Introduction

    What's New in Microsoft Access 97

    Document Conventions

    Programming Style

    Contributors

  1: Creating an Application

    What Is a Microsoft Access Application?

    Creating an Application with the Database Wizard

    Creating an Application on Your Own

    Designing a Startup Form

    Connecting Your Application's Objects

    Command Bars: Menu Bars, Toolbars, and Shortcut Menus

    Setting Startup Options

    Making Key Assignments

  2: Introducing Visual Basic

    What Is Visual Basic?

    Creating Your First Event Procedure

    Creating Your First Function

    Visual Basic Fundamentals

    Getting Help

  3: Using Forms to Collect, Filter, and Display Information

    Customizing a Command Button Created with a Wizard

    Assigning Values to Controls and Properties at Run Time

    Using Pop-up Forms and Dialog Boxes

    Filtering and Sorting Data in Forms and Reports

    Populating Controls on a Form

    Adding a Row to a Combo Box List

    Using the Tab Control to Organize Forms

    What's Next?

  4: Working with Variables, Data Types, and Constants

    Declaring Variables

    Scope and Lifetime of Variables

    Fundamental Variable Data Types

    Creating Your Own Data Types

    Constants

    Arrays

  5: Working with Objects and Collections

    Understanding Objects and Collections

    Working with Objects and Collections

    Working with Properties and Methods

    Using the Object Browser

  6: Responding to Events

    Working with Events

    Managing Events in Your Application

    Canceling Events

    Default Events

  7: Debugging Visual Basic Code

    Avoiding Bugs

    Debugging Tools and Strategies

    Pausing at a Problem Statement

    Resetting Code

    Running Selected Portions of Code

    Viewing Data Tips in the Module Window

    Using the Immediate Pane

    Monitoring Data in the Debug Window

    Tracing Nested Procedures

    Debugging Event Procedures

    Using Conditional Compilation

  8: Handling Run-Time Errors

    Errors and Error Handling

    Using Error Events

    Using On Error Statements

    Unanticipated Errors

    Guidelines for Complex Error Handling

    Generating Errors with the Err Object

    Inline Error Handling

    Turning Off Error Handling

  9: Working with Records and Fields

    Using Recordset Objects

    Using Field Objects

  10: Creating Multiuser Applications

    Multiuser Applications and Locking

    The Microsoft Access Multiuser Model

    Locking Shared Data with Bound Forms

    Locking Shared Data in Recordsets

    Refreshing DAO Collections

    Using Transactions in the Multiuser Environment

    Identifying Users

  11: Communicating with Other Applications

    Integrating Applications by Using Automation and OLE

    Using Automation

    Using OLE Objects

    Additional Communication Solutions

  12: Using Library Databases and Dynamic-Link Libraries

    Using Library Databases

    Using Dynamic-Link Libraries

  13: Optimizing Your Application

    Optimizing Your Microsoft Access Environment

    Adjusting Windows Registry Settings to Improve Performance

    Using the Performance Analyzer

    Optimizing Data Retrieval and Updates

    Speeding Up the Start of Your Application

    Designing Forms and Reports for Speed

    Additional Tips for Fast Code

    Minimizing Stack Usage

    Compiling and Saving Your Code Ahead of Time

  14: Securing Your Application

    Protecting Your Application

    Microsoft Access User-Level Security

    Encrypting a Database

  15: Delivering Your Application

    Putting the Final Touches on an Application

    Setting Startup Options

    Separating Your Application's Tables from Its Other Objects

    Documenting Your Database

    Database Maintenance

  16: Using ActiveX Controls

    Overview of ActiveX Controls

    Registering an ActiveX Control

    Adding an ActiveX Control to a Form

    Manipulating ActiveX Controls

  17: Creating Wizards, Builders, and Menu Add-ins

    Overview of Add-ins

    Types of Add-ins

    Add-in Development Guidelines

    Writing Your Add-in

    Testing and Debugging Your Add-in

    Preparing Your Add-in for Installation

    Getting Ready for Distribution

  18: Accessing External Data

    External Data Sources

    External Data Access Requirements

    Establishing Access to External Data

    Working with Microsoft Access Databases

    Working with Spreadsheets

    Working with Text Files

    Working with HTML Files

    Creating an External Table

    Improving Performance

    Troubleshooting Tips

  19: Developing Client/Server Applications

    The Client/Server Environment

    Moving Your Data to a Server

    Connecting to a Server

    Connection Strategies

    Mapping Data Types

    Optimizing Client/Server Performance

    Handling Errors from the Server

    Windows Registry Settings

    Accessing Data with ODBCDirect

  20: Using Replication in Your Application

    Why Use Database Replication?

    Implementing Database Replication

    Replicating Your Database

    Changes to Your Database

    Making Additional Replicas

    Replicating Part of a Database

    Synchronizing Replicas

    Handling Conflicts and Errors

    Compacting a Replicated Database

    Database Security

    Designating a New Design Master

    Making a Replicated Database a Regular Database

  21: Developing Applications for the Internet and the World Wide Web

    What Is the Internet?

    Using Hyperlinks in Microsoft Access Applications

    Making Microsoft Access Data Available on the Internet

    Importing, Linking, and Exporting Data on the Internet

    Using the WebBrowser Control

  The Microsoft Access Sample Applications

    The Orders Sample Application

    The Developer Solutions Sample Application