May 11

Microsoft Access Queries: “Unique Values” (DISTINCT) vs. “Unique Records” (DISTINCTROW)

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When creating queries in Access, you may have noticed the query properties “Unique Values” and “Unique Records”. Are you familiar with the difference between these properties?

“Unique Values” and “Unique Records” correspond with the DISTINCT and DISTINCTROW statements (respectively) in the query’s SQL. Although they sometimes provide the same results, there are significant differences in how they work:

  • DISTINCT checks for unique values only in the fields selected for output, and eliminates duplicate rows. Results are not updatable, since they do not necessarily correspond with a unique record.
  • DISTINCTROW checks for unique values in all fields in the table that you are querying, not just the fields listed for output. If the table is keyed, the results are updatable, since they correspond with a single record in the underlying data.

Learn more and view an example of the differences in our new paper on Microsoft Access Queries: Distinct versus DistinctRow.

Visit our Microsoft Access Query Help Center for more query tips.

May 06

Speaking at Microsoft TechEd in Los Angeles

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Microsoft’s annual TechEd conference is being held in Los Angeles next week.  Microsoft has invited me to participate on a few panels including:

  • Let’s Talk about Software Consulting as a Business
  • Migrating Your Data Tier to SQL Server: Strategies for Survival
  • The World Turned Upside Down: Development Strategies for Lean Times

For more information, times and rooms, please visit our Upcoming Events page.  Be sure to find me up if you are there.

Apr 15

Total Access Components 2007 Ships

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Microsoft Access form resizingTotal Access Components 2007 is now shipping with support for Microsoft Access 2000 through 2007. Dazzle your users with amazing enhancements to your forms and reports using 30 custom controls designed exclusively for Access. Check out our product tour with examples of the features. For existing customers, here’s a list of new features. Add animation, popup and icon menus, form resizer and splitter bars, data entry enhancements, custom cursors, simplified use of Windows API calls, and much more! Download the free trial version and see for yourself!

Apr 13

The HotMommas Project in the Washington Post

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The HotMommas ProjectThe HotMommas Project and Professor Kathy Korman Frey are featured in a recent Washington Post article. It is about the GWU Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Class, the Hot Mommas Project (as mentioned previously on our blog), and all the reasons why these educational initiatives exist.

Today, April 13th, 2009, at 12pm EST you can participate in a related online chat at the Washington Post's website. Professor Frey will be there to answer questions and lead the discussion.

Mar 25

Make Sure Access Subforms Reference the Master Control and Not the Field Name

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Recently, we published an article describing how to Synchronize Two Related Subforms on a Microsoft Access Form. In that article, we mentioned when setting the master link field of a subform, you should always reference the control rather than the field name. We didn't mention why and received some inquiries, so this new article covers when and why that's so important. It includes a database with examples showing how a reference to the field instead of the control could cause users to not realize they're editing the wrong linked records, or adding and deleting records linked to the wrong master value. Read more in the article on why Microsoft Access Subforms Should Reference the Control Rather than Field for Master Link Fields

 

Mar 16

Latest Product Updates from FMS

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As part of our commitment to quality software, FMS regularly releases product update patches to add new enhancements and resolve known issues. Most recently, we have released updates for Total Access Emailer, Total Access Analyzer 2007, and Total Visual CodeTools. Updates have been sent to all registered owners—contact us if you did not receive your update.

You can check for updates in most FMS products by using the built-in Update Wizard. From the Windows Start menu, select All Programs, FMS, Program Name, Update Wizard. Follow the wizard prompts to check for updates.

Mar 12

Top Features of Microsoft Access 2007 That Aren’t Available in Prior Versions

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There are many experienced Microsoft Access developers who continue to resist the migration to Access 2007. While there are some changes that are cumbersome, there are many new features that justify the migration. With Access 2007, you can create applications with features that in many cases would be impossible to provide in prior versions. Here are my Top Features of Microsoft Access 2007 That Aren't Available in Prior Versions.

Mar 10

The HotMommas Project Awards

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The HotMommas Project Luke and I attended the awards ceremony for The HotMommas Project Case Study Competition March 9th, 2009 at The George Washington University. It was great to see the result of our efforts developing the HotMommas website over the past several months. It’s quickly become the world’s largest, public domain case study repository of stories from female entrepreneurs.  It was wonderful to hear the stories of some of the contestants. We met some dynamic, brave and inspiring women entrepreneurs. The winner’s case is well worth reading, and so are many others. We encourage you to check out The HotMommas Project website.

Mar 10

Speaking at the Denver Access User Group on March 19th

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If you’re in the Denver, CO area next week, please drop by the Denver Access User Group meeting where I’ll be speaking on a variety of topics related to Microsoft Access and FMS. The event is from 6-9PM at the Microsoft office. The event is free though we encourage you to become a member of the group if you aren’t already. Please visit their web site for more information: http://www.daaug.org/

 

Mar 06

New Video on Microsoft Access and SQL Server Migration Challenges

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Over the years, I have had an ongoing discussion about how Microsoft Access best fits in an organization's database strategy. Similar to how some Excel files evolve beyond the capabilities of a spreadsheet and move to Access, some Access applications grow beyond the features of Access.  Recently, I was interviewed by Microsoft’s Architect Evangelist Dr. Zhiming Xue on dealing with Access Database based solutions and the challenges of migrating them to SQL Server. Watch the 22 minute video and read more about Migrating Microsoft Access Databases to SQL Server. Let me know what you think.