Tony's Microsoft Access Blog

Eagerly anticipated Access 2007 hotfix

Description of the Access 2007 hotfix package (Access-x-none.msp, Ace-x-none.msp): August 25, 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;973405

Dunno what happened in the KB article title but this is a hotfix a lot of folks have been waiting for.

Dual monitors on the laptop

I did some searching recently and located some inexpensive devices designed to add a second monitor to your laptop.   I'm quite happy with the StarTech USB VGA External Dual or Multi Monitor Video Adapter.

Typically I move the task manager, OneNote and the VBA editor window to the right hand screen.  I use OneNote for all my short term notes on what I'm doing. 

Details

Note that I've been using dual monitors starting in about 2000 for programming and quite liked it.   However when I dropped the one client I moved the tower system that had a Matrox dual VGA video card home.  Then as I was visiting other clients for short periods of time I didn't feel like setting up the tower system instead relying on my laptop.

In the past these devices were upwards of $500 so I didn't feel like spending that much money.  Matrox have some nice looking cards but they state that it only works on certain graphics adapters.   Likely most of them but that seems slightly limiting. 

So I purchased a StarTech USB VGA External Dual or Multi Monitor Video Adapter  I've been using it at a client along with the DVI output on the laptop.  While it has its relatively minor quirks it works quite nicely.  That particular device is ten or twenty dollars more expensive than the cheapest version but it supports more video resolutions so I don't mind spending the extra money.

Clearly Windows is smart enough to move the apps back to the main monitor once you disconnect the multiple monitors.

The senior managers at a client started using dual monitors at the suggestion of Jim my friend and the IT manager.   They liked them so much, and the price of LCD monitors is so low, that just about every office person is now using dual 22” LCD monitors.  With the exception of a few people such as the receptionist or others who don’t spend much time in email or Excel.

Quirks

It is noticeably slower on the screen refreshes when moving applications around.    Well, I don't do that often so no big deal.   I’m sure the device would such big time at gaming.  But not a problem for me.

I use a toolbar on the left hand side of my desktop to launch my favourite 20 or 30 applications.   Similar to Quick Launch but it's on the left hand side.    After disconnecting this device the LHS (Left Hand Side) Launch toolbar only displays a shadow.  Logging off and on redisplays it properly so that's relatively painless.   However this problem hasn’t happened lately so I don’t know what I’ve done to solve this.

Future

According to the product page you can have up to five of these devices hooked up simultaneously.   Well,that's a bit much even for me.   However there might be times I want a third monitor.  OTOH what with inexpensive 24" LCD monitors now ... <shrug>

The device driver supports rotation.   So I may just see if I can easily rotate the right hand monitor so I can view more code.

The idiots at Pitney-Bowes

I keep getting phone calls from Pitney-Bowes every three to six months or so trying to rent me a postage machine for $x per month.  Every time I tell them that I send out maybe one business related letter a month.  If that.  Maybe two a year. I’m not at all interested in renting a postage machine.

So today I get the phone call again.  I tell the lady the above.   She then states “But sir, you can advertise …”  I hung up.

An approach to sending text messages from within an Access application

Steve Schapel, fellow Access MVP, answered a question about sending SMSs with a page on his website.  An approach to sending text messages from within an Access application   I can see this capability being quite useful in some consumer facing applications requiring last minute notifications.   One of Steve’s applications deals with school sporting events so last minute SMSs are very handy.

Now it is possible to send emails to the cell phone gateway email accounts.  An example might be 78013456789@text.yourcellco.com.  However this requires asking the person what cell phone company they use as the domain to the right of the @ sign is cell phone company specific.   Also you run a risk of the cell phone deciding that your emails are spams.   I would assume this is less of a risk if you use a SMS service which you pay for.

As an aside the SMS outfit that Steve has used with good success is in South Africa.  While Steve’s clients in are New Zealand.  I find it quite interesting that SMS service is reliable between continents.

Excel automation formatting examples

Fellow Access MVP Dave Hargis posted a lengthy routine which did lots of Excel formatting.  Enjoy.

Note that he used late binding when referencing the Excel objects.

Dim xlApp As Object             'Application Object
Dim xlBook As Object            'Workbook Object
Dim xlSheet As Object           'Worksheet Object

Late binding means you can safely remove the reference and only have an error when the app executes lines of code in question.  Rather than erroring out while starting up the app and not allowing the users in the app at all.  Or when hitting a mid, left or trim function call. 

This also is very useful when you don't know  version of the external application will reside on the target system.  Or if your organization is in the middle of moving from one version to another.

For more information including additional text and some detailed links see the "Late Binding in Microsoft Access" page.