues by using the SQL Server sp_lock system stored procedure.

Demo: SQL Server 2005 High-Availability Capabilities Microsoft's demo focuses on the high-availability capabilities of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and how it enables organizations to do more with less by delivering a data management and analysis solution that is dependable, productive, and economical.

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Update: InfoPath 2007 Beta Support

With this update to the Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 Toolkit for Visual Studio 2005 as included in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 for the Microsoft Office System, you can develop InfoPath 2007 forms inside Visual Studio.

New Office 2007 Articles: Outlook, Excel, Access, and SharePoint

Developing Solutions Using the Consolidated Outlook 2007 Object Model Learn about new platform features in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007: an overview of the unification, security, performance, and forms improvements in this release.

Building Custom Solutions with Excel Services Excel Services let users calculate, display and explore Excel workbooks on the server side. Learn the reasons behind Excel Services, the benefits, and see a demo using a Web service to incorporate Excel-based business logic into your own server solutions.

Microsoft Office Access 2007: Rich Client Solutions Overview of Access 2007 redesign, improvements, and new features. See the new WYSIWYG design experience and interactive report browse view and how you can use Access as a rich client for Windows SharePoint Services v3 and Office Live.

Introduction to Upcoming SharePoint Products and Technologies An overview of the technologies that will release within Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services (version 3) and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, with a focus on specific developer opportunities.

New SQL Server Articles

From DevX.com:

• Powerful, Flexible Text-Formatting Solutions in SQL Server You can build very powerful and flexible text-formatting solutions in SQL Server. Learn how to apply techniques that handle the simplest to the more complex text-formatting tasks.
  
• SQL Server 2005's Undocumented Solution for Unattended Installs Automating installations with SQL Server 2000 is easy because it creates a setup.iss file that you can use as input, but Microsoft removed this feature from SQL Server 2005. Learn an undocumented SQL Server 2005 feature that provides similar functionality to setup.iss.
  
• Reap the Benefits of SQL Server's New Database Tuning Advisor The Database Tuning Advisor (DTA) is an improvement over the old Index Tuning Wizard. Learn how to access the advanced features of DTA from the command line with a custom configuration.
  

Office 2007 Preview Site

Microsoft has launched an Office 2007 Preview site, where you can test drive the new version on-line: 2007 Microsoft Office System Beta 2 Test Drive

The browser-based trial offers a real-time test drive and does not require product installation or download. With the test drive you can use sample data that you can edit, send by e-mail, and post to Microsoft SharePoint sites in real time.

Included in the test drive:

Access 2007
Excel 2007
InfoPath 2007
OneNote 2007
Outlook 2007
Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager
Outlook Web Access
PowerPoint 2007
Project Professional 2007
Publisher 2007
SharePoint Designer 2007
Visio 2007
Word 2007
Windows SharePoint Services
Project Server 2007 (coming soon)
SharePoint Server 2007

Outlook 2007 Add-In Templates

Outlook 2007 Add-in Templates Provide a basic template for developing Outlook 2007 add-ins using Visual Studio 2005.

Outlook 2007 Add-In: Form Region Add-In The Outlook 2007 Form Region Add-ins are a learning tool that will help you understand how to design, build, and run custom form solutions based on Outlook form regions.

Help Desk Sample Applications for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and Visual Basic

Help Desk Sample Applications for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and Visual Basic This Help Desk Sample Application is a rich client and web application that provides incident tracking and resolution administration.

Survey Manager Sample Applications for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and Visual Basic

Survey Manager Sample Applications for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and Visual Basic The Survey Manager Sample Application is a rich client and web application for managing a database of teachers, students, classes, and surveys.

Office 2007: MSDN Just Published

Walkthrough: Word 2007 XML Format Walk through the new default file format for Microsoft Office Word 2007. Read detailed descriptions of the file format architecture, key components, and ways in which you can programmatically modify content.

Outlook 2007 Sample Add-ins: Rules Add-in, Travel Agency Add-in, and Prepare for Meeting Add-in Outlook 2007 introduces many enhancements to its object model that enable you to create richer solutions. Three sample add-ins, the Rules add-in, Travel Agency add-in, and Prepare for Meeting add-in are available in both Visual Basic .NET and C#.

Code Security Changes in Outlook 2007 Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 enhances code security to help protect Outlook users against malicious code while reducing security warnings for developers and users.

Outlook 2007 Sample Add-ins: Rules Add-in, Travel Agency Add-in, and Prepare for Meeting Add-in Outlook 2007 introduces many enhancements to its object model that enable you to create richer solutions. Three sample add-ins, the Rules add-in, Travel Agency add-in, and Prepare for Meeting add-in are available in both Visual Basic .NET and C#.

Isolating Microsoft Office Extensions with the COM Shim Wizard Learn about a set of new Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 wizards that automate the generation of COM shims for managed Microsoft Office extensions that do not use Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System.

NEW Free BETA:
Matching Buyers with Sellers Access Database Application

A new Access Database Application from aadconsulting.com: Matching Buyers with Sellers Project Matching.

• Easily track, Clients, Projects, and Contact Visits
• Quickly Match Buyers with Sellers on multiple search criteria with a user-friendly matching process

Download Page

For Aussie Readers: Office 2007 BETA 2 Professional On CD

The July editions of APC and PC Authority magazines on the news-stands now, have the full Office 2007 Pro BETA 2 Install in their cover disks. Price of the mags is Aus$9.95.

Common SQL Server Problems

10 common SQL Server problems and solutions, from TechRepublic - Downloads - TechRepublic This handy two-page list outlines 10 familiar SQL Server problems and solutions.

Office 2007 Office Open XML Sample

2007 Office System Sample: Open XML File Format Code Snippets for Visual Studio 2005 Download this package to install open XML file format code snippets for use with Visual Studio 2005.

Store XML in SQL Server 2005 with the New XML Datatype

From DevX.com. Making Sense of the XML DataType in SQL Server 2005 In SQL Server 2005, XML becomes a first-class data type. Developers can make minor remote modifications to stored XML documents easily, taking advantage of new support for XML schema-based strong typing, and server-based XML data validation.

Office 2007 Ribbon Portal

The Office 2007 Ribbon feature now has its own portal at the MSDN Office Developer Center, where you will find technical articles, code samples, developer documentation, and multimedia presentations on customizing the RibbonX user interface in the 2007 Microsoft Office release.

Fom an interesting post on Office 2007 from TechRepublic.com's, A. Russell Jones, at Tech-Ed 2006:

Microsoft provided all attendees with Office 2007 Beta 2, which replaces Office's familiar nested standard menus with a set of tabs and "ribbons". Microsoft claims this change—along with context-sensitivity that displays special functions when you select objects such as images, graphs, etc.—exposes more of Office's features to users. Perhaps so, but (at least in the beta) some of the features I commonly use weren't available from the ribbon, or at least, I haven't found them yet. For example, to run a Macro (formerly available through the Tools—>Macro—>Macros menu), you now have to first display the hidden-by-default "Developer" tab, a feature which is itself hidden under a button on the "Office" dropdown menu—which doesn't look like a menu at all. But other hidden features are welcome. For example Word Count is now always-available from the status bar. Despite some initial frustrations, I suspect I'll eventually like the new layout better.

And, of course, it's both customizable and programmable. Better yet, it's programmable through configuration. By writing some relatively simple XML, you can add your own custom tabs and tools, or control the built-in features. For those Office developers who want to restrict users' actions, a single command called "StartFromScratch" removes all the built-in ribbon features. You can build from there, re-enabling the built-in commands and tools you want users to have, overriding their default actions with custom code, providing a completely custom set of tabs and tools, or giving them a mixture of any of these options.

Users can even customize the ribbons you provide, creating their own preferred feature collections in exactly the same way they customize the built-in features. And this all works the same way across all the Office products.

Outlook 2007 Add-Ins

These three sample add-ins, are available in both C# and Visual Basic .NET versions, and demonstrate many of the new and enhanced features of the Outlook 2007 object model.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide contains guidance for SQL Server administrators, developers, and IT decision makers who want to move their SQL Server 2000 or 7.0 databases to SQL Server 2005.

The primary objects are:

• Increase confidence and reduce uncertainty about upgrading previous versions of SQL Server to SQL Server 2005.
• Lower upgrade risks by providing prescriptive, best-practices technical guidance about how to upgrade specific SQL Server features across all editions.
• Provide Microsoft partners and field representatives with appropriate SQL Server 2005 upgrade resources to serve customers.

Content Details:

• Section 1.0, “Upgrade Planning and Deployment,” provides a comprehensive overview of the key planning and deployment considerations for upgrading to SQL Server 2005.
• Sections 2.01-2.05 cover special upgrade considerations for high availability and very large databases (VLDB).
• Sections 3.01-3.08 cover upgrading relational databases to SQL Server 2005, including specific discussions on security, Transact-SQL queries, full-text catalogs, maintenance plans and SQL Server Agent jobs, Notification Services, Management Tools, and MSDE.
• Sections 4.01-4.03 then cover moving to the SQL Server 2005 business intelligence components: Reporting Services, Integration Services, and Analysis Services.
  
  See the appendices for detailed feature and edition comparisons and highlighted upgrade tips and tricks.
  

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Everywhere Edition

SQL Server Everywhere Runtime Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Everywhere Edition CTP is a compact database for rapidly developing applications in both native and the managed environment that extend enterprise data management capabilities to desktop applications.

SQL Server Everywhere is designed for developers who need lightweight, in process relational database solution for their applications that can be developed and deployed on desktop as well as on mobile devices. The SQL Server Everywhere CTP contains the runtime bits that can be used to develop and deploy applications on desktop only. SQL Server Everywhere is a powerful tool that makes it easy to develop desktop applications by supporting familiar SQL syntax and providing a development model and API consistent with SQL Server.

The SQL Server Everywhere CTP includes new features like:

• DataDirectory support
• ClickOnce support for easy deployment

See the ReadMe SQL Server Everywhere CTP Readme for more info.

You can also download the SQL Server Everywhere CTP Books Online. To learn more about the SQL Server Everywhere CTP, refer to the “Community Technology Preview: SQL Server Everywhere” topic.

New Access to SQL Server Migration Tool

SSMA for Access automates database migration from Access to SQL Server 2005. Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) for Access is a tool for migrating databases from Microsoft Access to Microsoft SQL Server 2005. SSMA for Access converts Access database objects to SQL Server database objects, loads those objects into SQL Server, and then migrates data from Access to SQL Server.

SSMA for Access supports Access 97 - Access 2003 databases and is FREE!

Ezy Data Free Edition:
Stand-Alone Database Application for Windows

I have just launched Ezy Data Free Edition, a free lite version of Ezy Data 2000, the 5-star rated standalone database application. Users have access to over 40 table templates, and can create queries etc.

Ezy Data 2000 has received 5-star ratings from many download sites, including:

• ishowweb.com
• bumpersoft.com
• softsia.com
• busswreviews.com
• freetrialsoft.com
• businesssoftwareland.com
• sofotex.com
• download2you.com
• smartdownloads.net
• onekit.com
• softwarestop.com
• brothersoft.com
• sharewareplaza.com
• sharewarepost.com
• freebusinesssoftware.net
• softdll.com
• 5psoft.com
• sharewareisland.com
• coredownload.com
• softplatz.com
• file-edge.com
• filesrepository.com
• gearsbox.com
• redsofts.com
• simpleshareware.com
• cleansoftware.com

Introducing the Microsoft Office 2007 Open XML File Formats

Introducing the Microsoft Office 2007 Open XML File Formats Learn the benefits of the Microsoft Office (2007) Open XML Formats. "Users can exchange data between Office applications and enterprise systems using XML and ZIP technologies. Documents are universally accessible. And, you reduce the risk of damaged files."

Latest Articles on SQL Server

SQL Server Express: Using Data with Web Application Projects This white paper shows how to properly use SQL Server Express and Data Binding with Web Application Projects, an alternative Web project model that can be added to and used in Visual Studio 2005.

Internet Explorer Favorites Sample Applications for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and Visual Basic The Internet Explorer Favorites Sample Application is a web application for keeping track of browser history and Internet Explorer Favorites.

SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide This 350-page document contains guidance for SQL Server administrators, developers, and IT decision makers who would like to move their SQL Server 2000 or 7.0 databases to SQL Server 2005.

Feast of New Office 2007 Resources

Visio 2007: Software Development Kit
The Beta 2 version of the Microsoft Office Visio 2007 SDK contains sample applications, code snippets, documentation, and tools, including the ShapeStudio, Event Monitor, Persistent Events, Print ShapeSheet, and Solution Publishing tools.

Groove 2007: Software Development Kit
The Groove 2007 SDK (Beta) contains documentation, WSDL, and sample code for applications that use Groove Web Services. In addition, the SDK contains developer documentation for the Groove 2007 Forms and Groove 2007 InfoPath Forms tools.

Download this series of developer-oriented videos to view virtual tours of new features in Microsoft Office 2007:

• Building ASP.NET Web Parts for Windows SharePoint Services V3
• Creating and Using Content Types in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
• Extending the Office UI with Custom Ribbon in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
• Creating Custom Document Information Panels
• Developing Solutions Using The Consolidated Outlook Object Model

Creating Office (2007) Custom Task Panes
The 2007 release of the Microsoft Office system introduces custom task panes that give you the tools to put the features and information your customers need when and where they want them. Learn how you can use custom task panes in your applications.

Creating Word 2007 Templates Programmatically
Read details about how to create document templates programmatically for Microsoft Office Word 2007, including information about using the new content controls, document building blocks, and XML mapping. Review some of the newest members of the Word 2007.

Customizing the Office (2007) Document Inspector
Learn to customize the Document Inspector in 2007 Microsoft Office suites. Users now have one place to find metadata or hidden information in their documents and to take action. And, developers can create custom modules for special circumstances.

.NET Rocks! - Kimberly Tripp on SQL Server 2005 SP1 and More
Kimberly Tripp talks to us about improvements in SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1, converting Oracle users to SQL Server, and much more.

What's New for Developers in Word 2007
This article provides a high-level overview of new features for developers in Microsoft Office Word 2007 Beta 2. The article reviews content controls, XML mapping, document building blocks, the Word XML Format, and other new features.

What's New for Developers in OneNote 2007 (Part 1 of 2)
What's New for Developers in OneNote 2007 (Part 2 of 2)
Two-part series introducing and explaining new features of interest to developers in Microsoft Office OneNote 2007. Developer-related features include a new COM API that offers new import, export, selection, and search function.

What's New for Developers in the Outlook 2007 Object Model (Part 1 of 2)
What's New for Developers in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 (Part 2 of 2)
These two articles cover the enhancements and additions for developers in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. Part 2 is accompanied by the What's New Add-In, which is available as a download.

SharePoint Server 2007 for MCMS 2002 Developers
Explore SharePoint Server 2007, which merges functionality of MCMS 2002 and SharePoint Portal Server 2003 with new functionality to create one integrated set of technologies built on Windows SharePoint Services V3.

Project Server 2007: Getting Started with a New Platform for Developers
Explore the Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 functionality that uses a completely new platform built on the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services (version 3).

Introducing the Microsoft Office (2007) Open XML File Formats
Learn the benefits of the Microsoft Office (2007) Open XML Formats. Users can exchange data between Office applications and enterprise systems using XML and ZIP technologies. Documents are universally accessible. And, you reduce the risk of damaged files.

Hosting the InfoPath Form Editing Environment in a Custom Windows Form Application

Learn how to incorporate this control into your application, work with the XML data generated by the Form Control, and use IOLECommands to replicate functionality of the InfoPath 2007 form editing environment.

Extending the Office (2007) Fixed-Format Export Feature
Create a COM add-in for an application in the 2007 Microsoft Office release, such as Microsoft Office Publisher 2007, that extends the Office fixed-format export feature to support new formats. The technique described requires knowledge of C++ and COM.

Developer Overview of the User Interface for the 2007 Microsoft Office System
Read an overview of the user interface (UI) system for the 2007 release of the Microsoft Office applications and the goals behind the redesign of the UI. Learn about the impact of the redesigned UI on custom solutions and add-ins.

Developer Introduction to Workflows for Windows SharePoint Services V3 and SharePoint Server 2007
Get a high-level overview of how Windows SharePoint Services (v3) implements the workflow capabilities of the Windows Workflow Foundation, and how SharePoint Server 2007 extends those capabilities with symmetrical InfoPath 2007 forms.

Customizing the Office (2007) Ribbon User Interface for Developers (Part 1 of 2)
Customizing the Office (2007) Ribbon User Interface for Developers (Part 2 of 2)
Part 1 is the companion to the part-one article of the same name, and contains detailed reference material about the controls and method signatures for the Ribbon user interface, and a section of frequently asked questions. In Part 2Learn about the scenarios and XML markup that you can use to customize the Ribbon user interface (UI) in the 2007 Microsoft Office release. The Ribbon UI replaces menus, toolbars, and most of the task pane UI in the 2007 release.

2007 Office System Document: Lists of Control IDs This download contains files that list the control IDs for built-in

Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Starter Kit for 2007 Office System (Beta 2)

The ECM Starter Kit for 2007 Office System contains ECM feature extension code samples, supplemental developer white papers, and Microsoft® Visual Studio® project templates for workflow in Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007 (Beta 2 version).

Access 2007 Limits Published on Microsoft Blog "... post to lay out the limits in Access 2007 and make a little clearer how the application works and how it scales...

Updated Developer Content for Office 2007

Download updated versions of the Office 2007 developer content for use with the latest BETA version:

• Combined 2007 Microsoft Office System Developer References
• Access 2007 Developer Reference
• Excel 2007 Developer Reference
• Project 2007 Developer Reference
• Object Library Reference for the 2007 Microsoft Office System
• Publisher 2007 Developer Reference
• SharePoint Designer 2007 Developer Reference
• Visio 2007 Developer Reference
• Visio 2007 ShapeSheet Reference
• Word 2007 Developer Reference

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services

Microsoft has just released:

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services A new, free, easy-to use version of SQL Server Express that "includes more features and makes it easier than ever to start developing powerful data-driven applications for Web or local desktop development".

Readme Files for SQL Server 2005 SP1 and SQL Server 2005 SP1 Express Editions and Tools
Before you install SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or SQL Server 2005 SP1 Express editions and tools, review the readme for information about installing SP1 and to learn about common issues that can impact your installation experience or use of the product.

Quick Tip: Custom Zoom Access Reports in VBA

The Access DoCmd.RunCommand Constants for zooming a report in Preview mode in VBA are fixed at:

• acCmdZoom10
• acCmdZoom25
• acCmdZoom50
• acCmdZoom75
• acCmdZoom100
• acCmdZoom150
• acCmdZoom200
• acCmdZoom500
• acCmdZoom1000

To set a custom zoom level you can use the undocumented ZoomControl property of the Report object:

Reports(ReportName).ZoomControl = ZoomCoeff

Use with care! The property is not documented and therefore not supported by Microsoft.

Go to the AccessWeb for detailed sample code.

New Outlook 2007 Object Model Samples

Outlook 2007 Sample: What's New Add-Ins The Outlook 2007 What's New Add-Ins are a learning tool that will help you understand some of the important new features in the Outlook 2007 object model.

New Sample Applications for VB and SQL Server Express Editions

Each sample application provides a rich client user interface to view rich reports based on different business queries:

• Reports Windows Sample Application
• Collection Manager Starter Kit
• Reports Web Sample Application

Intelligent Converters: Convert Access Database Tools

If you are moving your data across different platforms or applications, Intelligent Converters offers a comprehensive suite of data conversion software, and pricing is very reasonable and you can download free demos.

Converters include:

• Access-to-MSSQL
• Access-to-MySQL
• Access-to-Oracle
• Excel-to-MSSQL
• Excel-to-MySQL
• Excel-to-Oracle
• MSSQL Migration Toolkit
• MSSQL-to-Access
• MSSQL-to-Excel
• MySQL-to-Access
• MySQL-to-Excel
• MySQL-to-MSSQL
• Oracle-to-Access
• Oracle-to-Excel

Gallery of Office 2007 BETA 2 Screenshots

Check out these Office 2007 Beta screenshots - courstesy of TechRepublic.com.

Microsoft Office 2007 Learning Portal Offers Free Training

This MS Portal offers a wide range of courses on Office 2007 for those who have installed the BETA.

Courses are grouped as follows:

• Home and Office Workers
• Developers
• IT Professionals

and include on-line courses, labs, and book downloads.

For those who haven't installed the BETA, but want an overview of the new features, I recommend this free dowloadable MS Press book from the Portal:

First Look 2007 Microsoft Office System (Downloadable PDF; 6,080 KB) What's inside the newest Microsoft Office system? How will the new look of Office change the way you work and make you more self-sufficient and effective? How can your business use its new workflow capabilities immediately in this new world of work? First Look 2007 Microsoft Office System gives you exclusive, advance insights and straight talk from the Office product group and other Office experts.

All About Office 2007 BETA 2

Today Microsoft released for public download Beta 2 of Office 2007 and the pre-release version of Visual Studio Tools For Office "v3.

ComputerWorld.com has also posted a detailed article on the features of the new beta: Review and Visual Tour: Microsoft's 2007 Office Beta 2

Warning: Don't install these Betas on production machines as they may damage your existing Office installations.

Office 2007 Virtual Tours For Developers

2007 Office System: How Do I ScreenCasts Download this series of developer-oriented videos to view virtual tours of new features in the 2007 Microsoft Office system.

Latest MS Access Knowledge Base Articles

Courtesy of KbAlertz.com:

Access 97

16583 ACC97: Problems Adding Records to Replicated Database Using ASP
160953 ACC97: ODBCKEY.INF in Data Access Pack Contains German String
172640 OFF97: Workbook Changed by MS Access May Not Be Recalculated
177105 ACC97: "There Is No Object in This Control" Error Inserting Web Browser Control
163841 ACC97: Removing Earlier Version Components Deletes Files on Server
163841 ACC97: Removing Earlier Version Components Deletes Files on Server
177105 ACC97: "There Is No Object in This Control" Error Inserting Web Browser Control
165830 ACC97: Problems Adding Records to Replicated Database Using ASP
172640 OFF97: Workbook Changed by MS Access May Not Be Recalculated
160953 ACC97: ODBCKEY.INF in Data Access Pack Contains German String

Access 2000

210242 How to implement Query by Form (QBF) with dynamic QueryDef in Access 2000
209645 How to use the Query by Form (QBF) technique in Access 2000
210242 How to implement Query by Form (QBF) with dynamic QueryDef in Access 2000
209645 How to use the Query by Form (QBF) technique in Access 2000

Access 2002

918004 Error message when you use Office Genuine Advantage to validate Office 2003 or Office XP: "Validation Incomplete" or "Error code: 0x8018101"
918003 Error message when you use Office Genuine Advantage to validate Office 2003 or Office XP: "Validation Incomplete" or "Error code: 0x8018103"
918001 Error message when you try to validate Office 2003 or Office XP by using Office Genuine Advantage: "Validation Incomplete: No Office Products Detected" or "Error code: 0x8018109"
917999 Error message when you try to validate Office 2003 or Office XP by using Office Genuine Advantage: "Unable to Validate" or "Error code: 0x8018111"
918000 Error message when you use Office Genuine Advantage to validate Office 2003 or Office XP: "Validation Incomplete" or "Error code: 0x8018110"
887034 Information about ActiveX controls that are supported in Access 2002
295358 Description of new features and enhancements in Access 2002
870963 References that you may have to set when you work with databases in Access 2002
888994 Description of the Access 2002 post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: November 16, 2004
885235 Description of the Access 2002 post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: September 10, 2004
887036 You receive a "Can't find the database you specified or you didn't specify a database at all" Error message in a stand-alone version of Access 2002
293334 ACC2002: Event Topics, Property Topics, and Other Help Topics Related to Batch Transactions in Access 2002 Are Incorrect
870963 References that you may have to set when you work with databases in Access 2002
887034 Information about ActiveX controls that are supported in Access 2002
295358 Description of new features and enhancements in Access 2002
887036 You receive a "Can't find the database you specified or you didn't specify a database at all" Error message in a stand-alone version of Access 2002
293334 ACC2002: Event Topics, Property Topics, and Other Help Topics Related to Batch Transactions in Access 2002 Are Incorrect
888994 Description of the Access 2002 post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: November 16, 2004
885235 Description of the Access 2002 post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: September 10, 2004

Access 2003

916657 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 21, 2006
916658 You are prompted for credentials every two weeks when you try to view a Web resource in Office 2003
917689 Relative hyperlinks are changed and no longer work correctly in a file that is saved in Office 2003
917878 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 12, 2006
918062 Description of the Access 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 18, 2006
917688 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 5, 2006
916657 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 21, 2006
916658 You are prompted for credentials every two weeks when you try to view a Web resource in Office 2003
918295 Error message when you use an .odc file to connect to a specific table in a mail merge data source in Office 2003: "Record 'number' contained too few data fields"
917832 Description of the Access 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 18, 2006
918269 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 26, 2006
918269 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 26, 2006
917832 Description of the Access 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 18, 2006
918147 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 17, 2006

Code VBA: Cool Coding Tool for the MS Office VBE

I just came across this product. The Code VBA add-in offers an amazing set of coding tools for the VBE. A set of 20 specialized code builders supports the fast creation of most used code, and an integrated code fragments library lets you find coding solutions easily.

Download a fully functional 30 day Free trial.

Feature: Code Library

• Find and use built-in and custom procedures
• Code fragments library
• Find all built-in VBA procedures and code fragments related to keywords in seconds

Feature: Code Generators

• Create procedures
• Fast declaration of variables and constants
• Work with enumerated types
• Flexible error-handling

Feature: Object Oriented Programming

• Work with classes, collections and properties

Feature: VBA Programming

• Additional support for Access and Excel
• A collection of 200 plus typical VBA code fragments for use with the Fragments Builder
• Line of Code Builder shows all Access and Excel built-in functions
• Fragment Builder for Access database actions, including DAO and ADO, and Excel
• Insert Variable automatically picks up controls when in a Form module.

NEW TreeView Switchboard for MS Access

My latest Access Switchboard, the TreeView Switchboard, is a complete Explorer-like Replacement Switchboard for Microsoft© Access 97/2000/2002/2003. The TreeView pane can be resized or hidden on-the-fly at run-time, and Node icons are fully customisable.

New Access MenuBar Switchboard Builder:
Maximize Application Screen Space






I have just launched The Access MenuBar Switchboard Builder Add-In for Microsoft© Access 2000 or later. In only 3 mouse-clicks, the MenuBar Switchboard Builder produces a complete replacement switchboard using the native Access Switchboard Items table.

A MenuBar Switchboard is an Access System MenuBar built on the native Switchboard Items table. The Builder creates the Switchboard MenuBar and adds a code module to handle all the Switchboard functions, with zero changes required to your database.

Using the Outlook 2007 Object Model

Developing Solutions Using the Consolidated Outlook 2007 Object Model Learn about new platform features in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.

New Visual Studio Tools for Office 2005 Resources

Visual Studio Tools for Office 2005 Toolkit: Requirements Authoring Starter Kit Learn how the Requirements Authoring Starter Kit (RASK) can help software development teams collect, interpret, distribute, and synchronize project requirements in a structured Word document using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System and the Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server.

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Sample: Estimate Solution This download contains an Estimate sample solution built with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System.

Up-Coming Office 2007 WebCasts

Customizing the Office 2007 Ribbon June 19, 2006 - 11:00 AM Pacific

Office 12 File Formats June 21, 2006 -11:00 AM Pacific

New Consolas Font Pack from Microsoft

Microsoft has made available for free download a new Windows font optimized for Microsoft ClearType.

The Microsoft Consolas Font Family is a set of highly legible fonts designed for ClearType. It is intended for use in programming environments and other circumstances where a monospaced font is specified. This installation package will set the default font for Visual Studio to Consolas.

I have used the font in my Office VBE's, and it certainly improves readability on my LCD monitor:

MSDN TV: Building Custom Solutions with Excel Services

Building Custom Solutions with Excel Services This presentation covers the reasons behind Excel Services, the benefits of using them, and a demonstration of using a Web service to incorporate Excel-based business logic into your own server solutions.

Live Office: An Heretical View

George Ou, Technical Director for TechRepublic.com, has posted in his blog, a sobering article on the realities of web-based applications:

'David Berlind wrote this blog "Corporate PCs: Underpowered for Vista. Overpowered for Writely?" and asked if the computing world should be going back to lower powered computers to run Web-based Applications like Google's Writely instead of ramping up their hardware to run Windows Vista. But in my opinion, the question should be reversed since web applications actually eat up more resources than Windows Vista.

Google's newly acquired Writely should hardly be considered a replacement for Microsoft Office, Word Perfect, OpenOffice.org Write, or any other rich client. The only Web-based word processor or Office Suite that comes close to something like Microsoft Office is ThinkFree Office which is written in Java. But ThinkFree Office makes resource-hogging OpenOffice.org look good by comparison. Just the word processor alone with no data loaded eats up 100 MBs of RAM. Loading up the spread sheet and presentation software will cost you another 200 MBs of RAM. Oh and if you actually want some data with that, you better prepare a Gigabyte of RAM. Vista on the other hand will run on a computer with 128 MBs of RAM (without any Aero Glass eye candy).

Some ask why not come up with a Web-based Office with something like AJAX but the reality is, it's not the panacea some make it out to be. Sun's James Gosling recently gave this interview and talked about the problems of AJAX development. The truth of the matter is, Web-based applications are just a poor way of pushing the presentation layer to the user. If all that is desired is online-only application access, then Citrix is the way to go because it delivers a vastly superior user experience while requiring far less bandwidth and far less resources on the client side.'

What's New in Access 12:
Build Better Looking Forms and Reports Faster







MSDN Blogger, Erik Rucker, in posts this month has highlighted some cool new tools that will be available in Access 2007:

AutoFormatting - 25 New Themes

Better Image Support - If you want to store images directly in the database the new attachment data-type is a god-send. In the past you would use the OLE Object data type, and because of how OLE worked, there were bloat issues as Access had to store a preview of the file along with the OLE data. Attachments are a new complex data-type that stores multiple attachments to a record in a binary field in a hidden table, and Access compresses the file when it is added if it isn’t already a compressed file type.

WYSIWYG Form and Report Authoring - new forms authoring tools allow you to see live data at design time.

Working with Layouts - Access 12 introduces a new control-grouping concept called Layouts that provide control flow. Using Layouts, when you move controls around they can snap into position and the other controls can reflow because the controls are all aware of their relationship to one another.

Multiple Item Forms - Multi-item forms can be created in one click, and also use Layouts for control positioning. Building a multi-item form creates a datasheet that can be edited, and with a "new item" row at the bottom that can be used to add new records.

Rich Text In Access Forms - Better late than ever: Access 2003 dropped support for the "unsafe" VB6 RichText Control. Access 12 now provides a native rich text control, and allows users to both display and edit rich text at runtime. Rich text support can be turned on through the property sheet or rich text fields can be added to a form through the Add Field task pane.
Sidebar: How about native controls that replace all MS Common Controls, such as the TreeView amd ListItem controls?

Color Pickers - More colors that can be set by using the Access theme color picker that is available from the ribbon and builds on color properties in the property sheet.

New Office and SQL Server Articles and Webcasts

From DevX.com:

Articles

XML Onboard: The Developer Potential of Office 12 for Commercial Enterprise Software

SQL Server 2005: Better Than Ever for Software Developers

On Demand Webcasts-SQL Server 2005 For Developers Series

Security Enhancements

The XML Data Type

ADO.NET 2.0

Server Management Objects

2005 Web Services

SQL Server Service Broker

MS Access: Quick Tip

In a Datasheet View, when you want to hide columns, don't select Format > Hide Columns, use Format > Unhide Columns... , as this command opens the Unhide Columns dialog, from which you can dynamically hide/unhide as many as columns as you want, by using the checkboxes for each column.

Latest MS Access Knowledge Base Articles

Courtesy of KbAlertz.com:

Access 2000

913070 #Deleted is displayed in the records when you open a linked ODBC table from an Oracle 10g database in Access 2003, in Access 2002, or in Access 2000

199879 OFF2000: Remove All Doesn't Remove Temporary Shortcut Bar Files

212761 OFF2000: Application Information Missing in System Information Utility

199901 OFF2000: Removing Templates Removes Modified Database Files

907337 You receive an error message when you start Visual Basic for Applications code in an Access database

226517 OFF2000: "Keep these programs" Check Box Unavailable

229381 OFF2000: Unable to Install Internet Explorer 5 in Office Maintenance Mode Setup

228690 OFF2000: Extra Programs Listed in Removing Previous Versions Dialog Box

229457 OFF2000: Error Installing Office on Windows NT with Internet Explorer 2.0

229386 OFF2000: "...setup completed successfully" Message Does Not Appear at the End of Setup

229375 OFF2000: "Web Browsing Component Only" Installs Internet Explorer 5

221437 OFF2000: Task Scheduler Is Turned On After Installing Office

233273 OFF2000: List of Settings Migrated from Earlier Versions of Office

243253 OFF2000: How to Manipulate the Feature Tree by Using the Keyboard

228616 OFF2000: Exit Setup Dialog Box Appears Unexpectedly When You Press the ENTER Key

217435 OFF2000: Microsoft Office Manager View Settings Do Not Migrate to Office Shortcut Bar

210055 OFF2000: Copy To Commands Missing in Bookshelf After Upgrade

228677 You receive a "Could not find a package to install on the installation media" error message when you run Office 2000 Setup from an administrative installation point

229410 OFF2000: Cannot Open Binder Documents After Installing Office 2000

234041 OFF2000: Error Message: "This Installation Is Forbidden by System Policy ..." Running Setup

231611 OFF2000: Unable to Run Setup with AlwaysInstallElevated Policy Enabled

238417 OFF2000: Numbers in Quicken 98 Reports Appear with Spaces After Installing Office 2000

229459 OFF2000: AlwaysInstallElevated Key Is Reset to Zero

217609 OFF2000: Some Switches and Properties Are Ignored When Using the /j Switch

228631 OFF2000: Motionless Office Assistant Is Always Installed to \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office Folder

229451 OFF2000: Removing Office Removes User-modified Files

233119 OFF2000: How to Automatically Reboot After the First Portion of Setup

226530 OFF2000: UserName and CompanyName Fields Not Set to Blanks

241056 OFF2000: "A Newer Version of DCOM95 Had Been Installed..." Message During Setup on Windows 95

217683 OFF2000: Maintenance Mode Requires 1280KB of Disk Space in Addition to the Features That You Choose to Add

217673 OFF2000: Setup Error "Installation was not completed successfully" in Quiet Mode

245088 OFF2000: MSDN CD Not Recognized When You Apply the Office 2000 ODBC Vulnerability Update

245113 OFF2000: MSDN DVD Not Recognized When You Apply the Office 2000 ODBC Vulnerability Update

Access 2002

917418 You receive an error message when you try to create or to modify the design of an SQL object in Office Access 2003 or in Access 2002

917415 Access 2002 exits when you create or try to modify an in-line function when the Access 2002 project is connected to a SQL Server 2005 database

917584 Description of the Office XP post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: March 31, 2006

915749 Description of Access 2002 post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: March 11, 2006

913572 Description of Access 2002 post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: March 15, 2006
Access 2003

905409 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 12, 2006

917418 You receive an error message when you try to create or to modify the design of an SQL object in Office Access 2003 or in Access 2002

Access 2003

905409 Description of the Office 2003 post-Service Pack 2 hotfix package: April 12, 2006

917418 You receive an error message when you try to create or to modify the design of an SQL object in Office Access 2003 or in Access 2002

CreateInstall Free

I have just come across, CreateInstall Free, a neat little application for creating Windows install sets, and is particularly suitable for deploying Access applications. It has a crisp clean interface, is very easy to use, and handles advanced features such as INI files, command-line parameters, and auto-registration of system files, including DLL's and OCX's.

The install footprint is small, and the installation gui is well-designed and efficient:















Highly recommended.

More SQL Server Downloads 2

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Absolute Beginners Video Code Samples These are code samples that are a part of the Absolute Beginner Series for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

Teacher Starter Kit for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and Visual Basic The Teacher Starter Kit is a rich client application for keeping track of students, course rosters, and assessments or grades.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1 Community Technology Preview Download the Community Technology Preview releases of SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and SQL Server 2005 Books Online SP1 and submit feedback on these releases.

More SQL Server 2005 Downloads

Teacher Starter Kit for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and Visual C# The Teacher Starter Kit is a rich client application for keeping track of students, course rosters, and assessments or grades.

SQL Server 2005 Samples and Sample Databases (April 2006) Download over 100 samples and three sample databases for SQL Server 2005.

SQL Server 2005 SP1 and Other SQL Server Goodies

SQL Server 2005 SP1 Download Service Pack 1 for Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP1 Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is a free, easy-to-use, lightweight version of SQL Server 2005. It is fast and easy to learn, allowing you to quickly develop and deploy dynamic data-driven applications.

Feature Pack for SQL Server 2005 Apr 2006 Download the April 2006 Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2005, a collection of standalone install packages that provide additional value for SQL Server 2005.

Design for Operations Integration Kit Application faults and performance bottlenecks automatically generate work items/trouble tickets in Visual Studio 2005 Team System

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Advisor Download the April 2006 version of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Advisor. Upgrade Advisor analyzes instances of SQL Server 7.0 and SQL Server 2000 to help you prepare for upgrades to SQL Server 2005.

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) is a free, easy-to-use graphical management tool for managing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Toolkit Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Toolkit provides additional tools and resources for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services is a new, free, easy-to use version of SQL Server Express that includes more features and makes it easier than ever to start developing powerful data-driven applications for web or local desktop development.

New Versions of Vista-Style Switchboards

Two new versions of my Vista-style Switchboard are now available:

• Vista Switchboard With Resizable Panes and hover links:
  
  

  

• Vista SideBar Switchboard:
  
  

All About SQL Server 2005

Dig into the details of SQL Server 2005 Increase security, scalability, and availability with live and on-demand webcasts, along with virtual labs, where you can check out SQL Server 2005 without setup or installation.

Migrate Access 2003 Applications to Small Business Accounting 2006

Migrate Access 2003 Applications to Small Business Accounting 2006 Examine how integration of Small Business Accounting 2006 with Access 2003 can benefit ISVs, particularly the Access developers designing solutions for the small business market.

Access Extra: Now on MSN® Alerts

You can receive Access Extra posts as MSN Alerts through your MSN® Messenger or Windows® Messenger, your e-mail, or your mobile device.

You can choose how and when to receive messages. MSN Alerts does not charge for sending alerts to your mobile device; however, your mobile service provider may charge for every text message you receive, including alerts.

Sign-up by clicking on this link:

MS Access: RIP?

In his latest newsletter this weekend, author, Rick Dobson, says:

The development flexibility and excellent pricing for the [VB] Express suite contrasted with the higher pricing and relatively aged development capabilities of Microsoft Access suggest that many Access developers will find a more useful environment for creating custom database solutions with the Express suite.

I beg to differ. Outside large enterprises, independent Access developers must compete on price, and clients will not pay more for something less accessible and more expensive to build and maintain. Access has been a success because it is simply the best RAD for desktop databases.

SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition To Run on all versions of Windows

SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition for handheld devices that run Windows CE and Windows Tablet Edition, is to run on all versions of Windows. Source: www.computerworld.com

Excel Hands-On Lab

Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Excel Hands-on Labs The labs included in this download provide hands-on practice with developing Microsoft Excel solutions using Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office.