MS Access As A Dev Tool
Access continues to be a highly efficient tool for business database development.
Don't let a damaged database disrupt your Miami business. We fix broken
forms and reports, reconnect Excel imports/exports, stop database bloat
(compact/repair, attachments cleanup, right-size tables), cut query
timeouts with cleaner joins and indexes, and set up reliable backups
and simple multi-user sharing so your team works without file locks.
Call (323) 285-0939 now for a FREE consultation.
Alison Balter is the fouunder, owner, and Principal Programmer for our MS Access Solutions company. She has a clear goal: turn messy data into dependable, easy-to-use Microsoft Access systems that Miami businesses can trust. She is a recognized Access author and trainer with decades of real project work. Our team brings the same practical mindset to every engagement: fix what is broken, speed up daily tasks, and make reporting clean and consistent.
Miami companies call us when forms will not behave, reports do not match, Excel files will not connect, or the database has grown too large and unstable. We are the Microsoft Access programmers you hire when you need straight answers and fast results: targeted repairs, performance tuning and indexing, streamlined forms and reports, solid multi-user setup, and—when it makes sense—SQL Server or Azure SQL for scale without disrupting staff.
Use Case — Miami Logistics: A distribution company in Miami struggled with bloated Access files, slow screens, and crashing reports. We split the front end and back end, rebuilt the forms, added a reliable Excel import and export workflow, archived old records, and set a simple compact and repair routine. The app stabilized and monthly reporting became predictable.
We routinely take on complex projects that other programmers abandon: legacy database repairs, careful migrations, and integrations that let Access live alongside your existing tools. Our process is straightforward: brief diagnostic, quick wins you can feel this week, then a phased plan for what is next. If you need a proven Access partner in Miami, we will deliver results your users notice and leadership can measure.
We also create websites designed for speed to display your data accurately, using ASP.NET technology. Fast, secure, and robust, our ASP.NET websites and web applications give you true business tool for finding and displaying information dynamically on the web.
Access continues to be a highly efficient tool for business database development.
How to create a Microsoft Access application with some unique tips and tricks.
Your Access developer near me has some great info for you about using Access efficiently.
Call MS Access Solutions at (323) 285-0939 for your FREE consultation.
The material below originally appeared in Alison Balter's book Mastering Microsoft Office Access 2007 Development and is reprinted here with the author's permission. There may be references to "Figures" or "Chapters" that are not reprintable and are not used on this page.
Microsoft Access offers many properties, shown in Figure 4.35, that allow you to affect the behavior of the overall query. Some of the properties are discussed here; the rest are covered as applicable throughout this book.
The Description property documents what the query does. The Default View property was introduced with Access 2002. This property determines which view will display by default whenever the query is run. Datasheet is the default setting; PivotTable or PivotChart re the other two Default View settings that are available. Output All Fields shows all the fields in the query results, regardless of the contents of the Show check box in each field. Top Values lets you specify the top x number or x percent of values in the query result. The Unique Values and Unique Records properties are used to determine whether only unique values or unique records are displayed in the query's output. (These properties are also covered in detail in Chapter 12.)
Several other more advanced properties exist. The Run Permissions property has to do with user-level security and is covered in Mastering Microsoft Office Access 2003. Source Database, Source Connect String, ODBC Timeout, and Max Records all have to do with client/server issues and are covered in Alison Balter's Mastering Access 2002 Enterprise Development. The Record Locks property concerns multiuser issues and is also covered in Alison Balter's Mastering Access 2002 Enterprise Development. The Recordset Type property determines whether updates can be made to the query output. By default, this is set to the Dynaset type, allowing updates to the underlying data. Filter displays a subset that you determine, rather than the full result of the query. Order By determines the sort order of the query.
The Orientation property determines whether the visual layout of the fields is left-to-right or right-to-left. The Subdatasheet Name property allows you to specify the name of the table or query that will appear as a subdatasheet within the current query. After you set the Subdatasheet Name property, the Link Child Fields and Link Master Fields properties designate the fields from the child and parent tables or queries that are used to link the current query to its subdatasheet. Finally, the Subdatasheet Height property sets the maximum height for a subdatasheet, and the Subdatasheet Expanded property determines whether the subdatasheet automatically appears in an expanded state.
You use smart tags to perform tasks that you would usually open other applications to perform. For example, you can use smart tags to schedule an appointment, email a letter, or add an Outlook contact, all based on data stored in an Access table or found in an Access query result. Taking things a step further, you can even determine the weather or get the latest news on each city that appears in the result of a Microsoft Access query.
After you have added a smart tag to a query, you will notice smart tag action buttons when you run the query (see Figure 4.43). Click the action button for a particular cell in the query result to see the actions available for that smart tag. In Figure 4.44, you can see that the Person Name smart tag has the Schedule a Meeting and Show my Calendar menu items associated with it. Figure 4.45 shows the result of selecting the Schedule a Meeting menu item.
The preceding information originally appeared in Alison Balter's book Mastering Microsoft Office Access 2007 Development and is reprinted here with the author's permission.
When you need a Microsoft Access programmer for your Miami, Florida business, call MS Access Solutions at (323) 285-0939. With over 25 years of experience, we specialize in comprehensive Microsoft Access programming solutions. Our services include:
Our expertise encompasses both complex Microsoft Access and SQL Server database programming, as well as addressing specific needs like repairing Access forms, reports, queries, macros, and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code.
Get more information about MS Access Solutions programmer services on the Microsoft Access Programmer Orlando, Florida web page.
Answer: Yes. We start by reproducing the exact steps that trigger the issue, then trace event
order conflicts (e.g., BeforeUpdate vs AfterUpdate), broken control sources, and subform requery timing that can
block or overwrite saves. Typical repairs include standardizing bound fields, simplifying complex event chains, resetting tab order,
and removing circular logic in embedded macros or VBA. We also check record validation rules and default values that silently fail and
add targeted logging so problems are visible during testing. The result is a form that saves reliably and behaves consistently for every
user on your Miami team.
Answer: Absolutely. We audit grouping levels, running sums, and sort order, then tune Force New Page, section headers/footers, and Keep Together so page breaks land where they should. We fix subtotal and grand total drift by aligning data types, replacing risky expressions, and enforcing numeric precision. Page layout is standardized for consistent margins, fonts, and alignment so PDF exports look professional every time. We validate with representative Miami datasets to ensure totals match finance or operations records.
Answer: We define repeatable import/export specs, map named ranges or tables, and enforce column names, order, and data types. Before loading, we run checks for duplicate keys, missing required fields, and invalid dates to prevent polluted tables. For recurring workflows, we automate clean exports to Excel and use saved specs or parameterized routines so formats remain stable. If needed, we add a staging table with clear rejection reasons to keep your production data pristine. This gives your team predictable round-trips between Access and Excel.
Answer: Timeouts usually come from missing indexes, non-sargable criteria, and heavy joins on text fields. We add targeted
indexes on join and filter keys, rewrite criteria to be index-friendly, and replace leading-wildcard LIKE where possible. We
also move expensive calculations out of the WHERE clause, split complex logic into staged queries or temporary tables, and consider
pass-through queries when SQL Server is available. Connection settings and recordset sizes are tuned to reduce network chatter in
multi-user scenarios. Expect faster, more predictable response times under normal Miami office loads.
Answer: We split front-end logic from back-end tables, archive historical records, and remove orphan objects and temp tables. Attachments and embedded images are right-sized or offloaded when appropriate, and we implement a safe compact/repair cadence. Forms and queries are streamlined to fetch only the fields and rows needed, which cuts I/O and keeps the file nimble. We also distribute front-end updates so each user runs a local copy—reducing contention and improving stability. These practices keep file sizes small and day-to-day performance snappy.
Answer: We enable dependable concurrency with proper primary keys, row-version or timestamp fields, and clear save flows that minimize collisions. Visual cues show who’s editing, and friendly prompts guide users when a change would overwrite someone else’s work. Where needed, we implement optimistic locking and short edit sessions to lower the chance of conflict. For higher-risk areas, we add audit trails and conflict-resolution dialogs so nothing gets lost. The goal is smooth teamwork without surprise overwrites.
Answer: Yes. Each delivery includes a quick-start guide for end users, an admin checklist for backups and routine care, and inline help on key forms. We can also record short screen-capture walkthroughs, standardize object naming, and supply a lightweight style guide for queries, forms, and reports. A change log documents what was modified and why, making handoffs simple. Your Miami staff keeps momentum without becoming dependent on outside help for everyday tasks.
We provide Microsoft Access programmer services to Miami and all communities in Florida
Get more information about MS Access Solutions programmer services on the
Microsoft Access Programmer Orlando, Florida web page.