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Programming Access
You can program Access using one of two languages or a mix of both - VBA and
Access Macros. Access Macros fulfil a niche:
- they get you going quick without insisting on the need to learn commands
or typing them exactly (because the macro commands picked from in a combo
box).
- they aren't that hard to understand if you are already familiar with the
Access menus and how Access works (because they store menu sequences).
- they are useful for Autokeys
- they are useful in creating Custom
Menus for Forms, Reports (instead of the usual File, Edit etc..) - there
are new ways of doing this or the old way using Macros
Access Macros are lame because:
- there is no way to enable intelligent error handling. In macros you
normally set Echo Off - telling Access to "put a lid on it".
Regardless of whether the subsequent action(s) will be successful or not.
- it is pretty tiresome and cumbersome to do looping.
- you don't have variables - you could store values in hidden textboxes on
forms but again, that's kludgy.
- you can't can't manipulate other programs like Word, Excel
- you can't do "invisible" data manipulation because you aren't in
contact with DAO / ADO - when you run macros, you're pushing the visible
Access UI - the menus, forms, reports...
- you can't enhance or modify the programming that the Control Wizards
produce (they generate VBA code).
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