No Longer Set (Page 17)

Week in Review: September 9, 2023

Highlights include a new beta release of the Access version control addin, trends in the Access job market, and API calls to get a list of open programs.

AdventureWorks

The AdventureWorks SQL Server Sample Database

Step-by-step instructions for installing the AdventureWorks SQL Server sample database.

VBA

The vbNullString Constant in VBA

What is the vbNullString constant in VBA and how does it differ from a simple empty string ("")?

Tools

Setting Up a New MS Access Development Environment

Five settings and two addins that vastly improve your quality of life as a Microsoft Access developer.

Combo Boxes

ComboBox NotInList Event: Revisited

We improve our NotInList event code with a workaround for the "text you entered isn't an item in the list" error message via the little-known Form Error event handler.

Error Handling

The Form Error Event: How to Handle "Untrappable" Access Errors

The Form Error event comes to the rescue for a category of errors impervious to `On Error Resume Next` and `DoCmd.SetWarnings False`.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: September 3, 2023

Highlights include two new twinBASIC IDE Addin samples, a Property Sheet demo project from fafalone, and a brief discussion of DPI scaling.

Week in Review

Week in Review: September 2, 2023

Highlights include a video series on Colin Riddington's Access Analyzer Pro tool, plus introductory videos on Eval, Data Macros, and the Form Detail On Paint event.

Code Library

Pause Code Until a Form is Closed or Hidden (without acDialog)

Pausing code execution until a form is closed OR hidden can be a handy feature. This function delivers that without the other constraints of acDialog.

Combo Boxes

Using the NotInList Event in Microsoft Access to Dynamically Update Combo Boxes

The Microsoft Access combo box's NotInList event lets you provide "just-in-time" features for building a simple and intuitive user experience.

Code Library

How to Pause Code Execution Until a Form or Report is Closed (Without Using acDialog)

Do you need to pause your code until the user closes a form or report but are running into problems using acDialog? This simple function is your answer.

VBA

Working with Empty in VBA

A deep dive into the Empty keyword in VBA: why it exists, how to check for it, when it makes sense to check for it, and--most importantly--how NOT to check for it.

Tools

How to Be Signed In To Multiple Organizations in the MS Teams Desktop App Simultaneously

This trick allows you to run multiple instances of the Microsoft Teams desktop app with each instance signed in to a different organization.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: August 27, 2023

Highlights include multiple improvements to the debug console, including performance improvements that affect the entire IDE.

Week in Review

Week in Review: August 26, 2023

Highlights include tips to automate the new browser control, sending WhatsApp messages from Access, Python in Excel, and AI-driven help via Microsoft Q&A Assist.

Hidden Features

Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar in Microsoft Access

Get back some of that pre-2007 Office toolbar goodness with the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT). Vote for your favorite QAT commands.

Prompt School

A Simple Trick to Help ChatGPT Provide Correct Answers

How you ask ChatGPT to provide a solution can have a profound impact on the correctness of the solution it provides.

Announcement

Python in Excel

Microsoft just announced a built-in Python worksheet function for Excel. When can we expect similar love for Access?

twinBASIC

The twinBASIC Family Tree

VB6 and twinBASIC are "twins". You know, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito are twins.

Commentary

Wrapper vs. Port vs. Rewrite

Wrappers, ports, and rewrites are three techniques for incorporating non-native code into our applications. Let's explore the pros and cons of each approach.

twinBASIC Weekly Update

twinBASIC Update: August 20, 2023

Highlights include support for embedding Monaco editors and Chart.js in IDE tool windows, plus the tB port of a C++ 3D image rendering sample project.

Week in Review

Week in Review: August 19, 2023

Highlights include a modern browser YouTube series from Daniel Pineault, the German Access Conference AEK25, and password hashing in Access.

Commentary

"Old" is the New "New"

Do you have a software project littered with now-old items named "XxxxNew"? If you're determined to avoid doing it the right way, here's a less terrible approach.

Code That Fits in Your Head

Checklists

What flying a B-17 bomber can teach us about software development.

VBA

The Missing Keyword in VBA

Wondering what the IsMissing() function is all about in VBA? We'll explore that plus all the ins and outs of the VBA keyword that isn't: Missing.