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Create Standalone Functions to Return User Input Values in Microsoft Access

A combination of the GetInfoForm() function, custom VBA types, and "Extract Method" refactoring helps reduce our Access application's complexity.

Code Library

GetInfoForm(): Get User Input Without Needing a Global Form

The GetInfoForm() function simplifies the task of returning user input from an unbound form without stashing values in a hidden global form.

Form Design

Pass Values Between Forms in Access Without Using a Hidden Global Form

Using a hidden "global" form is a common way to return user-entered data to your program, but there is a better way.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: October 1, 2023

Highlights include the release of the first community-built twinBASIC IDE Add-in and an update to fafalone's cTaskDialog project to add 64-bit VBA support.

Week in Review

Week in Review: September 30, 2023

Highlights include an in-person UK User Group Conference Nov 22-23, Advanced Database Design with Armen Stein, and a list of undocumented SysCmd values.

Code Library

Convenience Function for Passing Values Between Forms via a Hidden Global Form

I don't always use a global form to stash user-provided values, but when I do, I use this GetInfo() function.

Prompt School

Build Better Prompts with AI

Who better to help you improve your AI prompts than AI itself? This meta prompt will help you get better results from your most used prompts.

Commentary

The Complicator's Gloves: A Cautionary Tale for Software Developers

This classic tale reminds us as software developers to resist the urge to go down the rabbit hole of an over-engineered solution.

Code Library

High-Performance VBA String Concatenation with clsStringBuilder

clsStringBuilder takes a collection-based approach to speed up string concatenation.

Version Control

Make Your Access App More Resilient with Version Control

Reassembling the pieces of a fragile system is a fool's (horse's?) errand. Turning back the clock is a more reliable fix.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: September 24, 2023

Highlights include a twinBASIC services status bar, a tB implementation of the Geometrize software, and a user activity monitoring class from fafalone.

Week in Review

Week in Review: September 23, 2023

Highlights include the death of COM/VBA in New Outlook (?!?!), a web-based image editor for Access, and a deep dive into string-building performance in VBA.

Code Library

clsConcat: Blazing-Fast String Building Performance in VBA

You don't need to understand how to pre-allocate a memory buffer in VBA to take advantage of this blazing-fast string builder class.

VBA

Standard String Concatenation in VBA is Slow and Inefficient

A deep dive into the inner workings of string concatenation in VBA and why appending a single character to a long string can be so expensive.

Form Design

Use Hidden Controls for More Reliable Code

Former Access MVP Ben Clothier drops some sage advice to help us avoid potential problems with our form code-behind modules.

VBA

When–And When Not–To Use the Statement Separator Character in VBA

Did you know you can combine lines of code in VBA with the colon character? The key is to understand when--and when not--to use it.

Debugging

Break Down Complex Expressions for More Debuggable Code

Combining multiple operations into a single line of code may be an effective way to play "code golf", but it's no way to develop maintainable software.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: September 17, 2023

Highlights include inline editor widget support for tB IDE addins, a sample TODO addin, keyboard shortcut registration, and a preview of a UserControl Builder addin.

Week in Review

Week in Review: September 16, 2023

Highlights include a long-overdue update to the Access roadmap (LAA is coming!), an underrated new feature (thanks, Anders!), and a video on event-driven programming.

VBA

The Magic Behind Microsoft Access Form Object Properties in VBA

By using the Me keyword, you can leverage the automatically generated properties to retrieve and set data in VBA.

Form Design

Size to Fit: Text Box Edition

You've likely used the Size to Fit command on labels and command buttons, but did you know it can also be used for text boxes, combo boxes, and list boxes?

Business

Challenges in Estimating Software Development: Complicated vs. Complex Processes

In software development, some processes are easier to estimate than others. Whether the process is complex or complicated has a profound impact on estimate reliability.

Code That Fits in Your Head

Command Query Separation: A Technique for Reducing Code Complexity

One helpful way to reduce the complexity of your code is to be intentional about how and where your code produces side effects.

Business

The Secret to a Profitable Career as an Access Consultant

It may not be flashy, but it is effective.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: September 10, 2023

Highlights include a global search IDE addin sample, addin extensibility access to the filesystem, and a discussion about inheritance in twinBASIC.