Week in Review: July 11, 2026
Highlights include Win API calls for GET requests, migrating to SQL Server in the cloud, raising custom events, and a talk on new Access features (plus UI tips and tricks).
Just Published
This section includes videos, articles, and (occasionally) open-source project updates from the past 7 days.
Articles
Article descriptions generated by Claude-Sonnet-4.5.
- Juan Soto (Access Experts)
- SSMA Download Issue Affecting 32-bit Microsoft Access Users (Fix Expected Later This July): The latest SSMA for Access installer incorrectly launches a 64-bit process on 32-bit Access installations, causing a COM registration error, with a fix expected later in July.
- John Mallinson (The VBA Help)
- Make an HTTP(S) GET request and read the response using the Windows API: Learn how to perform HTTP and HTTPS GET requests in VBA using WinINet API functions without requiring external COM libraries like MSXML2 or WinHttp.
- Custom events in VBA with WithEvents and RaiseEvent: Discover how to declare and raise custom events in VBA classes using WithEvents and RaiseEvent to enable synchronous event-driven communication between objects.
- Beta testing of VBE_Extras in Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk AutoCAD: VBE_Extras is seeking VBA developers familiar with Autodesk Inventor or AutoCAD to beta test the add-in in those environments.
- Colin Riddington (Isladogs on Access)
- Change the Font Size in the Property Sheet: Access Beta channel build 2608 introduces a new Property Sheet Font Size setting that allows users to increase the default 8pt font up to 36pt (future: 72pt).
- Big Forms and Reports for Modern Monitors: Access Beta and Current Channel Preview now remove the 22.75-inch form size limit, allowing forms and reports up to approximately 236,715 cm in width and height.
- Access Bug Summary - July 2026 (IN PROGRESS): A running summary of Access bugs reported in July 2026, including slow MSXML2 performance, ASP.NET crashes with ACE OLE DB, unreliable Erl function in 64-bit, and query splitter bar visual glitches.
- AEU53: UI Tips/Tricks and New Access Features: This Access Europe session covered upcoming Access features including full-screen mode, zooming, big forms, and cascading controls, plus UI techniques like theme-aware forms and Fluent message boxes.
- Mike Wolfe (NoLongerSet)
- Throwback Thursday: July 9, 2026: This week's collection revisits articles on lightweight testing frameworks in VCS Add-in v5, software testing practices, and developer humor.
- twinBASIC Update: July 7, 2026: twinBASIC secured strategic investment from RepSoft LLC to expand the development team and ensure long-term project viability, with a XAML Islands button demo also released.
Videos
- Access User Group Recordings (YouTube channel)
- New Access Features and UI Tips/Tricks (01:03:21): with Colin Riddington
- Alessandro Grimaldi (YouTube channel)
- Colored progress bar (0:53)
- Richard Rost (YouTube channel)
- Catastrophic Failure (33:48): Fixing Automation Error Catastrophic Failure in Microsoft Access - QQ 99
- Form Open Time (13:58): How to Track How Long a Form Was Open in Microsoft Access Without a Timer Event
- Connect Access (26:22): How to Connect Microsoft Access to SQL Server Online (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
- Online Hosting (23:54): Microsoft Access SQL Server Online: Set Up Your WinHost Server
- Online Database (15:44): Microsoft Access & SQL Server Online Database: Work With Your Data From Anywhere
GitHub Projects
Changelog summary generated by Claude Fable 5.
MCP-Access MCP-Access sat out last week's issue entirely, and it turns out the quiet was the sound of a security researcher at work.
v0.7.50 (July 6) fixed a responsibly disclosed prompt-injection flaw (GHSA-9jp6-hph9-jm5f) — the access-workflow prompt template reflected its db_path argument verbatim, so a malicious path stuffed with newlines could smuggle a fake SYSTEM OVERRIDE: block in ahead of the prompt's rules; a new _sanitize_db_path() now truncates at the first control character, caps the length at MAX_PATH, and wraps the value in backticks as inert data. v0.7.51 (same day) went a step further and made code execution opt-in: access_run_vba, access_eval_vba, and access_run_macro are now disabled — and hidden from the tool list — unless the operator sets MCP_ACCESS_ALLOW_CODE_EXEC=1, a gate read once at startup so it sits beyond the reach of any in-session injection. A new SECURITY.md rounds out the pair, documenting the threat model and disclosure process, with credit to @nicoPadi1002 of CobaltoSec for the report that started it all.
The theme is safe-by-default: a fresh pip install of MCP-Access can no longer be talked into running arbitrary code by anything it reads.
New to Me
This section includes content I discovered this week that has been around for a while.
- Nothing new this week.
Upcoming Access User Group Events
NOTE: Only English-language user group meetings with scheduled guest speakers or topics are listed. For a complete list of upcoming events, visit the Access User Group event calendar.
- [August 5, 2026] Marcus Dieterle: Use the Edge browser control to extend Access
- [August 6, 2026] Tom van Stiphout: Anonymizer for Access Data
- [September 2, 2026] John Mallinson: Working with the Windows API
- [October 7, 2026] Peter Bryant / Andrew Richards: GraphAuthenticator – the ‘New’ Outlook problem solved and a world of possibilities to explore
Access Roadmap
There were no changes made to the roadmap between the Week in Review last week (2026-07-04) and this week (2026-07-11).
The roadmap was last updated June 23, 2026.
Listed below is a snapshot of the official Access Roadmap.
"In Development", "Rolling Out", and "Launched" are Microsoft terms that I pulled straight from the public roadmap. Dates listed are "rollout start" dates.
In Development
AUG 2026: Cascading combo and list boxes with LinkMasterFields/LinkChildFields: Combo boxes and list boxes now support LinkMasterFields/LinkChildFields properties, enabling cascading dropdowns (e.g., Country filters City) without writing VBA code.JUL 2026: Rounded corners on Access form controls: We’re making it easier to give your Access apps a polished, up-to-date feel. With the new CornerRadius property, you can add rounded corners to form controls—bringing a softer, more modern look to your designs.JUN 2026: Zooming for Continuous Forms and Multiple-Items Forms: Access extends zoom capabilities to continuous forms and pop-up forms, building on zoom support already available in tables and queries. Adjust magnification from 10 percent to 500 percent using the slider in the lower-right corner or controls on the ribbon. Keyboard shortcuts are also available, making it easy to quickly change your view and focus on the details that matter most.MAY 2026: Enable zoom magnification to Microsoft Access for Forms, Tables, Queries: Access will add magnification slider (10% to 500%) in lower right of the application, similar to the feature in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. It will also be keyboard accessible and available on the ribbon in Access forms, tables, and queries.
Rolling Out
JUN 2026: Design Access forms and reports without 22-inch size constraints: With the removal of the 22-inch limit, your apps can now take full advantage of today’s larger monitors. You can display more data, create flexible layouts, and deliver a better experience on wide and high-resolution screens.
Launched
None listed.
Upcoming End-of-Life Dates
Here are the key end-of-life dates Access developers should track:
2024
[JUL 09]SQL Server 2014
2025
[OCT 14]Access 2016|Access 2019|Office 2016|Office 2019[OCT 14]Windows 10[OCT 28]Salesforce ODBC Driver[NOV 11]Windows 11 version 23H2
2026
[JUL 14]SQL Server 2016[OCT 13]Access 2021 | Office 2021[OCT 13]Windows 11 version 24H2
2027
[JAN 12]Windows Server 2016[MAR 01]Auto-migration of Classic Outlook begins for Enterprise users (originally scheduled for April 2026, but postponed to March 2027)[OCT 12]SQL Server 2017
2029
[JAN 09]Windows Server 2019[OCT 09]Access 2024 | Outlook 2024[OCT 09(or later)]Classic Outlook- See "Edit 8/12/2024" at top of this article for official clarification that "both perpetual and subscription [i.e., MS 365] versions of Outlook will be supported until 2029"
- Support for Classic Outlook is guaranteed at least through 9 Oct 2029; it may be extended beyond this date
2030
[JAN 08]SQL Server 2019
2031
[OCT 14]Windows Server 2022
2033
[JAN 11]SQL Server 2022
2034
[OCT 10]Windows Server 2025
Ongoing
- Microsoft 365 (with subscription)
Date TBD
- Complete removal of VBScript from Windows OS (Microsoft Announces the Death of VBScript)