Mike Wolfe - No Longer Set (Page 18)

Week in Review: August 5, 2023

Highlights include the WiR debut of two new YouTube channels, monthly bug fixes from the Access team, and an introduction to using modern Combo Charts.

Commentary

Microsoft Access vs. SQLite: Security Comparison

Microsoft Access or SQLite: Which one is more secure? The answer may surprise you.

Commentary

Three Factors that Lead to Complex Code

"Three properties determine the complexity of an environment. ... The greater the multiplicity, interdependence, and diversity, the greater the complexity."

Under 100

Complex vs. Complicated

The difference between complex and complicated explained in under 100 words. #Under100

Under 100

What are Pure Functions?

The concept of pure functions explained in under 100 words. #under100

Commentary

"I'm Not Touching That!"

Hey, who wants to maintain this legacy code? Beuller? Beuller?

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: July 30, 2023

Highlights include experimental code optimization via LLVM (boosting performance and reducing executable size) and a new Discord LLVM channel.

Week in Review

Week in Review: July 29, 2023

Highlights include Richard Rost's series on tracking account balances, barcode scanning via PowerApps, improving image quality, and a SQL formatting add-in.

Reader Challenge

Logic Puzzle Solution Part 3: Counting the Possible Configurations

When I first read through the five-house logic puzzle, I kept thinking, "I should just brute force this thing." I was so naive...

Hidden Features

3 Situations for Using Named Arguments in VBA

One of the lesser-known features of VBA is the ability to use named arguments in your calling code. Here are three situations just begging for named arguments.

ShowForm

Evolution of a Function: ShowForm() Part 4

Years of real-world usage revealed edge cases that required bug fixes in our function. This is why Joel Spolsky says old code is better than new.

ShowForm

Evolution of a Function: ShowForm() Part 3

As our ShowForm function continues to evolve, we begin refactoring and addressing several shortcomings of our earlier efforts.

Archive Collection: Field Descriptions

I'm on a short vacation (shh...don't tell anyone)! I'll be back soon, but until then enjoy this curated collection of articles. Today's topic: Field Descriptions.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: July 23, 2023

Highlights include an update on Wayne's LLVM progress and a demonstration of how to integrate the Windows Ribbon Framework into twinBASIC.

Week in Review

Week in Review: July 22, 2023

Highlights include the seventh installment of a.p.r. pillai's class-based form code series, building Gantt charts in Access, and a deep dive into SQL subqueries.

Announcement

Coming Soon: Access Developer Survey

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: NoLongerSet will be launching its inaugural Access Developer Survey soon. I need your help!

VBA

How to Efficiently Check for Empty Strings in VBA

Yes, there is a right way and a wrong way to check for empty strings in VBA. Actually, there are *two* right ways and *two* wrong ways. Let's explore all four.

Debugging

TCP Port Test Fails When SQL Server Service Is Stopped

There are three likely causes for a failed TCP Port test: 1) firewall on the SQL Server host; 2) SQL Server uses dynamic ports; or 3) SQL Server service is stopped.

ShowForm

Why Creating Multiple Copies of a Form Is Bad Practice

Creating multiple *instances* of a single form may seem like more work than just making multiple *copies* of a form, but it's an investment worth making.

Code Library

CascadeForm(): Prevent Multi-Instance Forms From Hiding Behind Each Other

The CascadeForm() function introduces the cascading-window effect from the Windows operating system to Microsoft Access.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: July 16, 2023

Highlights include twinPACK publisher support in the new IDE, indenting of pasted code, inline code hints, and the release of a 64-bit tB version of Kr00l's FlexGrid control.

Week in Review

Week in Review: July 15, 2023

Highlights include the return of DevHut.net, generating hashes in VBA, bypassing the trusted domains "feature," and an eye-opening video on great interface design.

AI

ChatGPT: Genius or Fraud?

There's an ongoing debate over whether developers can trust the current crop of LLMs. The problem is people are asking the wrong question.

ShowForm

Evolution of a Function: ShowForm() Part 2

As our ShowForm function evolves, we introduce a very basic capability to create and manage multiple form instances.

ShowForm

Evolution of a Function: ShowForm() Part 1

Part 1 of the ShowForm function is an MVP (minimum viable product) which is little more than a convenience function wrapper around DoCmd.OpenForm.