I ask you:
What is the purpose of the Microsoft Access ‘Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Access’ webpage/portal?
The reason that I ask this today is that we have seen a number of bugs, both past and present:
Access – Bug – .Fields Not Working Anymore
Reporting bugs will become my full-time job thanks to Microsoft!
The Problem
So there are new reports that version 2206 also breaks iterating over .Fields,
The gist of it being that it no longer returns .Field2, but rather .Field3 object breaking existing code.
You can read for yourself all the details by reviewing the Stack Overflow thread on the subject:
Access with breaking changes on Version 2206 (Recordset2.Fields returns DAO.Field3 instead of DAO.Field2) - Error 13
It looks like Microsoft introduced a breaking change with version 2206! 🙁
If you had code like
Dim rs as DAO.Recordset2
Dim fld as DAO.Field2 For Each fld in rs.Fields ’<- Code will break ...
If you had code like
Dim rs as DAO.Recordset2
Dim fld as DAO.Field2 For Each fld in rs.Fields ’<- Code will break ...
I notified Microsoft about the issue, as have other MVPs I believe.
Microsoft has since confirmed the issue and suggested:
The simplest workaround for now is to change declarations of type DAO.Field2 to DAO.Field
Access – Bug – Report Borders Not Showing
Yep, one more to add to the long list Microsoft Access bugs!
The Problem
As reported:
Access 365 v2206 (15330.20196) report formatting regression
Updated this morning, ZERO notes about Access updates so I figured I was safe: Went to generate a report... group header usually looks something like: Now looks something like: Confirmed a rollback to 2205 (15225.20288) fixes it. I’m not doing anything weird or zany with the border...
We seem to have a new bug that has surfaced in version 2206 (build 15330.20196) in which reports don’t seem to be properly rendering.
Fixed
Microsoft has supposedly fixed the issue by flipping flags at their end. So you need not do anything beyond close and restart Access.
Yes, it’s like magic. Microsoft can remotely alter your installation without your knowledge or consent.
Access – VBA – Compact the Current Database
Here’s a functionality that is often asked for:
How can I compact the current database via code (VBA)?
Typically the answer is either:
- It can’t be done (the functionality was removed, don’t ask me why – ask Microsoft?!)
- Set the Compact on Close property to True, close the database and then set it back to False when the database is reopened.
Access - VBA - Compact a DatabaseHow to Compact a Database through VBA This is one of these questions that we see on a regular basis in various Access forums, so I thought I’d try to cover the subject today. The Larger Issue Whenever this question is brought up, it raises a much broader discussion as to why one needs to…
What if I told you there was a better way! Well there is!
To Flow, or Not To Flow, That is the Question!
I’ve been using Power Automate Flows for heading on 2 years now on an extensive project for one of my client’s and I thought I’d give people some more insight into my experience using them.
You can consult my original post on the subject:
My First Venture Into Using Flow
For months, if not years, MS and certain fellow MVPs have been promoting the virtues of Microsoft Flow. Until recently, I simply never had a reason to even look at it as I had no need for any of its supposed capabilities. That said, working on a new project for one of my clients and…
I’ve used a number of connectors, such as:
- HTTP Request is received
- Send email
- When a new email arrives
- Execute Store Procedure
- Insert row
- and more …
and, in the process, interacted with numerous systems:
- Exchange
- Azure/SQL Server
- MySQL
- SharePoint
- and more …
Distribute Database Via PowerShell
Here’s an interesting one. I was helping on Experts-Exchange with a question relating to copying a Microsoft Access database and then compacting it using PowerShell.
Personally, I’d use a bat or VBScript file to do this normally, but I still thought I’d share how it can be done via PowerShell for those of you that might need to do so.
Change Attachment Dialog Default Directory
I thought I’d share the solution I provided to a member in a recent UtterAccess thread:
When adding files to Attachment field can I open a dialog box in a predefined location?
... I would like to have the dialog box, which opens when you click "Add" in Attachment, to open that particular vendor's folder to chose from and not to navigate to that folder from some other default location ...
Access – Build 15225.20288 Causing Attachment Problems!
It wouldn’t be a Microsoft update without a new Access bug! OMG.
The Bug
As reported:
Attachment Field crashes after Microsoft Office Update
Hello everyone! At my work, we recently has an update from Microsoft Office and now we can’t use attachment field at all. All the access database would crash whenever we try to attach or remove attachment. Does anyone has similar issue? If you do, have you find any solution or workaround for...
and now confirmed by fellow MVPs, build 15225.20288 breaks attachment fields causing Access to outright crash.
Access – Organizational Charts
Once again, looking to provide clients with better features within my Access applications, I turned my attention to creating Organizational Charts.
In this instance, I used Google Charts, but as with all web driven solution there are a multitude of other libraries to choose from, it’s just a question of finding the one that makes you happy, or creating your own! Here are a few I came across while exploring creating Org. Charts should you ever wish to see what else may be possible:
orgchart
I needed to draw organizational charts for an intranet, containing both vertical and horizontal connected, clickable, multi colored siblings. As flexilibity was important, exported Visio drawings were not an option. Searching the internet, I found many javascript solutions, none of them fully provi…
GitHub - wesnolte/jOrgChart: A jQuery plugin to draw tree-like structures such as OrgCharts.
A jQuery plugin to draw tree-like structures such as OrgCharts. - GitHub - wesnolte/jOrgChart: A jQuery plugin to draw tree-like structures such as OrgCharts.
GitHub - gllona/lib-gg-orgchart: Javascript Organizational Chart Drawing Library
Javascript Organizational Chart Drawing Library. Contribute to gllona/lib-gg-orgchart development by creating an account on GitHub.
GitHub - rlopez0689/OrgChartJit: A javascript tool for viewing and managing organizational charts. Using JIT JS.
A javascript tool for viewing and managing organizational charts. Using JIT JS. - GitHub - rlopez0689/OrgChartJit: A javascript tool for viewing and managing organizational charts. Using JIT JS.
Azure Web Services Don’t Do It!
<rant>
So what did I learn this week?
In short, don’t use Microsoft Azure Web Service to host your applications!
That’s right, don’t do it.
I had a client with a PHP application that was running on another host. He wanted to put everything under the Microsoft Umbrella and so we migrated the app. We’ve been very happy overall with the service for about 2 years and saw a nice boost in performance too (but that is more because the switched away from using shared hosting though).
So why am I advising you stay away from it then?