Access is underrated

re: Access is underrated

dvana — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:01:28 GMT

The database is at desktopweb.codeplex.com/.../54874. It is the same database used for other SQL Server samples. So, you can also get a copy on MSDN. Also, you are welcome to ask questions on the desktopweb.codeplex.com Discussions tab or directly on my blog.

re: Access is underrated

grovelli — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:00:06 GMT

Thank you. desktopweb.blogspot.com/.../sql-xml-with-access.html mentions a Northwind sample database available at http://desktopweb.codeplex.com.

but I don't see it

re: Access is underrated

dvana — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:48:54 GMT

@grovelli

I will check the sample in soon (I’ll write about the sample on my blog at desktopweb.blogspot.com). For now, you can download the latest check-in. Although the focus of the latest source code is on using Microsoft Patterns and Practices Logging and Security, the source has some workflow code. You can find the activities at \WFController\Activities within the project. The workflow xaml is stored in an Access table and executes a couple of code activities in response to an onAfterUpdate event (look in Implementation.cs). Another workflow is invoked from a Report_Click event handler (look in ManagedObjectsUserControl.cs)

The next check-in will contain a basic workflow designer and a few SharePoint 2010 Client Object Model code activates.

Thanks for your interest.

re: Access is underrated

grovelli — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:03:12 GMT

@Dvana

Have you posted the Access .NET add-in sample? I look at desktopWeb.codeplex.com but don't see it.

re: Access is underrated

Vladimir Cvajniga — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:04:48 GMT

Dalkeith:

During the last week we've experienced data loss from Team Foundation Server which we use as a source code control. We'we lost one object. We can't trust TFS anymore...

Do you still think that MS Access in underrated?

re: Access is underrated

Vladimir Cvajniga — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:13:00 GMT

Dalkeith:

I've been with Access since version 97 and have been experiencing more and more incompatibities (especially in 2007), more and more bugs (and no fixes from Microsoft), help system from a superb one in 97 to unusable in 2007. Therefore I recommended not to continue development in Access in a company I cooperate with, and step to different platform. I will have to live with Access for a while anyway.

"Best of the best":

social.msdn.microsoft.com/.../3a4ce946-effa-4f77-98a6-34f11c6b5a13

social.msdn.microsoft.com/.../bb573ad0-7cac-499e-afc9-f9d2ab19cb76

re: Access is underrated

Dalkeith — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:29:15 GMT

I would add that unlike other more standard industry tools Access allows beginners the full Access to a complete IDE. I bet you there's a lot of dodgy filemaker pro databases out there as well.

Maybe its a measure of the succes of getting beginners into database design rather than an inherent weakness of the product?

Most of my initial databases had a lot of things wrong with them but I designed them like that not knowing any better.

re: Access is underrated

Dalkeith — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:23:36 GMT

All I can say to Vlad is that I'm an accountant and I've managed to create a fixed asset database using Access 2003 split. I'm am moving it over to a SQL Server back end.

Included in it is VB that allows the conversion of eastings and northings into lat and longitude and moving to locations in Google Earth as well as some scripting that allows a linking to ArcView 3.3. In separate applications I've also managed to get it to do combatative mathematics to organise a football league and get it to it to run an application that can time athletes in running races.

I enjoy working out problems in a consistent and logical manner.

The fixed asset register is used in a professional context to manage in the region of £44 million pounds admittedly among not many users between 2 and 5. Still a lot of money and very complicated.

There's a number of products that I believe offer similar capabilities. Filemaker Pro, Alpha 5 that I am aware of.. The key is a complete IDE I think that allows a beginner to have complete control of all aspects in a consistent and logical method.

I really haven't had any problems in best part of ten years with bugs in Access. I've also designed project management software for a friend for his company.

Is Vlad open to alteration of his views or is it just an argument from authority.

re: Access is underrated

Vladimir Cvajniga — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 20:38:34 GMT

duke_tango:

Without those attributes will Access never be accepted by IT professionals.

re: Access is underrated

Luke Chung — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:21:29 GMT

Ceac: The Access backend data storage is always controversial. With the availability of SQL Azure for Microsoft to host a cloud database for $10 a month, that problem is going away.

Read my paper Microsoft Access and Cloud Computing with SQL Azure Databases (Linking to SQL Server Tables in the Cloud) for more information: