Re: Microsoft has utterly failed with Access 2007

"David W. Fenton" <XXXusenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xns9BE8AC6783C0Af99a49ed1d0c49c5bbb2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Albert D. Kallal" <PleaseNOOOsPAMmkallal@xxxxxxx> wrote in
news:umQOFrLuJHA.1236@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

The same goes with the default fonts and layouts of any text
boxes. When you forms have the layout fonts and colors and even
position of labels in relationship to text boxes EXACTLY the way
you want, then use that as a default for your application. I
think this is reason enough alone to switch to 2007 as a
developer.

Access has had the ability to create forms and reports with your
defaults since at least Access 2. I don't remember how you do it,
exactly

correct. Access has this feature in 2000-2003..perhaps even before.

go:

Go tools->forms/reports You can set the reports and forms template.

As I said, the article is not complete yet and is a rough draft. There are
improvements and you can now export a xml file that will give you a "list"
of default fields (in which things like zero length settings are saved....).
We don't have the ability to set defaults for tables in previous versions.

In 2007 it is different process in which you have to export xml (and it not
really a template..but it does "add" to the list of default fields you can
drag into a table when designing in data*** view.

I don't have the link handy right now..but this is very useful feature. As
mentioned I know some developers create their tables in 2007 even when it
interned for previous versions.

And, also we now have the ability to save an existing database as a template
(you need the developer Extensions installed for this to work). This means
your database will appear in the startup as a emppty database (very much
like a
word template). So, between the above additional options..it simply better
and we have more choices then before in this regards.


If you're a longtime user of access, you'll have to spend a little
bit of time learning how to use the stacked (grouped controls),

Access 2003 already included grouped controls.

Stacked controls are VERY much different. The "correct" term is "control
layouts" Again I have to decide what terminology am gonna use there, I
likely need a few corrections in this regards.

AS I said this is likely the most significant change in ms-access's
history.

With stacked controls, if I have a typical report with a line of details
boxes (and in the reports heading I have a bunch of labels for the column
headings). If I want to remove a column (a text box in the detail section).
Then I now have to remove the label in the heading section. I THEN have to
move all the text labels over. And then move all the text boxes over
(you can select both of the above row of labels + text boxes with the mouse
and that's what I usually do). Regardless, removing that one simple column
in the report is still quite a bit of work to move everything over to fill
in the "hole" left. And it takes quite of bit of motor skills to move
everything over "just the right" amount so that the text boxes are just
barely touching each other.

The new control layouts also works when you re-size a text box in the middle
of the details sections. All controls (and labels in the heading ) will move
over for you. This again is such a huge improvement over previous versions.

So, simply resizing of text boxes...everything
moves automatic in 2007. So, in a2007 if I delete, or resize, or INSERT a
new
text box (column( into that report....everything moves for me automatic .
So,
resizing a few controls in an 2007 report is 1/10th the work it is in 2003.

This is a HUGE HUGE HUGE time saver.

Here is a demo video that shows this feature in action:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HA102374121033.aspx

Keep in mind, that demo does NOT cover all of the options you have for
grouping or controls.

Also keep in mind we can layout the form in view mode..and not have to flip
100's of times between design and preview mode. Again combine this with the
stacked controls ...you have a winner....

Again for making buttons as a menu bar across the top of your form,
then again stacked controls is just the cats meow. Again this is REALLY
nice.

Do watch the above video. You really like it....

You can't do much
with them other than move them together, resize them together,
change common properties in a single property ***, but all of
those were things you could do before grouped controls simply by
selecting them all with drag or with SHIFT-CLICK.

Complete different issue. As I said, this rough draft does not have the
pictures + video..
Stacked controls removes such an increased amount of workload in reports
and forms that it is not even funny. As I said, it is BIG change here...


the property
*** now defaults to the side of the screen is OUT OF MY way. I
can't tell you how much I disliked access 2000-2003 with the
property *** opening
in the way all the time. The defaulting of the property *** to
the side of the screen is an ideal choice and one that shows they
were thinking about developers when they made these choices.

I think that this was only possible once screens became large enough
to allocate that space permanently.

You can un-hook (un-dock) the property *** if you want in 2007 to have
it work like the old way.

However,
I am pointing out several things that are better:

1) The stupid default of showing the property *** in form view mode is
gone. (this is good!)

2) The default when opening the property *** is anchored on the right
side of the screen. This is a good intelligent location for it and I like
the
choices the access team made in this regards

3) I now use the keyboard to make changes in the property ***, close the
property *** and then save the form all by using the keyboard. I could do
this in 2003, but the keystrokes were harder and my real point here is that
the property *** opens up out of the way. and, atl-enter + ctrl-w is a
FAR
easier set of keystrokes here. I find that I get more into a "Zen" of
coding in 2007, much like I did in the old FoxPro days. It really encourages
a
smooth operation of the software.

Another great feature is creating default forms in access
2007. (you see this occur in that video). You simply highlight the table,
then click on the form or report designer Group and you've got yourself a
default form to work with.

You don't have to answer a bunch of questions to the wizard. (their is the
auto form an auto report in previous versions, but there are still
additional clicks. The reason why this feature works so good in 2007 is
because you can select a table, and then click on the create form from the
ribbon. In 2003, you can use insert->report..but it does NOT respect or know
about the table you just Highlighted before you clicked on the create form
or report.

This again is just more slick..and less time consuming ..and you deal with
less program prompts when building a report or form. ...nice!!

In other words again the keyboard choices and general design of access 2007
is really nice in this regards. It is a IMPROVEMENT over previous versions.

close the property *** - Alt-F4
CLOSE the form - Ctrl-F4 or Ctrl-W
answer yes to the save form - Y

Ctrl-F4 has been the standard "close the current window" command
since Windows was first introduced. The Alt-F4 for closing the
property *** is an odd one, as Alt-F4 has always been defined as
"close the current application."

So, I'm not sure why you see this as such a big deal. Perhaps it's
because the shortcuts were more discoverable that you found them?

It is that the keyboard shortcuts are now better. If you Google this
newsgroup you see that I have many times over the years mentioned
ctrl-f4..and I used that keystroke since windows 3.1.

So, no it more that the property *** is docked , and the keystrokes are
easier .

There is several other keyboard shortcuts that have been improved in 2007.

So, it more of a preference here. I also like that alt-enter (which I used
in 2003 for years) displays the property ***..but hitting alt-enter should
hide it again (that how it works in 2007). So, once again, I just impressed
at the general "choices" the designers of access made here for 2007...

That alone would be an improvement, as discoverability is an great
help when learning to use a new application.

Good point if one never used m-access, and hit alt-enter...and hit it
again..then
sure, I think above is a great point (I might use that idea in the article).
It was not quite the point I going to make but it is a good point
(as mentioned, that is VERY rough draft).



Even better is that I can open a form + report + query..and NOT
have to flip between the forms/report/tab and minimize the windows
EACH TIME like I do in access 2003.

I just described methods to do exactly the same thing without any
need to touch the mouse or minimize any of your open objects.

How can you open a report in design mode when you are designing a form that
is maximized? You can't even see the list of forms underneath. (what I
do is go alt-window and slect the number that represents the database
window in access 2003).

In 2007 I don't have to flip between the tabs to chooses forms. In fact what
this means is that I don't even have to select the database window, and then
select formsm reports, macros etc. to work on a particlar object.

I suppose you could probably keyboard this in 2003, but you can't
even see the list of forms when you working on a form in design mode (and
that form is typically maximized for me when doing design work on that
form).

If want at that point to open a report in design mode, I have to flip to the
database window, and THEN flip to the reports area. And, even when I working
on a form, I have to minimize the current form to see the list of forms
underneath. I don't have to do this flipping or changing in access 2007
buecase when a form is maximized in design mode you can still see the nav
pane (you can minimize and hide the nav pane if you wish but I like the fact
that it displays the forms/reports/quiey and they not hidden by the maxed
form I am working on).

So, again I suppose one may be able to do the above using the keyboard..but
in 2003 I
can't even see the list of forms I want to work on when the current form I
working on is maxed already...I have to flip to the database window,
(or min the current form) and then possible switch to the reports tab in
2003
to modify that report.

So, I don't have to flip between the forms/reports/query/model sections in
2007 nor do I have to minimize the current object (a form/report/query) to
see/view my list of objects that I want to work on because I picking them
from the nav pane which is always visible.

When you get the hang of this...you find it really nice. When I go back to
previous versions of access....I instantly realize how silly it is that I
must minimize the current object to see the list of forms that I might next
want to open in design mode.

There is some trade offs in the process. (such as that you have to get used
to
using the ctrl-f in the nave pane when before we used arrow keys to select
somting from the forms to edit. This keyboarding brings me back to the older
days of coding and works well after a few days of using access
(the first few days one may not like this process, it is a question of a
mind and habit change that takes some time).


I did find it odd you didn't say more
about the interactivity of the report writer. Are there problems
with that make it less inviting than it sounds?

That is another great feature...one that you can see in action in the above
video....

Not having to flip 100's of times between preview and design view is REALLY
nice. Throw in the stacked controls...and it is even more of a joy to work
with....


--
Albert D. Kallal (Access MVP)
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
pleaseNOOSpamKallal@xxxxxxx






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