Debugging - No Longer Set

Debug Documentation: Signal vs. Noise Edition

Debugging an issue can generate a lot of content. This technique helps you keep track of and find the parts that really matter.

VBA

Avoiding the "Invalid in Immediate Pane" Error

Sometimes, using the colon character to combine statements in the immediate window results in an "Invalid in immediate pane" error. Here's why and how to fix it.

Debugging

3 Benefits of Documenting Your Debugging Process

It may sound counterintuitive, but taking the time to document your debugging process will save you time--both now and in the future.

Debugging

Fixing a Persistent "Write Conflict" Error

If you are getting consistent "Write Conflict" warnings when using bound forms to update SQL Server tables with datetime fields, there may be an easy fix.

Debugging

Breaking Down Windows Error Codes

Did you know there is a method to the madness behind those crazy-looking VBA error numbers like 0x80070005 or its decimal equivalent -2,147,024,891?

SQL Server

Advanced Server-Side SQL Server Query Troubleshooting

The XEvent Profiler in SSMS is a powerful troubleshooting tool, but what happens when the standard sessions are not enough? We need to customize...

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.

Debugging

Troubleshooting the "Unable to create target directory" Error in PDQ Deploy with ProcMon

Let's use my jack-of-all-trades troubleshooting tool--Process Monitor--to find the root cause of a recurring PDQ Deploy error.

Advanced

DISTINCT vs. GROUP BY: Microsoft Access Speed Test

The GROUP BY and DISTINCT clauses can both be used to generate identical results. But which one is faster in Access? And--more importantly--why?

AutoHotKey

Toggle ODBC TraceSQLMode with an AutoHotKey Script

Traditional methods of enabling and disabling ODBC TraceSQLMode are a pain in the neck. This AutoHotKey script makes it as easy as pushing a button.

Debugging

Troubleshooting Access Hanging When Switching to Design View

How I used two low-level tools--ProcMon and WireShark--to figure out why Access was taking forever to switch to design view in forms and reports.

SQL Server

Making Sense of SQLOUT.TXT

You've enabled ODBC Trace SQL Mode and created a sqlout.txt file. But do you know what to do with it now? Let's explore.

Debugging

Find the Yellow Highlighted Line When Debugging in VBA

Did you ever lose your place while debugging in VBA? Here's an easy way to find it.

Debugging

Troubleshooting SQL Server Connection Errors

"SQL Server does not exist or access denied." One error. Dozens of possible causes. Read on for a bunch of practical troubleshooting tips.

Hidden Features

Access Error Number Message Lookup

Did you ever come across an error number in your Access code--maybe in an If or Select Case statement--and wonder what it was for? Wonder no longer.

Debugging

Checking Specific TCP Port Access to a Remote Machine

Troubleshooting network connections is tough. Generic error messages make it hard to identify the root of the problem. This PowerShell cmdlet can help.

SQL Server

Quick Way to Troubleshoot SQL Server ADO Connections

This simple trick provides you with plenty of clues when debugging a failed SQL Server connection on a user's computer.

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.

Code Library

Quickly List the Properties of an Object in Access

Here's a quick and dirty procedure to iterate through an Access object's Properties collection.

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.

Tools

3 Ways to Run the Best Low-Level Windows Debugging Tool

A surprising number of thorny Access performance issues can be resolved with this venerable tool. Here's how to get started with Process Monitor.

Tools

Customizing the VBA Debug Toolbar

There are some very handy commands that VBA does not expose by default. Here's a step-by-step guide to customizing the Debug toolbar in VBA.

Hidden Features

Debugging Private Procedures

After more than 14 years as a VBA developer, I recently discovered that you can debug private procedures without temporarily making them public!

Watches

Watch Expression

A deeper than necessary dive into the exact expression evaluation behavior of the basic "Watch Expression" in VBA.

Basic

Watching and Waiting

Careful what you watch for! Monitoring changes to a slow expression can grind your debug session to a halt.