What's New About Data Access Pages
A data access page is a Web page that you can use to add, edit,
view, or manipulate data in a Microsoft Access database or a SQL Server
database.
- You can create pages that are used to enter and edit data,
similar to Access forms. You can also create pages that display records grouped
hierarchically, similar to Access reports.
- You can collect and distribute data in several ways with
data access pages. In addition to using them within an Access database or
Access project, you can use them on the Internet or on an intranet, and you can
send them in e-mail.
- You can view grouped records interactively. With grouped
pages, you can view only the details you want by expanding and collapsing group
headers. You can also sort and filter records.
- You can analyze data and make projections. By using a
PivotTable list, you can organize data in different ways to make projections
and do complex calculations with a spreadsheet control, and you can view data
graphically in a chart.
- You can display HTML text. You can store HTML code in
fields in your database and display it as formatted HTML text on the page. For
example, if a value in a field includes the HTML tag that formats text as
italic (such as <I>text</I>), you can use a bound HTML control on
the page to display the value as text.
- You use familiar design tools. In Design view, you can
create pages using toolbars, the toolbox, themes, and other features that are
similar to the tools you use to create forms and reports.
What's New in a Microsoft Access project
A Microsoft Access project (.adp) is a new type of Access file
that provides efficient, native-mode access to a Microsoft SQL Server database
through the OLE DB component architecture. Using an Access project, you can
easily create a client/server application.
- Working with a Microsoft Access project is very similar to
working with an Access database. The process of creating forms, reports, data
access pages, macros, and modules is the same. Once you connect to a SQL Server
database, you can view, create, modify, and delete tables, views, stored
procedures, and database diagrams using the Microsoft SQL Server Design
Tools.
- Access projects use the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE). MSDE
is a new technology that provides local data storage compatible with Microsoft
SQL Server 7.0. MSDE could be thought of as a client/server data engine
alternative to the file server Microsoft Jet database engine. It is designed
and optimized for use on smaller computer systems, such as a single-user
computer or a small workgroup server.
- You can scale up data and objects by using the Upsizing
Wizard. The Upsizing Wizard converts a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) to a
new or existing Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 and 7.0 database or new Microsoft
Access project (.adp) by scaling up the data and data definitions and migrating
database objects.
What's New About Working on the Internet or Intranets
Microsoft Access 2000 provides new features designed to help you
easily use the Internet. You need a Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet
Explorer, and a modem, intranet connection, or other network connection to
access the Internet and take advantage of these new features.
- You can create data access pages as described in "What's
New About Data Access Pages" earlier in this article. Create Web pages that you
can use to add, edit, view, or manipulate current data in a Microsoft Access
database or a Microsoft SQL Server database.
- You can collaborate over an intranet or the Internet. Use
Microsoft NetMeeting to collaborate with others on a Microsoft Access database
or Microsoft Access project.
- You can assign hyperlinks to toolbar buttons or menu
commands. This provides easy access to a location on your computer, a network,
an intranet, or the Internet.
What's New About Working with Data and Database Designs
Microsoft Access 2000 provides many new features that make
working with data and designing a database even easier.
- You can use record-level locking. A Microsoft Access
database now supports record-level locking, in addition to page-level locking
(which locks all records on a 4 KB page). You enable the locking level with the
new database option, Open databases using record level
locking. To view this option, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Advanced tab. The actual level that is used depends on how the Access
database is programmed.
- You can find and replace data more flexibly. You can now
move freely between the Find and Replace dialog box and the
data in the view or window.
- You can view related data in a subdatasheet. Use a
subdatasheet to view and edit related or joined data in a table, query, or form
datasheet, or in a subform all from the same view.
For example, in
the Northwind sample database, the Suppliers table has a one-to-many
relationship with the Products table; so for each row of the Suppliers table in
Datasheet view, you can view and edit the related rows of the Products table in
a subdatasheet. - You can automatically fix errors caused by renaming fields.
Name AutoCorrect automatically corrects common side effects that occur when you
rename forms, reports, tables, queries, fields, text boxes or other
controls.
- You can take advantage of Unicode to use the characters of
any language that Unicode supports in your data. Unicode compression can offset
the effect of Unicode's increased storage space requirements. You can take
advantage of dual-font support by specifying a substitute font that you can use
in addition to your default font to display all of the characters in your data
properly.
- You can work with the euro. To display euro amounts easily
with other currencies, you can use the euro setting (#,###.##) of the Format property to indicate a euro amount. Alternatively, you can enter
the euro symbol (�) by pressing ALT+0128 on the numeric keypad with NUM LOCK
on. When you paste or import data that contains the euro symbol (�) from
Microsoft Excel 2000 into Microsoft Access 2000, Access stores the euro symbol
regardless of the currency symbol defined in Regional Settings in Windows
Control Panel. Finally, you can use the EuroConvert function to convert one
currency to another by using the euro as an intermediary.
- You can print a report showing the relationships in your
Access database as they appear in the Relationships window.
- You can use the keyboard to manage relationships by
creating, editing, and deleting relationships and joins.
- You can use Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) to access
and manipulate data in a database server through any OLE DB
provider.
What's New About the Database Window
The Database window in Microsoft Access 2000 provides a variety
of options for viewing and manipulating database objects.
- You can use the Database window toolbar to find commands
quickly for creating, opening, or managing database objects.
- You can use the Objects bar to view database objects; its
vertical orientation makes it easier to use.
- You can organize database objects into groups. Click the Groups bar to view your groups, which can contain shortcuts to database
objects of different types.
- You can use new object shortcuts. In the Database window,
you can quickly create a new database object by using a wizard, or open a new
database object in Design view.
- You can customize how you select and open objects in the
Database window. If you want, you can change the default behavior so that you
select a database object by resting the pointer over it, and open an object by
single-clicking it.
- You can select an object by typing its name. For example,
click the Shippers table while viewing the list of table objects by typing
Sh.
What's New About Securing, Maintaining, and Converting a Database
Microsoft Access 2000 includes improved tools for maintenance and
security.
- You can secure your Access database with the User-level
Security Wizard. The User-level Security Wizard is now much easier to use and
is the preferred method for defining user-level security on a Microsoft Access
database for most common security schemes.
- You can protect your code with Visual Basic for
Applications password protection. Standard modules and modules behind forms and
reports are now protected by a Visual Basic Applications (VBA) password that
you create in the Visual Basic Editor; they are no longer protected by
user-level security.
- You can use the improved Compact utility that combines
compacting and repairing into a single process, and is safer and more
effective.
- You can select Compact On Close to automatically compact a
Microsoft Access database or Microsoft Access project when you close
it.
- You can convert an Access 2000 database to Access 97 file
format.
What's New About Forms and Reports
Microsoft Access 2000 provides new features to make it faster and
easier to create great-looking forms and reports.
- You can group text boxes and other controls. Use the Group command on the Format menu to group related text boxes and other controls on a form or
report.
- You can define conditional formatting rules for text boxes
and other controls. Use the Conditional Formatting command on the Format menu to define the font color, font size, control background
color, and other visual information that gives feedback to users as they enter
data on a form.
- You can create forms and reports for SQL Server databases.
In a Microsoft Access project, you can create forms and reports for a SQL
Server database with the same tools that you use to create them in a Microsoft
Access database.
- You can distribute reports to users who don't have
Microsoft Access. Export Microsoft Access reports to report snapshot (.snp)
file format. You can use Snapshot Viewer to view, print, and mail report
snapshots.
What's New in Replication
Replication commands on the Microsoft Access
Tools menu in a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and in a Microsoft
Access project (.adp) allow you to create replicas and synchronize them on
demand as you work in Microsoft Access.
- You can replicate data in an Access project by creating
publications and subscriptions.
- You can use Jet and Replication Objects (JRO) to replicate
and synchronize databases and Access projects programmatically.
- You can work on files even when you are no longer connected
to a Web server by using Web server replication.
- You can use Replica priority to resolve replication
conflicts. A replica in a replica set is assigned a priority when it is
created. The highest priority replica is used in the case of a synchronization
conflict.
- You can prevent users from deleting records in a replica by
using the Prevent Deletes option.
- You can create local replicas and anonymous replicas. Local
and anonymous replicas can synchronize only with their parent, global replica.
Anonymous replicas are recommended for Internet applications if you need a
large number of replicas.
- You can use the Conflict Viewer to reconcile and resolve
synchronization conflicts; it is the default tool in Access for this
purpose.
- You can use the ConflictFunction property as an alternative to the Microsoft Access Conflict
Viewer to provide a customized procedure that assists users in resolving
synchronization conflicts.
- Conflicts are determined at the column level by default.
Changes to the same record in two different replicas cause a synchronization
conflict only if the same column or field is changed.
- You can use Row Level Tracking if you want. When this table
property is set to True, it indicates that conflicts are tracked based at the
row level of a table rather than at the default column level.
- You can set a Retention Period to control the number of
days nonsynchronized records are retained in the system tables.
- You now use a single mechanism to record and resolve
conflicts and errors, making resolution easier. Whenever a conflict occurs, a winning change is selected and applied in all replicas and the losing change is recorded as a conflict at all replicas.
What's New with Sample Applications
The sample applications that you can install with Microsoft
Access provide documented examples that show you how to create and customize
full-featured Microsoft Access databases.
- The Northwind sample application is designed for users new
to Microsoft Access databases. Northwind includes data that you can manipulate,
and forms, reports, data access pages, and other database objects you can use
as models in your own databases.
- The NorthwindCS sample application includes a SQL script
that creates the Northwind database in Microsoft SQL Server, and a Microsoft
Access project that you connect to the Northwind database. The Access project
includes forms, reports, data access pages, and other database objects you can
use as models in your own Access projects.
- The Address Book database can save address and phone
information for every member of a family, print address labels, or remind your
when it's time to send birthday cards. You can export your address list to
Microsoft Word.
- The Contact Manager database can save information on all of
your contacts, keep records of calls, send e-mail, set reminders, and print
labels. You can export your contact list to Microsoft Word.
- The Household Inventory database can save information about
important possessions, keep a permanent record of serial numbers, purchase and
replacement information, and list items donated to charity. You can import and
export information from other applications.
What's New with Toolbars, Menu Bars, and Shortcut Menus
The toolbars, menu bars, and shortcut menus in Microsoft Access
2000 make it easy for you to organize commands the way you want.
- You can personalize menus and toolbars. Expand a menu to
display all commands, and choose a command to add it to a personalized menu.
Microsoft Access 2000 adjusts menus and toolbars as you work so that only the
commands and toolbar buttons you use most often appear.
- You can position toolbars next to each other. Click More Buttons if there is not enough room on the toolbar for a button that you
need. Resize the toolbar if you'd like room for more buttons. After you've
clicked a button, it appears on the toolbar with the buttons that you've used
most recently.
- You can assign a hyperlink to a toolbar button or menu
command. This gives you easy access to a location on your computer, a network,
an intranet or the Internet.
What's New with Macros
Microsoft Access 2000 provides new actions you can use to open
data access pages and the new database objects, diagrams, stored procedures,
and views, in a Microsoft Access project (.adp).
- You can use the OpenDataAccessPage action to open a data
access page in the current database in either Design view or Page
view.
- You can open a diagram in the current Access project by
using the OpenDiagram action.
- You can open a stored procedure in the current Access
project by using the OpenStoredProcedure diagram. You can open the stored
procedure in Datasheet view, Design view, or Print Preview.
- You can open a view in the current Access project by using
the OpenView action.
What's New in Programming with Visual Basic for Applications
The Microsoft Visual Basic Editor (VBE) is the development
environment in which you create and edit Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
code.
- You use the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor to create and
edit the code contained in files that you have created in Microsoft Office
applications, including Microsoft Access databases and Microsoft Access
projects. VBE features include the Project Explorer, the Properties window, the
Object Browser, and the Code window, and debugging tools.
- Several new language elements, including Objects,
Properties, Methods and Events are new in Microsoft Access 2000. Detailed
information is available in the Help system by searching for "New Objects" for
example.
What's New About Working with Other Applications
Microsoft Access 2000 provides new features for working with
other products.
- You can work with Microsoft SQL Server. Create a Microsoft
Access project that is easy to connect to a Microsoft SQL Server database, or
use the Microsoft SQL Server Database Wizard to create a SQL Server database
and an Access project at the same time. Working with an Access project is
similar to working with a Microsoft Access database; the process of creating
forms, reports, data access pages, macros, and modules is the same. Once you
connect to a SQL Server database, you can view, create, modify, and delete
tables, views, stored procedures, and database diagrams using the Microsoft SQL
Server Design Tools.
- You can create a new Access database from data in another
file format. Just open a file that is in another file format (such as text,
dBASE, Paradox, or spreadsheet format) in Access; Microsoft Access 2000
automatically creates an Access database and links the file for you.
- You can import or link data from Microsoft Outlook or
Microsoft Exchange. Use the Exchange/Outlook Wizard to import or link data from
Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange Server. For example, you might want to
link to your Microsoft Outlook Contacts folder and then create form letters and
mailing labels by merging the data with the Microsoft Word Mail Merge
Wizard.