Access Hacks
Table of Contents
Credits
About the Author
Contributors
Acknowledgments
Preface
Why Access Hacks?
How to Use This Book
How This Book Is Organized
Conventions Used in This Book
Using Code Examples
Safari Enabled
How to Contact Us
Got a Hack?
Chapter 1. Core Access
Section 1.1. Hacks 112
Hack 1. Help Users Find the Objects They Need
Hack 2. Personalize Your Access Application
Hack 3. Work Fast and Avoid Typos
Hack 4. Optimize Data Changes
Hack 5. Transfer Data Between Versions of Access
Hack 6. Organize and Enhance Your Macros
Hack 7. Rid Your Database of Clutter
Hack 8. Protect Valuable Information
Hack 9. Work with Any Amount of Data
Hack 10. Find Database Objects in a Snap
Hack 11. Use a Junction Table
Hack 12. Stop the Database from Growing
Chapter 2. Tables
Section 2.1. Hacks 1318
Hack 13. Create an AutoNumber Field with a Custom Value
Hack 14. Copy Data Between Tables Without an Append Query
Hack 15. Steer Clear of System Tables
Section 16. Hide Sensitive Information
Hack 17. Simulate Table Triggers
Section 18. Create Tables Faster
Chapter 3. Entry and Navigation
Section 3.1. Hacks 1927
Hack 19. Help Users Navigate Through Long Forms
Hack 20. Help Users Enter Additional Text
Hack 21. Let Users Add Custom Items to Predesigned Lists
Hack 22. Populate and Sort Lists with Flair
Hack 23. Use Custom Controls on Your Forms
Hack 24. Confirm Record Updates Before Saving
Hack 25. Put a Clock on a Form
Hack 26. Be Tab-Smart
Hack 27. Highlight the Active Control
Chapter 4. Presentation
Section 4.1. Hacks 2839
Hack 28. Separate Alphabetically Sorted Records into Letter Groups
Hack 29. Create Conditional Subtotals
Hack 30. Use Conditional Formatting to Point Out Important Results
Hack 31. Provide a Direct Link to a Report
Hack 32. Protect Intellectual Property
Hack 33. Create a Slideshow in Access
Hack 34. Play Videos in Access Forms
Hack 35. View Reports Embedded in Forms
Hack 36. Put Line Numbers on a Report
Hack 37. Shade Alternating Lines on a Report
Hack 38. Save Paper by Reducing Whitespace
Hack 39. Include the Date, Time, and Page Count
Chapter 5. Queries and SQL
Section 5.1. Hacks 4054
Hack 40. Return a Sample of Records
Hack 41. Create Bulletproof Insert Operations
Hack 42. Find Unmatched Records on Multiple Field Keys
Hack 43. Place a Grand Total in a Query
Hack 44. Sort Any Arbitrary String of Characters
Hack 45. Summarize Complex Data
Hack 46. Get All Combinations of Data
Hack 47. Don't Let Nulls Ruin Data Summaries
Hack 48. Use a Custom Function in a Query
Hack 49. Create Access Tables with SQL Server Scripts
Hack 50. Use Wildcards in Queries
Hack 51. Get Cleaner Or-Based Criteria
Hack 52. Get Cleaner And-Based Criteria
Hack 53. Create an Outer Join
Hack 54. Use Regular Expressions in Access Queries
Chapter 6. Multiuser Issues
Section 6.1. Hacks 5558
Hack 55. Test for Duplication
Hack 56. Distribute a Split Database with Predefined Table Links
Hack 57. Build a Time-Out Feature
Hack 58. Implement Unique Usernames
Chapter 7. External Programs and Data
Section 7.1. Hacks 5971
Hack 59. Import Noncontiguous Ranges of Data from Excel
Hack 60. Use Excel to Reorient Access Data
Hack 61. Use Excel Functions Inside Access
Hack 62. Use Word to Compare Data in Two Access Tables
Hack 63. Import Varied XML Data into Access
Hack 64. Export XML Data Sanely
Hack 65. Break Through VBA's Transformation Barrier
Hack 66. Leverage SQL Server Power by Calling Stored Procedures
Hack 67. Manage Word Documents from Access
Hack 68. Use Access as a Front End to MySQL
Hack 69. Send Access Data Through Outlook Automatically
Hack 70. Create Access Tables from Outside Access
Hack 71. Write VBA with the Macro Recorder in Word and Excel
Chapter 8. Programming
Section 8.1. Hacks 7291
Hack 72. Store Initial Control Selections for Later Recall
Hack 73. Write Code Faster by Turning Off Syntax-Checking
Hack 74. Substitute Domain Aggregate Functions for SQL Aggregate Functions
Hack 75. Shrink Your Code with Subroutines
Hack 76. Shrink Your Code with Optional Arguments
Hack 77. Protect Programming Code from Curious Users
Hack 78. Build a Secret Developer Backdoor into Your Applications
Hack 79. Help Users Drill Down to a Record
Hack 80. Prevent Users from Disabling Your Startup Options
Hack 81. Inform Users of a Long Process
Hack 82. Allow Users to Choose a Back-End Database
Hack 83. Override the Timeout Interval
Hack 84. Save Values from Unbound Controls for Later Recall
Hack 85. Sort Records Randomly
Hack 86. Bulk-Update Controls on a Form
Hack 87. Provide Complete XML Control to Any Version of Access
Hack 88. Use Custom Enumerations
Hack 89. Convert Text to the Desired Case
Hack 90. Create a Code Library
Hack 91. Automatically Check for Database Table Updates
Chapter 9. Third-Party Applications
Section 9.1. Hacks 9295
Hack 92. Document Your Database with Total Access Analyzer
Hack 93. Build an Application Shell with EZ Application Generator
Hack 94. Load Your Database with Test Data
Hack 95. Use Access as an XML Database
Chapter 10. The Internet
Section 10.1. Hacks 96100
Hack 96. Export a Report as HTML
Hack 97. Use a Browser Inside Access
Hack 98. Pull the HTML Source Code from a Web Site
Hack 99. Download Files Using the Web Browser Control
Hack 100. Use a Smart Tag to Open a Web Page
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Index
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