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  Welcome To The Access Unlimited Newsletter - Edition 42
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Access Unlimited is an email newsletter that provides free tips, help and information for skilled Microsoft Access users and related software disciplines.

Produced by Garry Robinson (known below as "Ed") from Sydney, Australia.

In this edition, 

Database Evolution - From Excel To Access To Enterprise Db
Garry’s Ms Access Protection And Security Book
Hot Microsoft Software Purchasing Tips
Google Tip - Find Out The Dictionary Meaning Of A Word
Books And Websites From A Couple Of Legends
Good Reading - Bumper Edition

DATABASE EVOLUTION - FROM EXCEL TO ACCESS TO ENTERPRISE DB

Earlier in the year I pointed out an important paper by Luke Chung from FMS Inc. on the importance of Access databases in deciding which databases should be transformed to enterprise level software. You know the scenario, the important marketing manager wants really important database, the IT department says it has to go into SQL Server, two years later the marketing guy leaves and guess what, the whole project is put to pasture and a lot of development dollars were wasted on investing in the wrong project.

Anyway, the reason that I like this paper is because it is written by an industry expert (Luke) whose company has definitely paddled both sides of the canoe when it comes to choosing between Access and an enterprise database such as SQL server.  This paper may well win you an extra job or two if you are an Access consultant or keep you in Access work if you are at a company. I encourage you to read this page
http://www.fmsinc.com/tpapers/genaccess/DBOD.asp
 

GARRY’S MS ACCESS PROTECTION AND SECURITY BOOK

The book went off to the printers a couple of weeks ago and very soon now at least ten large trucks lining up at the printing warehouse ready to cart the books off to stores around the world.  If you want to find out more about the book, what people have been saying, read the Table of Contents in PDF format and find out why I love Canadians, head to the following address

http://www.vb123.com/map/
 

In the meantime, here are four good reasons why you might want to purchase the book…

	The book aims to illustrate the best practice security and protection for Access database built with Access 97 and upwards.
	The book provides a pragmatic look at all the protection and security options on offer and a dissection of how good each approach is.
	The book explains that it is only when you combine different Access techniques with the modern windows operating systems that you end up with a secure solution.  This multi-faceted approach is called building layers of defense in enterprise security books.
	Ed will be approximately $5 richer from the book sale and a few more $ if you purchase using the Amazon links from my web site. Yep, I should have robbed a bank.

Tip - Do you qualify for the Microsoft Action Pack

One of Microsoft’s hidden treasure chests for developers is the Not For Resale Action software packs. The pack is full of very useful software (valued at >$10,000 Aussie Pesos) such as Win XP Pro (5 seats), Windows Server 2003, SQL Server (5 seats), Office XP Pro, Visio Pro and more. All you need to do is convince Microsoft that you are helping them sell their software (or something like that). Anyway read the instructions carefully because you are missing out on a lot if you might qualify and you don’t send in an application …

http://members.microsoft.com/partner/salesmarketing/PartnerMarket/ActionPack/
 

GOOGLE TIP - FIND OUT THE DICTIONARY MEANING OF A WORD

If you don't know this trick. Type a word (try csv) into Google.com   At the top of the page you will see a blue bar title Searched the web for csv.  Click on the word csv and it brings up the dictionary definition.

BOOKS AND WEBSITES FROM A COUPLE OF LEGENDS

Rick Dobson, a multiple book author has the following to say about his web site.

This popular site features code samples, book excerpts, and online demos for Access, SQL Server, and VB (from VBA to VB.NET) developers.  Visitors can sign the Guest Book to become eligible for chances to win book, DVD, and software prizes.

http://www.programmingmsaccess.com

Rod Stevens, another multi-book author writes My latest book, "Microsoft Office Programming: A Guide for Experienced Developers," is now available. This book assumes you already know the basics of Visual Basic or VBA programming and dives right into what you really need to know: how to program the Office applications. It explains such topics as automatically customizing menus and toolbars, making OLE do your work for you, using ADO to manipulate Access databases without using Access, and how to use CDO to similarly manipulate Outlook data without using Outlook. It covers the most useful features of object models of the five core Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.

Read more: http://www.vb-helper.com/office.htm

Looking Back - SWITCH THE MOUSE FROM RIGHT TO LEFT AND BACK

A couple of ezines ago, I wrote about switching mouse hands occasionally if you suffer from shoulder, back or hand stress. Mike Lerch wrote back as follows.

Using the Microsoft Trackball for years was finally taking its toll a few months ago: my right forefinger was cramping.  I purchased the VerticalMouse from Evoluent.  Their website is at http://www.evoluent.biz/. Check it out, because it's amazing!  I haven't had any strain or discomfort whatsoever, though our ergonomics guy suggested that every few months I switch from it to a regular mouse or to my trackball, in keeping with the comment you got above.

Thanks for the newsletter and good luck on your book!  I've worked as a technical editor on a lot of titles from IDG and Wiley and Sons...computer books rule!  

The Toolbox

A new version has been released with new items like using forms as class modules, Access security, taking orders by email and all the latest newsletters.
http://vb123.com/Toolbox/

GOOD READING - BUMPER EDITION

As I have been in the wilderness writing the book for a while, this one is a bumper list collected over a number of months.

For those of you who miss Mike Gunderloy’s ezine for Access, you can now find some of his useful and entertaining articles here
http://www.mcpmag.com/columns/article.asp?EditorialsID=389

If your users get in trouble by using the mouse wheel to scroll through records, then maybe this page might be the answer. The alternative posted by Microsoft look hideous. If anyone out there has experience in this area, let Garry know.
http://www.lebans.com/mousewheelonoff.htm

All about Access LDB File
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;208778

Access Development Best Practices
http://msdn.microsoft.com/chats/office/Office_100302.asp

References on References, DLL Heaven and Hell for Access
http://www.papwalker.com/dllhell/index.html

Binding a Data Access Page to A Disconnected Recordset
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnacc2k2/html/ODC_DisRecordset.asp

Secure your web server from prying eyes
http://www.asp101.com/articles/wayne/pryingeyes/default.asp

Dictionary and Thesaurus Web Site
http://www.thesaurus-dictionary.com/

Rick Dobson’s favorite web sites
http://www.programmingmsaccess.com/favorites.htm

Build a PivotChart view from a PivotTable, constructed from a custom query.
http://www.databasejournal.com/features/msaccess/article.php/2243771

MS Access compatible build of iGrid published
http://www.10tec.com/

SQL Server DMO
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/05/sqldmo/default.aspx

Great list of Access article links from Taha Kass-Hout
http://www.capastatistic.com/Page010.htm

Finding Encrypted Files in Win XP Pro
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/using/tips/security/encryptedfiles.asp

Internet connection sharing on Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/networking/ics.asp

How to setup a Windows XP Home Boy network
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=813936

Intro on using MySql on a Windows PC.
http://www.15seconds.com/issue/020807.htm

Programming with MySQL and .Net
http://www.devarticles.com/art/1/617

Using Office 2003 Infopath with SQL Server
http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/3070881

Watch for revision history in Word Documents, especially if you are a PM.
http://www.computerbytesman.com/privacy/blair.htm

Tool to convert from Access to MySQL
http://ems-hitech.com/mysqlutils/

MySQL Administration Tool
http://ems-hitech.com/mymanager/

Case study on Windows Terminal Server
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/casestudies/CaseStudy.asp?CaseStudyID=14200

Unsecured Access Database Used For U.S. Election Vote Counting (they should have bought Garry’s book !!!)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0307/S00065.htm

If you like this newsletter, why not try the websites of others who contribute to this newsletter.
http://www.vb123.com/explore/links.htm

So thanks for reading our popular newsletter.  Feel free to make comments, copy the email to a friend or maybe even contribute to the next edition. And if you can, have a look at our software by using the Marketing section on the left hand side of this newsletter. If you really like this newsletter, why not purchase The Toolbox and you will get all the other newsletters and plenty more in a developer’s knowledge base tool with super searching facilities.

WRAPPING THIS EDITION UP

Thought that I would finish off by telling you about Apress, the publishers of my book. The company was founded by Gary Cornell and Dan Appleman to publish computer books designed and written by people in the IT industry dealing with real issues and not marketing folks who wanted to rehash user guides. Obviously it wasn’t a bad idea as Apress now have been involved in over 200 IT books. In addition to that, Apress have recently bought the rights to Wrox Press Ltd., friends of ED™, GLASSHAUS™, and CURLINGSTONE™ which makes them a major player in the computer books industry. Read More

Finally a quick thank you to Jenni Komarovsky from New Zealand who has volunteered to be Chief Unlimited Assistant. An unlimited assistant is someone who will receive the first batch of emails and make comments and look for Speling Erorrs so the rest of you guys don’t have to suffer so much.  If there are any others out there who would like to endure this task, send Garry an email using the Have your say hyperlink in near the top of the purple section.

Hope you enjoyed the newsletter.

Garry Robinson - Software Consultant and Author
GR-FX Pty Limited
Sydney, Australia.
Ph +61 2 9340 7789 Fax +61 2 9665 8448
Software Resources http://vb123.com/

Chief Unlimited Assistant - Jenni Komarovsky from New Zealand

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Published  2003-11