Workgroup Files ~ Have you got the correct version?

Opening a workgroup file that was created with an older version of Access is not so efficient. ie if it was built with Access 97 and you are using Access 2003.

How do you find this out?

Open Access 2000+, choose menu File then Open and navigate to the workgroup file. When it opens, if it says "You cannot make changes to the database objects in this database" then you have an old workgroup file.

To convert to a newer workgroup file is impossible, you have to recreate it from scratch as per this kb. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824258

For that you are going to need the Name, Organization and ID that you used to create the original file. You are also going to need the PIDs of the usernames or you may as well stick with the slightly slower old workgroup file.

Now if that all sounds too difficult, you really want to ask yourself what you are doing with the workgroup file anyway. If you cannot rebuild a new one because you don't have the old credentials, then you may be leaving yourself open to difficulties down the track.

If you are running Access 2003 or less, you still can pick up my book on Access PROTECTION and security. http://www.vb123.com/map

Garry

Posting Microsoft Access information into the clouds

In this article I show you how you can use MSXML and Microsoft Access to post information into a website using an XML based API. Whilst this sort of coding isn't easy, it can cut down on a lot of duplication between your local database and your Web2 type online tool.

Read more about posting_into_the_clouds using XML and MS Access

Garry Robinson
Sydney Based Microsoft Access consultant.

PS. A couple of Access friends in Australia have decided to head back to corporate world after a few years running their own Access consultancy businesses. We are going to help them by taking over their work, keeping them in the loop so they can earn extra cash after hours and guaranteeing them the projects if they find that the corporate life is not for them. Can we help you ? Visit www.gr-fx.com if we can.

MUST ~ The hot SQL Server Upsizing Tool

After converting a number of Access databases to SQL Server, we have decided to promote an Access tool that will make this task easier and more accurate. Here is a page of questions and answers on the MUST upsizing tool that explain why it is useful.

Read more on the MUST upsizing tool and find out what it can do for you. For my team, we are finding it makes upsizing easier to the extent that we will do conversions earlier in the development cycle.

Let me know what you think about MUST if you download the demonstration version and experiment with your database (by posting a comment on this Blog).

Expression Web MVPs

I met some nice Expression Web MVPs whilst upgrading vb123.com to vb123.com.au and ExpressionWeb. Here is a how they describe their online pursuits.

Pat and Tina are teaching a class on migrating from FrontPage to Expression Web. I have one Introduction to Expression Web, both at http://starttoweb.com/ . I've got a video tutorial for beginners at http://by-expression.com/media/p/1300.aspx along with other tutorials. I also support my book on Expression Web "Foundations of Microsoft Expression Web" published by Apress on the forums at http://by-expression.com/--

Cheryl D Wise
MS MVP Expression