Mike Wolfe - No Longer Set (Page 24)

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.

ShowForm

Evolution of a Function: ShowForm()

Code is a living thing. Letting it grow organically over time helps ensure that you get exactly the features you need. My ShowForm() function is a prime example.

UX

Countering Automation Bias

Those handy default values you provide your users could be doing more harm than good.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: July 9, 2023

Highlights include a supercharged Collection class (that also replaces Scripting.Dictionary for most use cases) and several exciting community projects.