Summary of Reports in Total Access Analyzer

Total Access Analyzer includes 350+ reports, making it the most powerful documentation and analysis program for Microsoft Access professionals.

You can customize the header and footer of the reports, and many of the reports allow you to filter the objects or issues. Each database's documentation is stored separately, so you can always go back to your previously documented data.

The reports are organized into these major categories:

• Database Summary
• Cross Reference Analysis
• Diagrams
• Errors, Suggestions and Performance Tips
• Basic Documentation

This page features a subset of reports with links to images and details.

Click here for a complete list of all of Total Access Analyzer's documentation reports.

Database Summary

An overview of what's in your database.

• Database Summary

Object Cross Reference Analysis

Cross-Reference reports show where and how objects are used. Knowing this information is critical before making modifications to individual objects

• Field Cross-References
• Table Cross-References
• Query Cross-References
• Macro Cross-References

Hierarchical diagrams visually reveal how objects reference each other through multiple levels.

• Application Flow Diagram showing procedure and event flow for the entire database
• Data Diagram showing how data flows from tables into queries, forms, reports, etc.
• Object Diagram showing what objects are referenced by a form, report, or query.

Application Diagram

The Application Diagram shows the hierarchical flow of your entire application. It starts with the Startup form or Autoexec macro, then shows what procedures and objects it calls, along with the same for the called objects. Every form, report, or procedure that is not called by another object starts its own tree. This provides a visual overview of all your procedure calls, macro calls, and form and report events, and is the most detailed of the three diagrams.

Sample from Northwind.mdb

Data Flow Diagram

The Data Flow Diagram shows how your database's tables are used across your application. See where the data flows from a table into a query, into a report, etc. The Data Flow Diagram illustrates the entire family of objects related to each table.

Sample from Northwind.mdb

Object Diagram

The Object Diagram shows all the objects a form, report, or query is dependent on. You can quickly see a form, its subforms, and the queries, tables, and macros they use. Whether it's used in the RecordSource or combo box RowSource, the referenced object is displayed here. The Object Diagram is almost like the Data Diagram in reverse. Rather than seeing how data flows from a table, the Object Diagram reveals what flows into an object.

Unlike the Application Diagram, the Object Diagram includes form and report use of tables and queries, and excludes procedure calls. This significantly simplifies the diagram.

Sample from Northwind.mdb

Errors, Suggestions, and Performance Tips

Total Access Analyzer detects a wide range of issues to help you create better Access applications by flagging items that will cause it to crash, and offering suggestions to improve your application and performance. A list of issues detected is available here.

Error Reports

Errors are problems that will most likely cause your Access application to crash. For instance, references to objects that were deleted or renamed crash when the user encounters them. When Total Access Analyzer detects these errors, you should examine them carefully and fix them before deploying your database.

Suggestion Reports

Suggestions incorporate our knowledge of Best Development Practices for creating professional Access applications. Suggestions cover items that are not necessarily going to cause your application to crash or perform poorly, but may make it easier to maintain, support, and appear more polished.

For instance, we may note that certain objects or code are unused, but that doesn't mean you have to delete them. Most suggestion reports are lists of issues. These two powerful reports are the results of analysis that you should review them to determine next steps:

• Table Fields with Different Types
• * Identical SQL and RecordSources

Performance Tips

Performance tips are ideas where you may be able to enhance the speed of your application. Certainly, many tips are not relevant because you've already implemented the most efficient solution. Nonetheless it's helpful to consider these ideas or objects that may be made more efficient.

Basic Documentation

There are a large number of reports for each Access object type. Here are some examples.

• Table Fields, Sorted by Table Name
• Table Fields, Sorted by Field Name
• Table Dictionary

Query Documentation

• Query Dictionary

Form Documentation

• Form Dictionary
• Form Blueprint

Report Documentation

• Report Dictionary
• Report Blueprint

Macro Documentation

• Macro Dictionary

Module Documentation

• Module Analysis Summary, Sorted by Module Type
• Standard Module Printout with Procedure Index
• Bracketed and Formatted Module Printout
• Many other reports on module contents such as procedure lists, procedure calls, VBA functions, labels, DoCmd, variables, etc.

Additional Reports

Many other reports cover these areas:

• Database
• Object Inventory
• * Import Export Specifications
• Relationships
• Workgroup and Security
• Command Bar
• Data Access Page
• System Reports
• ADP Documentation
  • Database Diagrams
  • Stored Procedures
  • Views

For the entire list of reports available in Total Access Analyzer, visit here.

* Added in Total Access Analyzer 2007