In yesterday's article, I shared a method to create an .accde or .mde from the current Access file: CompileCurrentAccessApp(): Use VBA to Create an ACCDE or MDE of the Currently Open Access File This function allows you to create an .accde or .mde file based on your current Access file with a single press of the F5 key. No Longer SetMike Wolfe But what if you wanted to create an .accde or .mde from the command line?  Perhaps as part of a build pipeline.  You know, so that you can "make a build in one step."   Here's one way to do that. Step-by-Step Instructions Step 1. Add ..read more

A couple of years ago, fellow Access MVP Colin Riddington wrote a series of articles with information on using an undocumented SysCmd function to compile an .accdb/.mdb into an .accde/.mde: Create ACCDB/ACCDE Files In Code This explains how to create both ACCDB & ACCDE files in code. Creating an ACCDE file requires the use of an undocumented SysCmd function Isladogs on AccessColin Riddington One of the limitations of that SysCmd function is that it only works on other files and cannot be used to compile the currently open Access file.   Let's overcome that limitation. The Approac ..read more

Version control is a game-changer for Access developers, enabling better collaboration, history tracking, and project management. If you're like me, you develop your Access applications on multiple devices: A powerful desktop for day-to-day work A laptop for on-site client work and business travel A home computer for occasional emergencies Environment-specific machines for 32-bit vs. 64-bit compilation, old versions for testing or compiling .accde/.mde files, etc. To simplify my life, I store my Access front-end files in OneDrive so that they automatically sync to each of these machines. It ..read more

The government closest to the people serves the people best. This Jeffersonian principle also applies to variable declaration. Mutatis mutandis: The variable declared closest to the code serves the code best. This is all an unnecessarily highfalutin way to say STOP DECLARING ALL OF YOUR VARIABLES AT THE TOP OF YOUR PROCEDURES!!!! But don't take my word for it. Code Complete to the Rescue Let's refer to what I consider the authoritative text on practical programming advice, Code Complete: Second Edition, by Steve McConnell. Here's an extended excerpt covering this topic from pages 241 - 242 of ..read more

A couple of months ago, I wrote about a bug that was affecting users with linked SQL Server tables who used the RefreshLink method: RefreshLink Bug: “Primary key already exists” Workarounds, status updates, and forum discussion links for the RefreshLink bug from the fine folks at AccessForever.org. No Longer SetMike Wolfe Apparently, this issue has been fixed since version 2402, but I somehow missed that when it first appeared.  In any event, if you are still experiencing this error, be sure that you are on a current release channel and that you are running Access Build #16.0.17425.2 ..read more

On April 23, 2021, I helped Wayne Phillips introduce the world to twinBASIC at the Access DevCon Vienna conference.  I boldly predicted that twinBASIC (along with the Monaco editor) would replace VBA and its outdated development environment by 2025.  With that goal in mind, this weekly update is my attempt to keep the project fresh in the minds of the VBA development community. Every Sunday, I will be providing updates on the status of the project, linking to new articles discussing twinBASIC, and generally trying to increase engagement with the project.  If you come across ite ..read more

Just Published This section includes videos, articles, and (occasionally) open-source project updates from the past 7 days. Articles Official Access Blog Access Releases 11 Issue Fixes in Version 2403 (Released March 27th, 2024), by Linda Lu Cannon Maria Barnes (Business Data Bytes Newsletter) Simplify Your Work with Templates in Power Apps for Teams Mathieu Guindon (Rubberduck VBA) Typed Arrays Must Die Jonathan Halder | Steven Halder (Access JumpStart 2.0) Deleting / Cutting Records on a Continuous Form VBA Comments And Why I Hate Them Access Events: BeforeUpdate and Changing ..read more

Slide Deck Check back soon for a PDF copy of the slide deck. Getting Started Video Adam Waller, the maintainer and lead developer for the Access Version Control Add-in, recently gave a presentation to the Denver Area Access User Group which makes a great "Getting Started" guide.  The video is available on YouTube: Adam uses GitHub and GitHub Desktop in his presentation above.   GitHub Project Page Here's a link to the msaccess-vcs-addin project page on GitHub, which includes a great overview of the project: GitHub - joyfullservice/msaccess-vcs-addin: Synchronize your Access Forms ..read more

Slide Deck TwinBasic-DevCon2024.pdf Presentation Recording Check back later for a link to a recording of the presentation.* *NOTE: Recording availability is subject to approval from conference organizers. Links Related to Today's Talk twinBASIC 12-MONTH ROADMAP · Issue #335 · twinbasic/twinbasic twinBASIC ROADMAP Dates given are tentative and subject to change. Only the major issues are listed here. Smaller feature requests will be implemented when most appropriate (usually when we are alr... GitHubtwinbasic Strongly Typed Collections in VBA Get better type safety and access to IntelliS ..read more

"Everybody lies." - Dr. Gregory House In the above clip, TV doctor Gregory House shares his cynical credo with a group of medical students: "It's a basic truth of the human condition, that everybody lies.  The only variable is about what." House refers to this line regularly throughout the series to make the point that you can never trust what someone tells you, especially when it comes to their medical history. Now, I'm not a medical doctor.  Or any kind of doctor.  I don't play one on TV.  I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. But I have seen a similar ..read more