The Microsoft Access runtime version allows you to distribute your Access applications to users who do not have a full license of Access. The runtime is similar to the full version of Access, but several of the features that exist in the full version are not available in the runtime. To test your users' experience, you can simulate the runtime with a command line. 

Related to our detailed paper on Query Tips and Techniques, we added extra information on the basics and syntax of an Update Query in Microsoft Access.

We also have a related article on dealing with non-updatable queries: Error 3073: Operation must use an updatable query: Dealing with Non-Updateable Queries and the Use of Temporary Tables in Microsoft Access

In Access 2007-Format databases (ACCDBs), the AppendOnly property for Memo fields allows you to store a history of the changes made to the field. The history of the Memo field can later be retrieved using the ColumnHistory method.

Have you ever wished you could bring back a message after you press the Send button in Outlook?  Maybe you forgot to add an attachment, or maybe an email came in while you were writing your message that changes what you want to say.

Or maybe you were a bit too hot headed, and that message really should be deleted. No matter what, Outlook offers a feature that I love, which is the abilty to delay mesages in my Outbox for a few minutes. My two minute delay has saved countless blunders.

Here's our Microsoft Outlook tip on delaying messages that describes how to avoid these career and relationship ending mistakes.

I'll be giving several presentations on Microsoft Access application development and our products at the Office DevCon 2009 conference in Brisbane, Australia at the end of the month. Hosted at the University of Queensland, St. Lucia campus, I hope you see you there!

For more information, visit our Upcoming Events page.

Here's a simple tip to avoid problems associated with referencing the individual pages (tabs) of a Microsoft Access tab control in VBA.

Tabs are powerful and easy to use on Microsoft Access forms. A tab control contains pages (tabs) with each page identified by its PageIndex property starting with 0. The value determines the order of the tabs. However, if you reference the pages by number, your code may fail if the pages are reordered, new ones added or pages deleted. 

See how you can avoid this problem and read about other tips for creating better and faster Access forms.

Microsoft recently added three of our technical papers to their MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) web site:

• Microsoft Access Query Tips and Techniques
• Error Handling and Debugging Tips and Techniques for Microsoft Access, VBA, and Visual Basic 6 (VB6)
• Microsoft Access Performance Tips to Speed up Your Access Databases

We're proud Microsoft recognized our work and look forward to sharing more resources with the developer community.