Designing a lookup table with logic

It is very common for us to embed some kind of logic based on a lookup table or in some cases, a column of a table. Because we have application logic connected to it, the code are fragile and subject to changes as the requirements develops. We want to avoid this situation where we might…

Access UPDATE query to SQL Server

How do I convert an Access UPDATE query to SQL Server? Access SQL UPDATE Cars INNER JOIN UpdateList ON Cars.Parts = UpdateList.Parts SET Cars.Price = [Updatelist].[price] SQL Server UPDATE Cars SET Cars.Price = [Updatelist].[price] FROM Cars INNER JOIN UpdateList ON Cars.Parts = UpdateList.Parts

IS NULL: Understanding and Using the Null Value in Microsoft Access

In Microsoft Access, a null value is a value that is not assigned or unknown. When working with databases, it’s important to understand how to use and identify null values in order to ensure accurate and efficient data management. The IS NULL operator is one of the most useful tools for working with null values…

Access IIf() function to SQL Server equivalent

What is the SQL Server equivalent to Access IIf() function? Access SQL IIf([ResultValue]>=1, [Result Value], Null) SQL Server CASE WHEN [Result Value]>=1 THEN [Result Value] ELSE NULL END

Using Microsoft Access Data in a Mail Merge

Suppose you have an Access Database containing the names and addresses of your customers. Every now and again you may want or need to send a standard letter to each customer who has opted in to such mailings. However, you are aware that these letters are going to look so much better, and work so…

MODULE LEVEL VARIABLES

Module level variables

It is common to create a big wall of declaration in a module such as this:

While the code will compile and work fine, the discoverability and naming of the module level variables does become difficult and unwieldy. To help cut down on this ambiguity, it is recommended to create a private user-defined type…

Use TryGet pattern for transient values

A number of objects may have extra properties or something where it might not exist for all instances. A good example might be finding Controlsource property on an Access.Control variable:

Not all controls have a ControlSource property and thus can fail to run. A common approach is to use OERN:

This will work…

Unrecognized Database Format

Access 2010: Unrecognized Database Format

I’ve been seeing more and more people having problems with the Unrecognized Database Format when creating or modifying an Access 2007 (accdb) format database in Access 2010 and then trying to open it again in Access 2007. The issue appears to be that Access 2010 does not have its own file format. When you add a…

Truthy and Falsy Values

“Truthy” and “Falsy” Values

VBA is quite very loose in what it deems “truthy” and “falsy”. For example, this procedure can produce surprising result:

At the first glance, it seems expected that if the bit field is set to 1, it would succeed. But in fact, it wouldn’t because True is equivalent to -1, not 1. Unless we…

Access 2003

Access 2003 Technical Articles

In this section of the MSDN Library, you’ll find technical articles that demonstrate how to build and deploy complex Access 2003 runtime-based solutions, automate Access from another application; use the new XML features in Access 2003, and even how you can animate Access 2003. You can use the TOC to your left to navigate through…