Presentations

DevCon 2024: VBIDE Addin Creation with twinBASIC

Links and resources from my talk today at Access DevCon Vienna 2024, Custom VBIDE Addin Creation with twinBASIC.

Commentary

How to Tell the Technical Abilities of a User Without Asking

How do you assess the technical abilities of someone who might not even know how to accurately assess themselves? By making the garden weed itself.

twinBASIC

WinDevLib: A Better Way to Call Windows API Functions in twinBASIC

Stop struggling to declare your Windows API calls in twinBASIC. Use the Windows Development Library twinPACK and let fafalone do all the hard work for you.

Bug Alert

Bug Alert: InStr() in WHERE Crashes Access

Using string expressions like InStr(), InStrRev(), and Replace() in the WHERE clause of a query can crash Access in certain recent releases.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: April 14, 2024

Highlights include improved performance and stability, error codes for compile errors, a sneak peek at sokinkeso's External Tools plugin, and version control for twinBASIC.

Week in Review

Week in Review: April 13, 2024

Highlights include videos on the MS Access Version Control add-in, Google Maps driving directions to multiple sites, and SQL Server audit tables.

COM

How VBA IDE Addins Get Loaded From the Windows Registry

A deep dive into how VBA IDE addins get loaded from the Windows Registry to help you avoid getting stuck in DLL hell.

VBA

The Windows Registry: A Deep Dive for VBA Developers

Everything you need to know to get started reading and writing to the Windows Registry from VBA without breaking into a cold sweat.

twinBASIC

Version Control with twinBASIC in 2024

Step-by-step instructions for integrating version control into your twinBASIC development operations in 2024.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Connect Multiple Outlook Accounts to Zapier

Automatic login is convenient most of the time, but it can be frustrating when trying to configure multiple accounts for Zapier application integrations.

Business

Positioning: What You Need to Know to Run an Access Business

The clearer you are about who you don't work with, the more likely you are to attract those you do.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: April 7, 2024

Highlights include the ability to embed code in tB IDE keyboard shortcuts, a consolidated page of sokinkeso's tB IDE addins, and a new App object package.

Week in Review

Week in Review: April 6, 2024

Highlights include another episode of Karl Donaubauer's Access NewsCast, building a custom date picker, and the return of the venerable VBA add-in, Smart Indenter.

Tools

Boost Efficiency by Documenting Recurring Processes in ProcessKit

From invoicing to client onboarding, learn how documenting your processes in ProcessKit can save time and improve results.

Announcement

Access NewsCast with Karl Donaubauer: Episode 8

Catch up on the latest news from the Access world in episode 8 of Karl's webcast, with guests Juanjo Luna, Alessandro Grimaldi, and fan favorite, Viktoria.

Code Library

FileIsOpen(): Check If Another User or Process Has a File Locked

This simple function detects whether a file is already open in another application allowing you to handle such situations with grace and confidence.

Quick Tip

QuickTip: Reproducible SELECT Results

Reproducing behavior is the essential first step to debugging problems. Save yourself future SQL debugging headaches with this quick tip.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: April 1, 2024

Highlights include dozens of bug fixes, a new MsgBox builder IDE addin, and a GitHub project for automatically setting PE image header properties.

Holiday

Happy Easter

"Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

Week in Review

Week in Review: March 30, 2024

Highlights include recent Access bug fixes, a zoom box replacement, a RubberDuck 3 update, and integrating ChatGPT into Access.

Tools

KeePass: The Ideal Combination of Security and Convenience

Applying lessons from XKCD, the Iraq war, and recent cyberattacks to choose the best tool to safeguard your sensitive data.

Hidden Features

AutoKeys: One of Access's Most Well-Hidden Secrets

How I used one of the least discoverable features of Microsoft Access to create a global help shortcut key integrated with wiki-based documentation.

Tools

DokuWiki: A Versatile Tool for Developer and End-User Documentation

DokuWiki is a one-stop-shop for developer and end-user documentation--with support for both online and offline use cases!

Backwards Compatibility

Refactoring Procedure Signatures: The Do's and Don'ts

Best practices for modifying procedure signatures while maintaining backward compatibility.

Under 100

What is a Procedure Signature?

The concept of procedure signatures explained in under 100 words. #Under100