Microsoft developer environments and maybe other realms use the key combination CTRL-Break to interrupt execution of code for testing and debugging. Problem is, some keyboards, including my Dell Latitude 13, no longer have a Break key.

At least on the Dell, try combination of CTRL-FN-F12. Great!

This past week we out-clevered ourselves.  A small site has a SQLServer database with an admin tool created in Microsoft Access.  Access has a direct link to SQLServer.  A new column for a binary field was added in SQLServer and tested in SQLServer by setting a couple of rows with SQLServer Management Studio.  The rest of the rows were left untouched.  

Stuck on persistent instability or corrupted data in an old Access database? While Database Designs has the expertise to address most common issues, whether we created your database or not, we whole-heartedly recommend Garry Robinson's vb123.com site. Based in Australia, Garry has long been one of the best writers and advisors to other consultants on effective use of Access. His site has tips as well as an on-line form for submitting a problem database for quick and cost-effective repair.

Here are some great tips (though the page could use some updating!)

 

If you are interested in keeping on top of MS Access and its road ahead, you might like to read this blog: 

http://blogs.msdn.com/access/

 I was looking for information on Access 2007 service packs, performance improvement, etc., and turned to the semi-official Microsoft Developer blog.  There is a posting from Bill Gates on the impetus to move Access functionality to the web with Sharepoint.  Looks like the authors post every week or so.

This error can suddenly arise in a Microsoft Access database that has been in day to day use without problems for some time. This is a rare error in current versions of Microsoft Access, but began to appear in Access 2000.  

One of Access' best features is how easy it is to add related data sets. Forms frequently have embedded sub-forms or grids. Typically there are buttons for adding or editing rows in the sub-form If there is not a specialized button on each row for removing that row, you can still easily do so as follows. In a sub-form, there is a left-most grayed column, thin and empty. This is the row selector column. If you click next to a row in this left most column, the form responds by putting a right-facing triangle in the column, indicating you have selected that row in the sub-form.  

Often in an Access database, lists are presented either as Queries (data views) or Reports. These may suffice for many purposes, but it is also straightforward to then export them to Word or Excel. As with other things Microsoft, in fact, there is more than one route to doing this. All start by previewing the list on the screen.