F. Scott Barker's Microsoft Access 2002 Power Programming

F. Scott Barker holds a B.S. in computer science and has worked as a database developer for more than 15 years, first with Clipper and then for the last eight years with Microsoft Access, Visual Basic, and SQL Server. While working at Microsoft for two years, Scott was on the Microsoft Access and FoxPro teams. He now contracts with Microsoft and the Access team by developing in-house tools used throughout Microsoft. With his company, Applications Plus, Scott also does contract development for companies in the banking, medical, and insurance industries. Scott has trained for Application Developers Training Company and others all around the United States. He is a frequent speaker at Access conferences throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Through his classes and conferences, Scott has trained thousands of developers. Scott has written articles for Smart Access (Pinnacle), Data Based Advisor Magazine (Advisor), Access, VB, SQL Advisor (Advisor), Microsoft Office & VBA Developer (Informant Communications), and the German VBA Magazin. Scott is the author of Using Access 97, published by Que Corporation, and of Sams/Que's Access Power Programming books for Access versions 95, 97, and 2000. He has also tech edited/reviewed a number of books.

(NOTE: Each chapter concludes with a Summary.)

A Letter from the Author.
I. THE ROOT OF POWER PROGRAMMING.

1. Macros Are for Weenies; Code Is Cool!


Understanding Where Macros End and Code Begins. Looking at Macro-to-Code Changes. Converting Existing Macros to VBA Code.

2.Coding in Access 2002 with VBA.


Getting Started with Programming. Getting Started with VBA. Programming with Objects. Using Properties and Methods. Using Collections. Customizing a Form. Coding Class Modules.

3. Making Access Project and Data Technologies Choices.


Using Microsoft Database Versus Access Database Project. Using DAO Versus ADO Versus XML.

4. Working with Access Collections and Objects.


Creating Custom Collections. Comparing Custom Collections to Arrays. Accessing the Access Object Model. Programming Multiple Copies of the Same Form.

5. Introducing ActiveX Data Objects.


Looking at ADO's Object Models. Referencing the Type Libraries. Opening a Connection to a Database. Creating a Recordset. Working with Queries. Working with Tables.

6. Using XML with Access 2002.


Getting to Know XML. Working with XML with the Access User Interface. Coding with XML and VBA in Access 2002. Taking Advantage of the Other Office Applications' _XML Support.

7. Handling Your Errors in Access with VBA.


Examining Access's Runtime Error Handling. Working with the Err and Error Objects. Working with the ADO Errors Collection. Creating User-Defined Errors. Using Custom Error Logs to Track Errors. Creating a Centralized Error-Handling Routine. A Last Look at Error-Handling Issues.

II. MANIPULATING AND PRESENTING DATA.

8. Using Queries to Get the Most Out of Your Data.


Understanding Where Queries Are Used in Access. Working with Select Queries. Working with Action Queries. Performing Advanced Query Operations. Adding More Power with VBA. Driving Reports and Forms with Queries. Solving Problems with Queries. Examining the Architecture of the Query Resolution Process. Optimizing Queries with Jet. Understanding Optimization Techniques. Using Unconventional Optimization Techniques. Using the Analyzer Wizards. Looking at Access 2002's New Query Feature.

9. Creating Powerful Forms.


Increasing Form Performance. Looking at Access 2002's New Form Features. Looking at Access 2002's New Form Features. Taking Advantage of Other Form Features. Reusing Forms to Perform Standard Tasks. Increasing Tabbed Form Performance.

10 Expanding the Power of Your Forms with Controls.


Setting Up a Field's Lookup Properties for Use on Forms. Tapping into the Power of Combo Boxes. Working with the Access Tab Control. Morphing Access Controls. Programming Multiselect ListBox Controls. Getting Relief with the Subform/Subreport Wizard. Giving Controls Spreadsheet-Type Cursor Movements. Manipulating Controls Through Code.

11. Creating Powerful Reports.


Creating Summary, Detail, and Summary/Detail Reports _from the Same Report. Creating Dynamic Groupings for the Same Report with QBF. The Elusive Feature: Creating Snaking Reports. Printing Multiple Topics Through a MultiSelect List Box. Creating a Wizard-Like Interface for Selecting Group-By Items. Formatting Reports Dynamically.

12. Working with Data Access Pages.


Why Data Access Pages? Saving Time with the Data Access Page Wizards. Creating and Enhancing Simple Data Access Pages. Grouping Data Access Pages: Reports for the Web. Finding Additional Resources.

III. EXTENDING ACCESS WITH INTEROPERABILITY.

13. Driving Office Applications with Automation.


Working with Automation. Running Other Applications from Access with Automation Driving Access from Another Application with Automation

14. Programming for Power with ActiveX Controls.


Understanding the ActiveX Common Controls. Using the TabStrip Control. Taking a Closer Look at the ImageList Control. Emulating the Windows Explorer with the ListView Control. Displaying a Task's Progress with the ProgressBar Control. Sizing Text Boxes at Runtime with the Slider Control. Telling It Like It Is with the Rich Textbox Control. Creating Status Bars for Individual Forms with the _StatusBar Control. Docking Toolbars on Forms Using the _ToolBar Control. Viewing Data File Manager Style with the TreeView Control.

15. Extending the Power of Access with API Calls.


Understanding Dynamic Link Libraries. Examining the Syntax for API Calls. Finding API Declarations. Viewing the Possible API Calls. Considering Some Issues When Using API Calls. Looking at Some Examples of API Calls. Displaying Pertinent Folders from Within Your Application. Using the Open File Dialog API Call.

16. Extending Your VBA Library Power with Class _Modules and Collections.


Setting Up a Bookmark Tracker. Managing Multiple Instances of the Same Form.

17. Creating Your Own Wizards and Add-ins.


Understanding Access Wizards, Builders, and Add-Ins. Looking at the Wizards and Add-In Registry Entries. Creating Your Own Add-Ins. Using Access Code Libraries.

18. Manipulating the Registry with VBA.


Looking at the Windows Registry's History. Using VBA's Registry Commands. Performing Tasks with Registry API Calls.

19. Using Access with the Internet.What's New in Access 2002 for the Internet? Using the Access Hyperlink Features. Easily Importing and Exporting Access Objects to _HTML Documents. Publishing to Other Web File Formats.
IV. MANAGING DATABASES.

20. Securing Your Application.


Understanding the Purpose of Securing Applications. Understanding Access Security. Looking at the Security User Interface. Making Life Easier with Access Security Tools. Avoiding Common Pitfalls Found in Access Security. Managing Security Through Code. Using the Secured Sample Database: Chap20s.mdb.

21. Handling Multiuser Situations.


Understanding Multiuser Terminology. Understanding Multiuser Handling in Access. One or Two Database Containers: Knowing Where to _Put the Pieces. Looking at the Built-In Locking Modes. Working in VBA with Unbound Forms. Coding for Multiuser Error Handling.

22. Welcome to the World of Database Replication.


Understanding Database Replication Concepts. Working with Jet Replication Tools. Converting Databases to Replicas. Synchronizing Replicas. Understanding Replica Set Topologies. Distributing Replicable Applications. Replicating Back-End and Front-End Applications. Handling Replication Conflicts. Understanding Replication Synchronizers. Upgrading Replica Sets to Access 200x. Securing Replicated Applications . Using MDE Files with Replicated Databases. Creating Successful Replication Applications.

23. Moving Workgroup Applications to Client/Server.


Understanding Client/Server/. Factoring for Client/Server Migration. Planning for Client/Server. Knowing What to Watch for in Application Development. Converting Existing Applications. Distributing a Client/Server Solution. Keeping Certain Issues in Mind with Access and SQL Server.

24. Developing SQL Server Projects Using ADPs.


Understanding Project File Architecture. Working with Projects. Building a Client/Server Application. Working with Views. Working with Stored Procedures.

V. ADDING FINISHING TOUCHES.

25. Startup Checking System Routines Using ADO.


Performing Startup System Checks. Setting and Retrieving System Settings. Notifying and Logging Users Out of an Application. Testing Table Links at Startup. Testing and Repairing Corrupted Jet Back-End Databases. Checking and Notifying Users of a New Version.

26. Creating Maintenance Routines.


Creating an Export Dialog to Export Tables. Compacting and Repairing the Back End on Demand. Creating a Generic Code Table Editor. Replicating Tables from Back End to Front End for _Better Performance.

Index.