FMS Power Pack for Access 2.0
Version 2.0
Copyright 1996, FMS, Inc.
============================================ 
FMS, Inc. 
8027 Leesburg Pike, Suite 410
Vienna, VA 22182
Phone: 703/356-4700
Fax: 703/448-3861
Internet: info@fmsinc.com
http://www.fmsinc.com
============================================ 



Introduction
============================================ 
Welcome to the FMS PowerPack for Access 2.0. This collection of useful 
add-ins should enhance your application development efforts in Access 2.0. 
The following add-ins are included in this version:

  Database Complexity Meter - an add-in to gauge the complexity of your 
database

  DAO Structure Dumper - an add-in that dumps the DAO structure of your 
database to a text file

  DAO Browser - an add-in that allows you to interactively navigate through 
the DAO structure of your database

  Attachment Manager - an enhanced utility for managing attached tables

Licensing and Copyright Information
============================================ 
You may use this software only in accordance with the following license 
agreement:

Ownership of the Software
--------------------------------------
The enclosed software program ("Software") and the accompanying written 
materials are owned by FMS, Inc. or its suppliers and are protected by United 
States copyright laws, by laws of other nations, and by international treaties. 
You must treat the Software like any other copyrighted material except that 
you may make one copy of the Software solely for backup or archival 
purpose, and you may transfer the Software to a permanent storage device.

Grant of License
--------------------------------------
FMS, Inc. grants you the right to use one copy of the Software on a single 
computer. You may load one copy into permanent memory of one computer 
or network server and may use that copy only on a single computer at a time.
Restrictions

You may not rent or lease the Software.

Although FMS, Inc. has tested this program and reviewed the documentation, 
FMS, Inc. makes no warranty or representation, either expressed or implied, 
with respect to this software, its quality, performance, merchantability, or 
fitness for a particular purpose. As a result, this software is licensed "AS-IS", 
and you are assuming the entire risk as to its quality and performance. IN NO 
EVENT WILL FMS, INC. BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, 
INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE 
USE, OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SOFTWARE OR ITS 
DOCUMENTATION. THE WARRANTY AND REMEDIES SET FORTH IN 
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL 
OTHERS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. Some states do 
not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warrantees or liability for 
incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions 
may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, you may 
also have other rights that vary from state to state.

You may not redistribute this software in any form, in whole or in part. If other 
Access users are interested in the FMS PowerPack for Access 2.0, they may 
download it from our website.

Availability of the FMS PowerPack for Access 2.0 as a free download from 
our website may be subject to change.

Visit Our Website!
=======================
FMS, Inc. is the world's leading developer of powerful add-ins for Microsoft 
Access 2.0 and Microsoft Access 95. Be sure to visit our website regularly to 
get the latest news and additions to our award-winning lineup of products.

http://www.fmsinc.com

Installation
========================
Installation of the FMS PowerPack for Access 2.0 is straightforward and 
simple:

1.  Download the self-extracting compressed file named FMSPWR2.EXE 
from our website.

-or-

Copy the file from the supplied diskette.

2.  Copy the file to a temporary directory. Extract the file by executing it. 
Type FMSPWR2.EXE and press [Enter] at the DOS command prompt.

3.  Start Access 2.0. Open any database.

4.  From the File|Add-Ins menu, select Add-In Manager

5.  Press the [Add New] button.

6.  Browse to the temporary directory where you extracted FMSPWR2.EXE. 
Select the file named FMSPWR2.MDA.

7.  Close down Microsoft Access, and re-start it.

8.  Open your database.

9.  Select FMS PowerPack 2.0 from the File|Add-Ins menu.

FMS PowerPack for Access 2.0 is now available from the Add-Ins menu from 
any open database. When you start it, the Main Menu form appears. Select 
the Add-In you want by pressing the corresponding button.

Using The Database Complexity Meter
===================================
Open the database you want to analyze. From the File|Add-Ins menu, select 
FMS PowerPack 2.0. When the Main Menu appears, select [Database 
Complexity Meter] . After a few moments, the main form appears. To begin 
analysis, press the [Start Analysis] button. The add-in then starts counting 
objects in your database. The following objects are counted:

  Tables and table fields
  Indexes and index fields         
  Relations and relation field
  Queries and query fields
  Forms and form controls
  Reports and report controls
  Macros and macro lines
  Modules and module lines

Note: depending on the size of your database, this step may take some time. 
Remember that the add-in is opening and counting each object in your 
database.

Once the count is complete, the final form appears. The add-in shows you the 
number of each object type in your database, along with a total object count. 
It also shows what is known as the "Overall Complexity Rating" which is 
obtained by multiplying object counts by weighting factors. This figure is the 
complexity rating of your database.

The complexity ratings of several other databases that ship with Access 2.0 
are also shown for comparison purposes.

To close the add-in, press [Close] from this page.

Comments
------------
This add-in accomplished two things:

 1. Establishes a standard reference for comparing the complexity of various 
databases
 2. Provides a quick way to count the number of objects in your database.

Many times people discuss the "complexity" of their Access databases. But 
without a reference point, comparisons can't really be made. This add-in 
attempts to help you compare databases using a semi-arbitrary rating 
algorithm. While not perfect, it is a baseline number. 

Weighting Factors
-----------------
Mark Twain once said, "There are lies, damn lies, and statistics". This 
certainly holds true in this add-in. We have come up with what we consider to 
be a simple and consistent weighting table. No doubt, many of you have your 
own ideas on complexity. This add-in uses the following weightings:

Table = 5
Table Field = 0.5
Index = 1
Index Field = 0.5
Relation = 2.5
Relation Field = 0.5
Query = 7.5
QueryField = 0.5
Form = 10
Form Control = 2
Report = 7.5
Report Control = 1
Macro = 5
Macro Line = 1
Module = 7.5
Module Line = 1

For example, each table adds 5 "points" to the overall complexity of the 
database. Each Table Field adds half a "point", and so on.

Using The DAO Structure Dumper
===================================
Open the database you want to analyze. From the File|Add-Ins menu, select 
FMS PowerPack 2.0. When the Main Menu appears, select [DAO Structure 
Dumper] . After a few moments, the main form appears.

This utility reads the entire DAO structure of the database and writes the 
results out to a text file. Contents include:

* Tables
* Fields
* Relations
* Indexes
* QueryDefs
* Containers
* Documents
* Properties

Set the options you want and press the [Start Dump] button. When the 
analysis is complete, press the [Open with Write/Word] button to view the 
results.

Press the [Close] button to close the add-in.

Using The DAO Browser
===================================
The DAO Browser allows you to view and browse the DAO structure of your 
database. Open the database you want to analyze. From the File|Add-Ins 
menu, select FMS PowerPack 2.0. When the Main Menu appears, select 
[DAO Browser] . After a few moments, the initial form appears.

This form reads the DAO structure of your database into a series of tables in 
the library database. When it is done, the DAO Browser main form appears. 
Using this form, you can:

  Click on items to refresh subordinate lists
  Right-Click on an object for a list of properties
  Press the [Errors] button to view any errors that occurred while 
generating the list
  Press the [RoadMap] button to see a map of the DAO hierarchy

Press the [Close] button to close the add-in.

Using the Attachment Manager
===================================
Open the database you want to analyze. From the File|Add-Ins menu, select 
FMS PowerPack 2.0. When the Main Menu appears, select [Attachment 
Manager] . After a few moments, the main form appears.

This form shows all the attached tables in the current database. Select the 
tables you want to work on by clicking in the selected box, or by using the 
[Select All] [Clear All] buttons.

  Use the [Test Links] button to test all the attached tables.
  Use the [Refresh Links] button to refresh the links
  Use the [New Links] button to point the attached tables to a different 
database

Press the [Close] button to close the add-in.

Contacting FMS
===================================
Please feel free to contact us about the FMS PowerPack or any of our other 
products:

FMS, Inc. 
8027 Leesburg Pike, Suite 410
Vienna, VA 22182
Phone: 703/356-4700
Fax: 703/448-3861
Internet: info@fmsinc.com 
http://www.fmsinc.com


