With the unfortunate and unexpected shutdown of UtterAccess, we’ve lost a tremendous amount of knowledge, especially the invaluable samples housed in the Code Archive. Sadly, because downloads were moved behind authentication when Jack redesigned the site a few years ago, even the Wayback Machine can’t help us recover those gems.
That got me thinking: Is there a way we can rebuild at least some of what was lost?
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Anyone who follows my blog – or has kept an eye on Microsoft’s Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Access page—won’t be surprised by this update. Microsoft quietly revised that page with the following notice:
Once again, I hate to be the first to share the news that Microsoft has announced the upcoming removal of the licensed Salesforce ODBC driver from Microsoft Access, effective October 28, 2025. According to the article, this decision was made due to security concerns, as Microsoft will no longer be able to provide security updates for the driver after June 30, 2026. You can read all about it in their most recent blog post:
In the span of a single week in July 2025, the Microsoft Access community suffered the loss of two iconic forums: UtterAccess and Microsoft Answers. UtterAccess, which began in 1997 as AThree.com (Access All Areas) and rebranded in 2002, was a treasured hub for Access developers and enthusiasts worldwide. It offered decades of collective knowledge, sample databases, code, and expert advice—becoming an essential resource for tens of thousands of users.
Microsoft Answers, a broader Microsoft product forum active for over 15 years, officially shut down around this time with users being guided to Microsoft Q&A, and this closure was clearly announced to the community well in advance. Sadly, the Microsoft Q&A is a VERY poor replacement for the former.
I’d recently caught wind of some unsettling rumors about UtterAccess shutting down, and I’m saddened to see that, as of yesterday, those rumors have come true as UtterAccess has closed its digital doors for good.
I have seen 3 reports today alone of version 2506 causing issues with Access, so be forewarned.
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A Discord server called Access Talk, created in March 2024, offers a welcoming online space for Microsoft Access users to connect, share knowledge, and support one another. Created by a group of Access MVPs and MVP Alums including Jim Dettman & Doug Yudovich, this server aims to foster a friendly community where members can ask questions, exchange tips, and collaborate in a low-pressure environment.
Currently, the server is moderated by a dedicated team of experienced members: Ade Bell, Crystal Long, Maria Barnes, George Hepworth, Jim Dettman, and Doug Yudovich, who help maintain a supportive and organized environment for all participants.
Although currently experiencing modest activity, Access Talk provides various text and voice channels designed to keep conversations organized and accessible. Users can join discussions, participate in voice chats, and even share screens, leveraging Discord’s versatile platform to enhance communication among Access enthusiasts.
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I was part of a forum discussion where it was shared that:
This affects any feature that makes use of the wizard including MVFs and lookup fields at table level
I hate to be the barer of bad news, yet again, but it appears I am the first person to report on the recent updates made by the Access Dev Team to their official Roadmap.
If you perused the Microsoft Access Roadmap today (June 26th, 2025) you will have noticed that 2 upcoming items (the only items on the Roadmap under development) have been postponed by 2-3 months.
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Helping out in a Forum question in which the Access user was asking how we could determine the file size of files stored as Attachments?
Now, overlooking the entire issue of why one should never use the Attachment data type:
I know many do and perhaps this solution may help others out there.