No Longer Set

3 Free Options for Managing Linked Tables in Access

The original linked table manager was a terrible tool. Let's look at three better options for today's Microsoft Access developers.

SQL Server

Advanced Server-Side SQL Server Query Troubleshooting

The XEvent Profiler in SSMS is a powerful troubleshooting tool, but what happens when the standard sessions are not enough? We need to customize...

twinBASIC

twinBASIC Update: May 15, 2022

Highlights include a modern browser control for Microsoft Access (yes, you read that right) and a spirited discussion regarding attribute syntax.

Week in Review

Week in Review: May 14, 2022

Highlights include the Access Dataverse Connector *finally* reaching General Availability, the public release of 3 DevCon videos, and another big Access bug.

SQL Server

IIF ... IS NULL vs. Nz(): Testing a Hypothesis

Which is better in a WHERE clause: IIf...Is Null or Nz()? Or is there a third option that's better than both of those?

Presentations

3 Access DevCon 2022 Video Recordings Released

Check out the recordings of my twinBASIC Update, Kevin Bell's new AppLauncher service, and Alessandro Grimaldi's VBA Tips and Tricks.

Bug Alert

BUG ALERT: No Current Record

An Access bug introduced in the latest Patch Tuesday update caused major headaches for developers around the world today.

Code Library

Show a Friendly Message When a Report Has No Data

A handy function you can call from an Access report's Property Sheet to gracefully inform the user when their report has no data to display.

Hidden Features

HOW TO: Run Scheduled Tasks with Microsoft Access

This underused MS Access command-line argument opens up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to scheduling recurring tasks in Access.

twinBASIC

twinBASIC Update: May 8, 2022

Highlights include version control-friendly improvements to the new IDE, an IDE Font Size setting, and a milestone for another VBx successor language, RAD Basic.

Week in Review

Week in Review: May 7, 2022

Highlights include an IE integration article from Daniel Pineault, an Access tool from Crystal Long, and a PowerApps User Group video.

Form Design

5 Ways to Set a Default Font on Microsoft Access Forms

If you don't like the default fonts in MS Access, you don't have to change them one control at a time. Here are 5 techniques to simplify the task.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Set Next Statement with Mouse

Try this tip the next time you use the Edit & Continue feature when debugging. After more than 15 years of developing VBA, I'm still learning new things.

DevCon

Access DevCon Vienna 2022 - Day Two Recap (Part 2)

I cover Northwind 2.0, Continuous Datasheets with Chris Arnold, Peter Cole's 64-bit VBA converter, and Colin Riddington's Translate & Speak tool in this Day 2 DevCon Vienna 2022 recap.

DevCon

Access DevCon Vienna 2022 - Day Two Recap (Part 1)

I cover my twinBASIC Update, VBA Tips and Tricks with AG, Word Automation with Crystal Long, and Peter Cole's Themes talk in this Day 2 DevCon Vienna 2022 recap.

DevCon

Access DevCon Vienna 2022 - Day One Recap (Part 2)

I cover Kevin Bell's appLauncher service, Chris Arnold's SSMS-like Access tool, my COM talk, and Colin Riddington's Google Maps API demo in this Day 1 DevCon Vienna 2022 recap.

twinBASIC

twinBASIC Update: May 1, 2022

Highlights include Set Next Statement support, new code samples and templates, a roadmap update, and a 7-Zip VBA library written in twinBASIC.

DevCon

Access DevCon Vienna 2022 - Day One Recap (Part 1)

I cover Maria Barnes's Dataverse Connector talk and Microsoft's Access Roadmap update in this Access DevCon Vienna 2022 recap.

Presentations

twinBASIC Update - DevCon 2022

Links and resources from my talk today at Access DevCon Vienna 2022, twinBASIC: Happy First Birthday!

Presentations

Understanding COM - DevCon 2022

Links and resources from my talk today at Access DevCon Vienna 2022, Understanding COM.

Hidden Features

Why Does My Access Web Browser Control Default to IE 7?

If web pages don't look right on your Access web browser control, it might be due to a little-known registry setting.

twinBASIC

HOW TO: Create a Tool Window in the VBIDE with twinBASIC

Move over Rubberduck VBA and MZ-Tools. The next great VBE addin is going to be built with twinBASIC. Here are step-by-step instructions to get you started.

COM

Loading VBE Addins - A Windows Registry Tour

Let's pull back the curtain and see how VBA loads VBE COM add-ins via a series of registry calls.

twinBASIC

twinBASIC Update: April 24, 2022

Highlights include updated samples for building custom VBIDE tool windows and custom ActiveX controls that you can drop on Access forms and reports.

twinBASIC

HOW TO: Create a Custom ActiveX Control with twinBASIC

Did you ever wish you could build a custom control for Microsoft Access forms and reports? With twinBASIC, that's a 15-minute project.