No Longer Set

The Key to Navigating Unfamiliar Territory Without a Map

How I successfully led a 60-vehicle military convoy at 23 years old without knowing what I was doing or where I was going.

twinBASIC

twinBASIC Update: November 28, 2021

Highlights include the first major release of file handling statements and functions in twinBASIC, along with talk of providing a tB license to the Rubberduck project.

COM

Early Binding vs. Late Binding: The Essential Guide for VBA Developers

The Absolute Minimum Every VBA Developer Absolutely, Positively Must Know About Early and Late Binding in COM (No Excuses!)

Risk Management

Cowpathing with Microsoft Access

How do you decide where to spend your software development dollars? Don't guess what your users need, let them show you with Access.

Database Design

When to Store Numbers as Text

Introducing the "Numeroliteral Test," a one-question heuristic for deciding whether to store numeric data in a character-based field.

Commentary

3 Benefits of Writing Code Backwards

Ignore those compile errors and start writing your calling code before your routines. This approach has many benefits.

Commentary

Access Dataverse Connector

Did you ever think to yourself, "I wish there was a way to make my back-end data less flexible *and* less powerful?" Good news; your wait is over!

Advanced

64-bit Unsigned Integers in VBA

VBA is missing a data type. The workaround--while not pretty--is at least straightforward.

twinBASIC

twinBASIC Update: November 21, 2021

Highlights include 64-bit compilation support (no license required!) and a discussion about early binding and reference handling.

COM

High Level Overview of COM

This whirlwind tour of the Component Object Model technology will jump start your journey of automating Excel from VBA in Access.

COM

What the #$%& is COM!?

One of the most important concepts in VBA is also one of the least understood. Let's shine a light on the Component Object Model.

Business

Shared Reports in Clockify

Never waste time preparing a detailed list of hours for your clients again using this handy feature from Clockify.

Database Design

Autonumber Primary Keys

They're fake ... and they're spectacular!

Advanced

Large Address Aware Flag

Getting a lot of "Out of memory" errors in newer versions of Access? This trick can more than triple your available memory in 32-bit versions of Access.

Announcement

Access Roadmap Update

Microsoft has recently updated the Access roadmap for 2021 and beyond. Check out what's on the horizon for the next 14 months.

twinBASIC

twinBASIC Update: November 14, 2021

Highlights include temporary removal of the license key requirement for CustomControls and partial inheritance support using Implements ... Via.

Professional Development

UNC Alias for a Local Folder

The subst command lets us mimic mapped network drives. But what if your backend tables are linked using UNC paths? Don't worry. We can handle those, too!

Commentary

Let's Make Access More Version-Control Friendly

Hey! Wouldn't it be great if Access was version-control friendly out of the box? If you agree, head over to the Access feedback portal and vote for my request.

Commentary

How to Request New Features for Microsoft Access

After a long and conspicuous absence, Microsoft has finally published a new website where you can submit and vote on feature requests.

Error Handling

Why "Add an Error Handler to Every Routine" is Bad Advice

For every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. (Shocking, I know.)

Commentary

5 Types of Documentation

Each type of documentation has unique strengths and weaknesses. Knowing when and how to use each is an important skill for every developer.

Business

Comparative Advantage

One person can be more productive than another in every way, and yet, by trading freely with each other, both sides can come out ahead.

twinBASIC

twinBASIC Update: November 7, 2021

Highlights include our first look at a working twinBASIC form, the early makings of inheritance support, and the promise of custom ActiveX control development.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Alt Codes in Windows

Checkmarks, bulleted lists, section symbols, pi, daggers, copyrights, etc. Each of these symbols can be entered in Windows using an easy keyboard shortcut.

SQL

Finding Duplicate People by Date of Birth

Let's explore the GROUP BY syntax with an exercise in identifying duplicate records in a Person table.