No Longer Set (Page 13)

"AI Will Take My Job": A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Whether you think AI is coming to *take* your job... Or you think AI will help you *be more productive* at your job... You're probably right.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: December 17, 2023

Highlights include a new twinBASIC project to allow easy input filtering of text boxes and the renaming of the tbShellLib project to reflect its expanded scope.

Week in Review

Week in Review: December 16, 2023

Highlights include my recent talk on using classes with import/export specs, many 64-bit VBA guides, and a new release of Adam Waller's version control add-in.

VBA

32-bit vs. 64-bit VBA: Deep Dive

A deep dive into the past, present, and future of the transition from 32-bit VBA to 64-bit VBA.

Code Library

GetCanvas(): Convenience Function for Working with Windows API Calls in Access

This simple function serves as a great foundation for manipulating the display of Microsoft Access forms and reports with a variety of Windows API calls.

Code Library

CenterForm(): Using the Windows API to Center Forms on the Access Canvas

The form Auto-Center property is all you need in most cases. However, let's consider four different situations where my custom code might be a better fit.

Code Library

GetInnerAccessHwnd(): Retrieve the Window Handle to the Microsoft Access Canvas

This function returns the window handle to the Microsoft Access "canvas", the inner portion of the application window where forms and reports are drawn.

VBA

The Curious Case of the Return Type of the hWndAccessApp Method in 64-bit VBA

Is everything I thought I knew about 64-bit vs. 32-bit VBA wrong? Or is there a problem with the Access object model? Or is it something else?

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: December 10, 2023

Highlights include an extended discussion on the possibility of open-sourcing some or all of twinBASIC in the future, plus a Linebreak Repair utility from fafalone.

Week in Review

Week in Review: December 9, 2023

Highlights include new (undocumented) functions for working with DateTimeExtended, an AI Builder for Access, and Jon Halder's TDD journey.

Tools

PureText: Paste Unformatted Text From Your Clipboard

Are you tired of the Notepad dance: Copy rich text, paste in Notepad, select all, copy, paste plain text? If so, this simple utility could be life-changing.

VBA

Improve the Readability of Numeric Settings in VBA

In VBA, numeric property settings (such as ComboBox.TextAlign–where 3 = "Right") can be handled in many ways, but some ways are more right than others.

Presentations

clsImExSpecs Presentation to the Access Europe User Group

A list of resources and further reading for my presentation on my custom Import/Export Specifications class module.

Basic

Using the Wizard to Export to Text Files with Microsoft Access

In an effort to remain simple, the Access export to text file wizard manages to do the opposite, making simple updates to export specs unnecessarily cumbersome.

Debugging

Use XML to Share Access Table Data and Avoid Internet Warnings

Anti-virus software and Microsoft policies make it harder than ever to share table data among Access users. The XML format is a simple way to avoid those roadblocks.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: December 3, 2023

Highlights include an update on "Edit & Continue" development progress, a new Auto-Save tB add-in, and the discovery of twinBASIC's potential downfall.

Week in Review

Week in Review: December 2, 2023

Highlights include a new direct SQL view feature in Access, 7 issue fixes, a new release of the Rubberduck VBA project, and how to count "checkbox" fields.

Commentary

Microsoft Access has an Anemic Third-Party Ecosystem...But There is a Silver Lining

Sometimes, less is more.

Access 101

Access 101: UPDATE Query

The UPDATE query: a dangerously powerful tool for making bulk changes to data in your Access tables.

Hidden Features

NEW & IMPROVED: The "Unset" Enum Item

This hidden feature of VBA lets you take advantage of my "Unset" enum item technique without cluttering up your IntelliSense.

VBA

The Secret to Achieving Naming Bliss in VBA Class Modules

This little-known technique from Rubberduck VBA maintainer and MVP Mathieu Guindon will change how you write class modules forever.

Commentary

Bananas Bring Bad Luck on Boats

An important lesson in the hidden danger of unknown unknowns, and a good reminder of why non-developers create some of the most useful Access apps.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: November 26, 2023

Highlights include foundational work on the forthcoming Edit & Continue feature and a new wiki page documenting the twinBASIC compiler constants.

Week in Review

Week in Review: November 25, 2023

Highlights include the arrival of LAA in Access, adding gradients to forms, using named arguments in VBA, and multi-field search with only two controls.

Business

Profit Centers vs. Cost Centers

Both impact a company's net profits, but one tends to be a better fit for most Microsoft Access projects.