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