May 19

Total Access Detective Update for Microsoft Access 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007

Total Access Detective finds differences between Microsoft Access databases and objects. Updates for Total Access Detective are available for Microsoft Access 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007.

Enhancements:

  • Improved SQL string comparisons for saved queries and properties like RecordSource and RowSource.
  • Trailing blank spaces and extra blank lines are removed before comparing them, this avoids flagging SQL string differences that do not affect functionality.
  • Query comparison. Under Data Options, if the query option is set to First Field Unique, it was always treating them sequentially and stopped on the first difference. This is fixed and works correctly.
  • Table macro comparison supports table names with apostrophe (‘) in the them.
  • Text comparison. If the VBA option is not selected, the results do not show the the Procedure tabs.
  • Database comparison results: The database name goes across the entire top of the form rather than being truncated.
  • All other reported issues.

For more information, visit:

Existing Total Access Detective owners were notified to download the update.

Total Access Detective Updates

Mar 09

Microsoft Office 2010 Update KB3085515 Causes Access ACCDE and MDE Databases to Crash

Access2010-boxMajor Alert: Office Update KB3085515 Breaks Microsoft Access 2010 Databases in ACCDE and MDE Formats

On March 8, 2016, Microsoft released an update KB3085515 for Office 2010. It addressed some VBA issues for Excel.

Unfortunately, the update of the VBE7.DLL file causes many Microsoft Access databases to fail. A heated thread on the Microsoft Community forum describes the problem: KB3085515 breaks MS Access 2010 reference

The updated file is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\microsoft shared\VBA\VBA7\VBE7.DLL

Fix

Microsoft released an update that fixed this problem: Office 2010 Update KB3114989


The information below is from the original diagnoses of the problem

Impact

We are still determining the full impact of this bug. We know this impacts wizards in Access and customers of our Microsoft Access add-ins. It also impacts the people you support with our runtime distribution libraries referenced from your MS Access databases. At the very least we know it prevents running:

  • Microsoft Access databases in ACCDE and MDE formats (defined below).
  • Databases (ACCDB or MDB) with library references to ACCDE and MDE files.
  • Built-in MS Access 2010 Wizards that are ACCDE files.

ACCDE and MDE Database Formats

ACCDE and MDE databases are “compiled” versions of ACCDB and MDB database formats where form and report design changes can’t be made and VBA modules can’t be viewed or edited. They are “locked” to referenced DLLs, libraries, and other dependencies that can change over time…provided those dependencies follow Windows protocol for binary compatibility to identify new versions.

Unfortunately, the Microsoft Excel update of the VBE7.DLL file broke the VBA dependency by not creating the new version correctly. That causes previously developed ACCDE and MDE databases to stop working. This was not an issue for the Excel community since they don’t have an equivalent “compiled” version of Excel spreadsheets (the VBA code is always exposed behind spreadsheets), but it kills Access Wizards and the ACCDE and MDE databases people create.

Microsoft Access 2010 Add-ins Won’t Run

In addition to causing some Microsoft wizards in Access to fail, our Microsoft Access 2010 add-ins won’t run since they are Access databases in ACCDE format. You may see messages like this when you try to launch them:

  • Microsoft Access can’t start the wizard, builder, or add-in.
  • This feature isn’t installed, or has been disabled.

There may be suggestions to reinstall the add-in but that won’t help. This impacts these of our products:

Microsoft Access ACCDE Libraries

Some of our products include ACCDE runtime distribution libraries that let you incorporate our product’s features in your application for distribution to your users. You and your users are impacted by this problem and may experience messages like these:

  • The code contains a syntax error, or a Microsoft Access function you need is not available.
  • File format no longer supported.

Customers using our redistributable runtime libraries in databases distributed to their users are impacted:

Microsoft’s Response

The Microsoft Access development team is aware of this problem and is working on a solution as we speak. Microsoft has already stopped people from downloading the update and thankfully didn’t release a similar update for Office 2013 and 2016. They’ve also published this blog post:

You may encounter errors with your ACCDE/MDE files and/or wizards after installing the March update for Office 2010 (KB3085515)

The hope is for a new update that fixes this problem. Timing of when that will be available is unknown, but we’ll keep you informed as we learn it.

Current Solution: Uninstall the Update

The only solution is to uninstall the update. You can uninstall it from:

  • Command line, or
  • Control Panel.

Run a Command Line

You can run this line from the command prompt or put it in a BAT file if you want to share it with others: Note that we have reports that this may not work for everyone since it requires certain permissions:

wusa /uninstall /kb:3085515 /quiet /norestart

Uninstall from the Control Panel

The patch can be uninstalled from the Control Panel, Windows Update program: WindowsUpdate In Windows 10, from the Windows Update screen, click on the Advanced options hyperlink: windows10-update then click on View your update history: windows10-update-historyChoose Uninstall updates to see the list of installed updates: windows10-update-uninstall For Windows 7, click on the View update history link on the left border: windows-update-history From the top section, click on the Installed Updates link: windows-update-installed

List of Installed Updates

View the list of Windows updates installed on your PC, grouped by product which are collapsible. Go to the section Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 (or equivalent): windows-update-uninstall Find the KB3085515 update, click on it to uninstall and confirm it.

Dec 18

Total Access Detective Available for Microsoft Access 2013 and 2016

We are delighted to announce the release of Total Access Detective for Microsoft Access 2013 and 2016. Total Access Detective lets you quickly find differences between any two databases or two objects in your current database, know exactly what changed at the table, field, property, control, macro line and VBA module code level. You can even compare tables for data differences.

Main Menu for Comparing Two Databases

main-menu-2016

Add-in Menu to Launch Total Access Detective to Compare Two Objects in the Current Database

addin-menu

The Object Comparison Wizard:

two-object-selection

Enhancementsdetective

The latest version offers many enhancements from the previous versions:

  • Support for the 32 and 64-bit versions of Access 2016 and 2013
  • Module and Text Comparison Option to Ignore Line Numbers
  • Search Bar to Filter Objects and Properties by Name
  • See and Filter Tables based on Whether it’s Linked
  • Procedures with Differences List
  • New Manual and Help File

For more information on the enhancements, visit: New Features in Total Access Detective 2016 and 2013

Existing Total Access Detective customers can upgrade for a discounted price.

Apr 16

Total Access Detective Review by Daniel Pineault

MVPLogo[1]Microsoft Access MVP, Daniel Pineault, wrote a very nice review of our Total Access Detective program recently. Total Access Detective is a Microsoft Access add-in program that finds all the differences between two Access databases or two objects in one database. Changes with table and query structures, field properties, form and report controls and properties, macros, module VBA procedures and lines of code, and even data are detected.

Daniel found Total Access Detective very helpful when confronted with the challenge of determining exactly what changed between two Microsoft Access databases. Rather than manually and tediously trying to determine what changed, he used Total Access Detective to quickly generate a comprehensive comparison to find objects in one database and not the other, and a detailed comparison of objects with the same name. With Total Access Detective, he was able to pinpoint all the differences and make the necessary adjustments.

We were pleased he concluded with this:

Microsoft Access Difference DetectorFinal Verdict
“I am once again quite confident in putting my stamp of approval on this tool. If you are in a situation in which you quickly need to identify all the differences between multiple databases, FMS’ Total Access Detective will make short work of the job at hand! …
A very nice, easy to use and most importantly, effective and thorough tool!”

To learn more about what Daniel discovered and his experience, read his full Total Access Detective Review.

Thanks Daniel!

Jan 04

Total Access Detective Ships for Microsoft Access 2010

Microsoft Access 2010Microsoft Access Database and Object Comparison ProductTotal Access Detective for Microsoft AccessFind Differences Between Microsoft Access Objects and Databases

We are very pleased to announce that Total Access Detective for Microsoft Access 2010 is now shipping with support for the 32 and 64 bit versions of Access 2010.

Ever wonder what changed between your database versions or the difference between two similar objects or tables? Total Access Detective is the premier program to detect differences between Microsoft Access databases, objects, code, and data.

Available as a Microsoft Access add-in, Total Access Detective lets you easily find differences between objects in your currently opened database. Easily find changes in your table and field definitions, object properties, controls, report sections, embedded macros, regular macros, modules, and data. The results are available to you in reports and on screen which can be copied or exported.

You can also compare any two databases to easily find exactly how they changed. Your databases can be an ACCDB, MDB or ADP database format. The new version lets you create separate databases for each comparison so you can easily manage multiple databases and changes over time.

We've added many new features to make Total Access Detective more powerful than ever:

  • Supports Microsoft Access 2010, 32 and 64-bit versions
  • Compares All Database Types Supported by Access 2010
  • Compares the new Microsoft Access 2010 enhancements including new object properties, macro syntax, and VBA commands
  • Performs Line-by-Line Comparisons of Embedded Macros
  • Procedures that Did Not Change are Listed
  • New Data Comparison Option to Ignore Case Differences
  • When Comparing Modules, Optionally Ignore Blank Lines and Comments (also applies to text block comparisons)
  • Exclude Properties from Comparison
  • Create and Manage Multiple Database Comparison Results. You are no longer limited to one set of comparison results!
  • Command Line Launching of Total Access Detective Can Now Specify Storage Database Name
  • Improved User Interface with Office/Access 2010 Theme Support
  • New Reports and Improved Selection Screen
  • New User Manual and Context Sensitive Help

Manually comparing databases for design and data differences is prone to error. Discover why so many Microsoft Access professionals rely on Total Access Detective to improve their productivity by quickly identifying the changes in their work.

Nov 10

Total Access Detective Free Preview for Microsoft Access 2010 Difference Comparisons

Microsoft Access 2010Microsoft Access Database and Object Comparison ProductTotal Access Detective for Microsoft AccessFind Differences Between Microsoft Access Objects and Databases

We are very pleased to offer a Free Preview of Total Access Detective for Microsoft Access 2010. (The Preview version has now expired.)

Ever wonder what changed between your database versions or the difference between two similar objects or tables? Total Access Detective is the premier program to detect differences between Microsoft Access databases, objects, code, and data.

Available as a Microsoft Access add-in, Total Access Detective lets you easily find differences between objects in your currently opened database. Easily find changes in your table and field definitions, object properties, controls, report sections, embedded macros, regular macros, modules, and data. The results are available to you in reports and on screen which can be copied or exported.

You can also compare any two databases to easily find exactly how they changed. Your databases can be an ACCDB, MDB or ADP database format. The new version lets you create separate databases for each comparison so you can easily manage multiple databases and changes over time.

We’ve added many new features to make Total Access Detective more powerful than ever.

Manually comparing databases for design and data differences is prone to error. Discover why so many Microsoft Access professionals rely on Total Access Detective to improve their productivity by quickly identifying the changes in their work.

Tell us how it works for you!

Feb 15

Luke Chung Speaking at Portland Access User Group Conference in May

FMS President Luke Chung will be attending and speaking at the three day Microsoft Access conference sponsored by the Portland Oregon Access User Group.  Join him and other guest speakers including Alison Balter from InfoTech Services Group Inc., Armen Stein from J Street Technology, and Kevin Bell from Microsoft.

Luke will be speaking on the following topics:

  • FMS Products for Microsoft Access Developers and How they Make You Money
  • Microsoft Access and Azure: Working in the Cloud
  • Microsoft Access Disaster Recovery Plans

For complete details visit PAUG 2011 Database Designer Conference and see you there May 14-16, 2011.

Jan 22

New Updates for Total Access Detective for Microsoft Access

Microsoft AccessMicrosoft Access Database and Object Comparison ProductTotal Access Detective for Microsoft AccessFind Differences Between Microsoft Access Objects and Databases

Total Access Detective is our popular Microsoft Access database, object, and data comparison product. Compare any two databases or two Access objects in one database to pinpoint exactly how they are different. As part of our commitment to quality, we are pleased to announce that we have released new updates for:

These updates include performance enhancements, Windows 7 support, improved ADP support, and resolve all known issues since their original release. For more details, visit the Total Access Detective Updates page.

The updates are available free of charge to registered owners who were notified via email. If you did not receive instructions, please contact us so we can update your information.

Aug 03

Total Access Detective Versions X.7 for Access 2003, 2002, and 2000

Microsoft AccessMicrosoft Access Database and Object Comparison ProductTotal Access Detective for Microsoft AccessFind Differences Between Microsoft Access Objects and Databases

With the recent release of Total Access Detective for Access 2007, we're pleased to provide new versions for Microsoft Access 2003, 2002, and 2000 (versions 11.7, 10.7 and 9.7 respectively).

Version X.7 adds many new features including data comparison between two queries, enhanced data comparison options such are comparing two tables when field names are not identical (compare only identical field names or on field order), using the first field as the key field if no key field exists, skipping small numerical data differences, ignoring case differences between modules, improved support for ADP comparisons, etc. Existing customers can upgrade for a nominal fee.

Existing Total Access Detective customers under annual support contracts receive the upgrade for free.

Jul 22

Total Access Detective 2007 Is Shipping

Microsoft AccessMicrosoft Access Database and Object Comparison ProductTotal Access Detective for Microsoft AccessFind Differences Between Microsoft Access Objects and Databases

Total Access Detective makes it easy to find differences between any two Microsoft Access databases or objects. Know exactly what changed with your properties, fields, indexes, controls, sections, macro lines, VBA module code, and data! Find new, deleted, and modified records. You can even merge data from two tables into a new one.

New features in Version 12 include support for Access 2007 and the new ACCDB database format with multi-value fields, data comparison between two queries, enhanced data comparison options, improved support for ADP comparisons, ignoring case between modules, a more modern user interface, and much more!

Version 11.7, is also available as a new version for Microsoft Access 2003.