Frequently Asked Questions for Total Access Analyzer

Pre-Sales Questions (All Versions)

• What version of Total Access Analyzer do I need? What versions of Access does Total Access Analyzer support?

• Can I try Total Access Analyzer before I buy it?

• Will Total Access Analyzer make database changes for me?

• Does Total Access Analyzer support Access Data Projects (ADPs)?

Using Total Access Analyzer

• How do I start Total Access Analyzer?

• How do I get a list of unused objects?

• How do I save/print/export or output a report to another format?

Technical Support

• Why is Total Access Analyzer missing from my add-ins menu?

• I getting an error

Older Versions

• Issues for Access 97 and 2000 versions of Total Access Analyzer

Pre-Sales Questions (All Versions)

What version of Total Access Analyzer do I need? What versions of Access does Analyzer support?

Because of the differences between Access versions and Total Access Analyzer's documentation of properties and features unique to each Access version, Total Access Analyzer is Access version specific and does not support other versions of Access. For example, Total Access Analyzer 2007 only works as an add-in in Microsoft Access 2007.

That said, Total Access Analyzer documents databases in any format that is supported by its Access version. For example, Total Access Analyzer 2003 documents 2000 and 2002-2003 databases provided that the database is opened in Access 2003.

Similarly, Total Access Analyzer 2007 document databases that are in Access 2000 format, Access 2002-2003 format, and ACCDBs.

The following versions of Total Access Analyzer are available:

• Total Access Analyzer 2007 supports Access 2007
• Total Access Analyzer 2003 supports Access 2003
• Total Access Analyzer 2002 supports Access 2002
• Total Access Analyzer 2000 supports Access 2000
• Total Access Analyzer 97 supports Access 97

All versions of Total Access Analyzer can be on the same machine provided that they are installed in separate folders.

Those that have purchased an earlier version of this product are eligible for the upgrade price of the product when purchasing a newer version.

Check the Product Compatibility Chart for version information for all of our products.

Can I try Total Access Analyzer before I buy it?

Download the Trial Version to try Total Access Analyzer before you buy it. The Trial Version shows how Total Access Analyzer works but does not analyze your database. It demonstrates documentation of the Northwind database so you can view the results and print the reports.

All FMS products come with a 30-day money back guarantee, so you can buy with confidence!

Will Total Access Analyzer make database changes for me?

Total Access Analyzer does not make changes to your database. Due to the nature of the issues detected, many items require the database developer or administrator to make decisions about what should be changed, and the impact the changes have on the overall application.

However, Total Access Analyzer has many tools that make it easy for you to make the desired database changes. For example, the Documentation Explorer has a feature that lets you jump right to the object that triggers an error or other issue. Additionally, several reports are available that show details about what should be changed and how to change it.

For modifications to your VBA code, check out our Total Visual CodeTools product. It has a Code Cleanup feature to add error handling to every procedure that lacks it, insert standard commenting structures, standardize indentations, rename variables to a naming convention you specify, and much more.

Does Total Access Analyzer support Access Data Projects (ADPs)?

Total Access Analyzer (version 2000 and later) supports documentation and analysis of Access ADPs. However because of the many differences between MDB (includes ACCDBs) and ADPs, there are significant differences with the documentation Total Access Analyzer generates and the way it behaves.

Certain object types are similar between MDBs and ADPs. For instance, forms, reports, data access pages, macros, modules, command bars, and import/export specifications are essentially the same with similar documentation.

However, some objects only exist in one and not the other. For instance, queries only exist in MDBs, while ADPs have views, database diagrams, and stored procedures. Total Access Analyzer generates the appropriate documentation for all of these objects.

Both MDBs and ADPs have tables, but they are different. MDBs can link to tables or have tables stored within the MDB itself. ADPs only link to tables that exist on the server. The documentation of the tables is also slightly different. Fields in MDBs are called Columns in ADPs. ADP tables also have Keys and Triggers. Again, these are documented based on the database type.

Please refer to the user guide or help file (specifically the sections MDB vs. ADP Documentation and Documentation Limitations for ADPs) for details about documenting ADPs.

Using Total Access Analyzer

How do I start Total Access Analyzer?

Total Access Analyzer is a Microsoft Access Add-in program. To start the program, open your database, and select it from the Add-ins menu.

In Access 2007, this is on the Database Tools ribbon. In earlier versions of Access, it's under the Tools menu.

How do I get a list of unused objects?

Visit this page for details about how Total Access Analyzer detects unused objects and code in Access databases. There are two ways to see this information:

1. From the Main menu, click on the View (Explorer) button. Click on the database (top level) in the TreeView. View the Suggestions tab. Unused objects are listed there. You can filter the list of suggestions shown by clicking on the Filter Items button. The types of unused objects include:

• Tables
• Queries
• Forms
• Reports
• Macros
• Modules:
  • Unused Class Property
  • Unused Procedures
  • Unused User Defined Type
  • Unused User Variables and Constants

2. From the Main menu, click on the Report (Print) button. The information is available under the Suggestions area of the reports (left side of the 2 panel form). There are specific reports in this section for unused tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, procedures, properties, user defined types, and variables.

NOTE: The unused form and report suggestions are added in the 2007 version. Like all listings of unused objects, you need to be careful before deleting them because they may be used in ways Total Access Analyzer cannot detect (for instance interactive use or a table driven system with object names stored in tables). Look under Limitations in the help file to understand what Total Access Analyzer can or cannot detect.

How do I save/print/export or output a report to another format?

Total Access Analyzer 2007

In the Access 2007 version, Total Access Analyzer offers the ability to export one or more reports in a variety of formats to a folder you specify. Formats include Adobe PDF, HTML, Snapshot, Text, RTF, or XPS:

Earlier Versions of Total Access Analyzer

Saving a Total Access Analyzer report in a different format is something that can be done, but does not always work for all reports. The ways to do this are below:

1. The best way to get the information in the same format is to use the Snapshot Viewer for Microsoft Access that comes with Microsoft Office Service Packs. This is the easiest.
2. You can also use a variety of other methods including the Options to Output reports to MS Word (Tools Menu | Office Links | Publish it with MS Word).
3. You can also Export the report to a different format as well. To Export, Go to the File Menu and click on Export. When the dialog comes up, you can choose to Export to many different formats (The box that says "Save as Type").
4. Lastly, while viewing the report, go to the file Menu and click on the Send option. A dialog will show asking what format you want to send the file in. Choose the format you want (***NOTE that all formats may not work properly with our reports). After you click OK, your default mail browser shows with an attachment. Simply save the attachment as "[What you want to name the report]" or e-mail the attachment to yourself.

These methods do not always work properly and some information may be missing or formatted incorrectly for how you want to view it. The formatting is due to the way that Microsoft handles the output of the fields or controls it finds. We have no control over this formatting or the output functionality since this is Microsoft Access functionality for outputting reports and not our own.

Technical Support

Why is Total Access Analyzer missing from my add-ins menu?

This occurs if Total Access Analyzer is not properly installed and/or the registry setting for Microsoft Access add-ins was modified. Possible causes for this are:

• The installed version of Total Access Analyzer doesn't match your version of Access. Total Access Analyzer is Access version specific and only appears as an add-in for its version. Contact FMS for an upgrade to the correct version.

• The setup program for Total Access Analyzer was not run, or an the Access Add-in Manager was invoked as an attempt to install it. Don't do that! If you try this, an error message referring to a missing UsysRegInfo table may appear.

Total Access Analyzer is installed by using its setup.exe file:

1. Run the setup file "setup.exe"

2. Follow the prompts of the setup routine and enter your serial number when prompted.

3. After clicking finish to terminate the setup process, open your copy of Microsoft Access.

4. Open the database you want to document.

5. Select Total Access Analyzer from the add-ins menu. Total Access Analyzer launches itself and displays its main screen.

I'm getting an error

The first step when you receive any error is to make sure you're using the latest version of Total Access Analyzer. Check the Updates Page and make sure you have the latest build.

If you using the latest update and are still encountering an error, it may be caused by corruption or broken references in your database. This problem can manifest itself as one of the following errors:

• Error -2147417848, "Method '<Name>' of object <Name> failed"

• Error 6, "Overflow."

• Error 438, "Object does not support this property or method."

• Error 2091, "<Name> is an invalid name."

• Error 2125, "Application-defined or object-defined error"

• Error 2467, "The expression you entered refers to an object that is closed or doesn't exist."

• Error 3071, "This expression is typed incorrectly, or it is too complex to be evaluated."

• Error 3270, "Property not found."

To resolve these issues, follow the steps to decompile and recompile your database. This often fixes mysterious corruption issues related to VBA code.

Uninstall and Reinstall Total Access Analyzer

If that fails, the Total Access Analyzer program may be corrupt. Reinstall the program:

1. Uninstall Total Access Analyzer (any documentation you already generated is stored in the TDB files and is not deleted)
2. Re-install Total Access Analyzer
3. Run the Analysis again.

If after applying the latest update you are still encountering errors (for instance, you can't even document the Northwind.mdb), then please contact us so that we can be of further assistance.

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