Basic - No Longer Set

Subs vs. Functions in VBA

What is the difference between a Sub and a Function and why would you use one or the other? I'll give you the short answer...and then we can explore the long answer.

VBA

Enums in VBA: A Great 10-Minute Introductory Video

Excel MVP Paul Kelly packs a bunch of great information (including a well-hidden feature) into this ten-minute video introducing Enums in VBA.

Basic

All About Indenting

Do you obsess over the smallest details of the code-writing process? If not, you might want to skip this article. Don't say I didn't warn you...

Basic

The Single Most Important Concept for Understanding Relational Databases

If you're coming to the database world from the spreadsheet world, this one key concept will help you make the necessary mindset shift.

Commentary

How to Know When to Turn Lines of Code Into a Standalone Routine in VBA

DRY vs. YAGNI. Don't Repeat Yourself or You Ain't Gonna Need It? Sometimes it's not obvious whether a block of code would be useful as a standalone routine.

SQL

SQL Gotcha: When an OUTER JOIN Accidentally Becomes an INNER JOIN

If you apply a WHERE filter directly to the OUTER JOIN side of a query you will effectively turn it into an INNER JOIN.

Basic

Learn VBA From a Master

Philipp Stiefel is on a very short list of people who I would pay to teach my employees how to write VBA.

Basic

The Strange Behavior of Null

When are two identical values not equal? When they're both Null! If you are a Microsoft Access developer, you need to understand how (and why) this works.

SQL

Fixing Circular References in Access Queries

Did you get the error message, "Circular reference caused by alias 'MyField' in query definition's SELECT list"? Don't worry; it's an easy fix!

Basic

Microsoft Access Acronyms

Bookmark this handy reference so the next time you come across an Access acronym that you don't recognize, you will have a quick way to look it up.

Basic

How to Pause VBA Code

A simple Windows API call makes for a reliable and efficient way to pause your VBA code. Much better than a "do-nothing loop."

SQL

When to Use Right Outer Joins in SQL

What's the difference between a RIGHT JOIN and a LEFT JOIN and why use one versus the other?

Basic

How to Loop Through a List of Strings in VBA

Looking for a quick and simple way to loop through a list of strings? These 4 lines of code are all you need.

SQL Server

3 Gotchas of the SQL BETWEEN Statement

The SQL BETWEEN statement produces very readable condition expressions. But developers of all skill levels can still get into trouble with it.

Debugging

How to Set a Breakpoint in Startup Code in VBA

Ever set a breakpoint in your Access application's startup code, only to have it get cleared before it got hit? There's a simple workaround.

Basic

The QBE Window: Training Wheels for Access Developers

If you're new to relational databases, the QBE window is the solution to--and cause of--many of your query problems.

Basic

Beware the BETWEEN

Using the BETWEEN clause with date-time fields may lead to unexpected results. There's a safer alternative.

Basic

The Difference Between Good and Bad Code Comments

The difference between good and bad comments explained in under 25 words.

Basic

How to Customize the Access Ribbon on a Developer Machine

This step-by-step guide shows you how to customize the Microsoft Access ribbon and add missing commands.

Basic

What the Vancouver Stock Exchange Can Teach Us About Rounding Numbers in VBA

So you think you know how to round decimals. Do you, though? There may be more to it than you think.

Basic

How to Pause Your VBA Code For a Set Amount of Time

There is no built-in function to pause code in VBA. The easiest and safest way to do it is to use the Sleep API function. Here's a quick how-to.

Basic

Avoid DoCmd.RunSQL in Microsoft Access

If you are just starting out writing VBA in Microsoft Access, you may be tempted to use DoCmd.RunSQL. Don't. There is a better way.

Basic

Poor Man's Status Bar in VBA

If you're looking for a quick and dirty way to keep track of a long-running process while developing, this VBA one-liner will do the trick.

DoEvents

When (or Should I Say, How Often) to Call DoEvents

Too few calls to DoEvents, and your app may appear to be "(Not Responding)." Too many calls to DoEvents, and your app will run slow. Let's Goldilocks this thing.

DoEvents

How to Use the DoEvents Function: A Demonstration

The demonstration and downloadable sample code in this article make it easy to understand how DoEvents works.