Access |
 |
by Eddie Mijares |
The new version of Microsoft Access begins with a database wizard that allows you to select from a variety of prebuilt applications.
These applications typically include tables, forms, reports and switchboards. Switchboards are a new type of form which allow flexible menu-like navigation between forms and reports. While these applications may require some additional coding to make them satisfy your needs, they are an excellent learning tool for a new user.
The Autoexec macro has been replaced with an application Startup screen which allows the user to select a startup form, icons, titles, menus and toolbars.
Two new filtering options have been added. The first is Filter by Form which will present either a form or a datasheet where you can enter filtering criteria. The results will be returned in a form view. The second method is Filter by Selection. Simply select the data you want to filter and press the filter form button. Only records which contain the same data as the selected data will be returned.
A control may now be changed to another control on the fly. For instance, if the state code is initially set up as a combo box, it can be changed to a list box by pressing the right mouse button and changing the control type. In addition, the developer can now designate the default control for a field.
Screen tips are a new property which allows us to assign some helpful text to any control.
The new Performance Analyzer will review your database and provide a list of recommendations which will enhance application performance. However, depending on the size of your application this could take some time, so have your favorite beverage handy.
In addition, a Table Analyzer is available which will review your data and look for data redundancy and dependence. The result will be recommendations to split the data into relational tables.
Briefcase Replication has also been added. Now, portable and remote users can have their data merged into the Master database. Application developers also have programmatic access to replication via Data Access Objects (DAO). Replication does have some significant cost. Several fields are added to each table and several new tables are added to the database. Therefore, your database size can grow substantially.
Microsoft has recently announced some new controls called ActiveX which will allow Access developers to integrate Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) and the Access Database Engine. Through this interface, Internet pages will be able to send and receive data to an Access database. A large number of conferences and educational seminars are available this summer which will have the Internet and ActiveX controls as their main focus.
The advent of the Internet has caused some significant changes in the Access development environment. Microsoft no longer supports their CompuServe forums. They have shifted their support to Internet news groups. The Access news group can be found at the following News Server Address: msnews.microsoft.com
The Microsoft home page for Access is: http://www.microsoft.com/msaccess/ and for Access Developers is: http://www.microsoft.com/accessdev/.
From both these pages an Access user or developer can get to Knowledgebase
(Microsoft tele
phone support uses this), Free Software, Patches, Samples,
Ready to Run applications, Pricing Information, ActiveX controls and OLE
samples. These are excellent starting points for Access information and
discussion.
Some other sites of interest to the Access enthusiast are: Tony's Main Page at http://www.agt.net/public/ttoews/accsmstr.htm and Allen Browne's Home Page at http://odyssey.apana.org.au/~abrowne/homepage/.
The only disadvantage of Access 95 is its hardware requirements. While Access 2.0 runs quite well on a Pentium 100 with 16 megs of RAM and Windows 95, Access 95 will run a bit sluggish. Access 95 seems to need from 24 to 32 megs of RAM to run as fast and sweet as Access 2.0.
Eddie Mijares is a HAL-PC member and president of Major Systems Corp., engaged in MS Access and VB consulting.
E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.
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