News from the Access Team with Microsoft

Microsoft Access is not standing still—with enhanced SQL editing tools, form zooming, and chart upgrades all in active development.

In this presentation from Access DevCon Vienna, the Microsoft Access team provided detailed updates on several features that have been released or are in development. The team, led by Engineering Manager Dale Rector and featuring engineers Sachin Arunkumar, Courtney Owen, and Shane Groff, showcased improvements to command-line digital signing, Monaco SQL editor enhancements, form zooming capabilities, modern chart updates, and forthcoming changes to form size limitations.

Whether you're an Access developer concerned about keeping up with the latest features or simply wondering if Microsoft is still investing in Access, this presentation offers compelling evidence that the product continues to evolve with both developer and end-user needs in mind.

Digital Code Signing and Monaco SQL Editor Updates

Command-Line Interface for Digital Signing

• New CLI capability for signing databases
• Enables automation of the signing process
• Syntax: [msaccess.exe executable location] [database path] /sign [certificate name]
• Perfect for batch signing multiple databases via PowerShell or batch scripts
• Certificate must already be installed with code signing capability

Monaco SQL Editor Improvements

• Faster loading through preloading in the idle loop
• Ability to execute selected text rather than entire SQL statements
• SQL formatting capabilities with keyboard shortcuts
• Advanced indentation for parameters, logical queries, and inner queries
• Preserves editor content when running queries

Future Development: GitHub Integration

• Early design phase for source control management
• Similar approach to the previous Visual SourceSafe model
• Will enable GitHub-based template distribution
• Planning to include definitions for tables, queries, and macros

Form Zooming Capabilities

Current State and History

• No native zooming capability has previously existed in Access
• Workarounds (changing Windows resolution, Windows Magnifier) affected all Office apps
• Print preview supports zooming but doesn't allow interaction

Implementation Progress

• Currently in testing and refinement phase
• Zoom controls include both slider bar and zoom buttons
• Works with most control types including:
  • Labels and text fields
  • List boxes and combo boxes
  • Option controls and check boxes
  • Toggle buttons and attachments
  • Modern charts and legacy charts
  • Web browser control

Development Roadmap

• Form support first (already in development)
• Reports next (shares code with forms)
• Datasheet view under investigation
• Form/report design view is planned last

Current Limitations

• Some rendering issues when zooming quickly
• Sub-forms not yet fully supported
• Still working on tab and navigation controls

Modern Chart Updates

Expanded Chart Types

• Grew from 11 to 25 modern chart types
• Includes Pareto charts (highly requested)
• Added word cloud charts (exclusive to Access)
• Grid lines now available for appropriate chart types

VBA Support Added

• VBA support for all new chart types
• New properties like grid lines and sorting
• Backward compatibility through stub methods in older versions
• Error message displays when using unsupported features in older versions

Recent Bug Fixes

• Fixed word cloud rendering in print preview and copy/paste
• Corrected sorting issues when changing series display names
• Improved contrast between minor and major grid lines

Form Size Limitations and ActiveX Control Changes

Form Size Changes

• Current limit is 22 inches (width/height)
• Planning to significantly increase this limit
• Backward compatibility approach still being determined
• Will enable new layout approaches (e.g., scrollable sections instead of tab controls)

ActiveX Control Changes

• Office-wide push to disable ActiveX controls by default
• Word and Excel leading this change
• Access will continue to allow ActiveX by default but respect explicit disabling
• Previously broken functionality with disabled ActiveX now fixed (wizards, templates)

Future Considerations

• Potential for additional built-in controls to reduce ActiveX dependency
• Discussions around trusted locations and signed database exceptions
• 64-bit vs. 32-bit ActiveX availability issues

Other Topics and Outlook Integration

Monarch (New Outlook) Integration

• New Outlook client does not support COM automation
• Breaks some built-in Access scenarios
• Team seeking feedback on currently broken solutions
• Working to determine alternatives and migration paths

Conclusion

The Microsoft Access team continues active development across multiple aspects of the product. With significant improvements to SQL editing, form capabilities, charting, and digital signing, they are addressing both developer needs and end-user experience. While challenges remain, particularly around ActiveX controls and Outlook integration, the roadmap shows ongoing commitment to enhancing Access functionality.

Access to Recordings

This presentation was part of Access DevCon Vienna, a paid online conference for Microsoft Access developers. The full recording and other conference materials are exclusively available to registered attendees of the conference.

If you attended Access DevCon Vienna, you should have received (or will soon receive) an email from the conference organizers with a link to the videos.

Consider Attending Future Conferences

The quality and depth of content from Access DevCon Vienna demonstrates the value of professional development conferences focused on Microsoft Access. Consider attending future conferences to:

• Learn advanced techniques directly from expert presenters
• Gain access to exclusive content not available elsewhere
• Ask questions of expert presenters and other attendees
• Stay current with the latest Access development trends and best practices

For information about upcoming Access DevCon Vienna conferences, visit donkarl.com.

Acknowledgements

• Initial draft generated by Claude-3.7-Sonnet