ACC95: Microsoft Access Beta Site Cleanup Letter

• Microsoft Access version 7.0

SUMMARY

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

This article contains a letter which Microsoft sent to Microsoft Access for Windows 95 beta test sites in early November 1995. The letter explains a few rare problems that may occur as a result of residual files from beta installations and describes possible solutions to these problems.

MORE INFORMATION

            Microsoft Access for Windows 95 Beta Site Cleanup

Transferring Databases to Final Code

If you have been using a pre-release version of Microsoft Access, there are a few actions you may need to take when you open a database in the release version of Microsoft Access. Which steps you need to perform depends on which pre-release version of Microsoft Access you have been running. Once you've completed the steps outlined below, you should remove all pre- release versions of Microsoft Access from your computer and avoid using them again.

Import all Objects into a New Database

If you have been running a post-TR3 beta, then you should import all objects from the existing database into a new database in the release version of Microsoft Access. You must have administrator privileges on this new database. You will gain significant performance improvements if you import objects into a new database in this way. The importing process results in a larger database, so you may want to compact the new database, and then do a Compile All Modules, Save All Modules on the compacted database.

Saving Modules as Text

If you have been running TR3 or earlier, then you must save all modules as Text using the Save Modules as Text add-in before installing the release version of Microsoft Access for all databases. Assuming you have installed all add-ins with TR3, this command will be available under Add-ins on the Tools menu. Next, install the release version of Microsoft Access. When you open a database, all Visual Basic for Applications code in that database will be converted to the release version.

AutoNumber Fields and Foreign Key Default Values

Due to a binary format change from the early beta releases, some AutoNumber fields in your tables may have their NewValues property reset from Increment to Random. Also, related tables with foreign keys based on these AutoNumber fields will have their default value changed to the GenUniqueID() function.

The affected tables will still show the AutoNumber field's NewValues property as Increment. If you are having problems opening forms and reports, this may be the problem. If any foreign keys to tables with AutoNumber (Increment) fields have their DefaultValue property reset to GenUniqueID, you have this problem. To correct this problem, do the following:

• Delete the relationships between the affected tables and the other tables.
• Delete the affected AutoNumber field.
• Copy the entire table to a new table and delete all records from this table.
• Add the AutoNumber field back to the new table (use the same field name).
• Create an append query to append the old table records to the new table. Run the query.
• Delete the old table and rename the new table to the old table name.
• Reset the default values in all tables with foreign keys to the AutoNumber field.
• Re-establish the relationships.

Text Box Properties

Due to an underlying change in the text box properties, two text box properties will shift when you convert your database from TR3a or earlier betas to final Microsoft Access. Because we moved the properties, any text boxes you have created in TR3a or earlier betas will have the ToolTipsText and ShortcutMenu properties shifted to the wrong location.

1. Your ToolTipsText will be in the ShortcutMenu property.

This change only affects text boxes. Command buttons and all other controls will not change. To fix this problem, you must save the ShortcutMenu text before converting your database to the final version of Microsoft Access. ToolTipsText will be there; it will just be in the wrong location.

Purging Old Beta Installs

If you want to be sure you have no residual files from the beta process on your computer, the only recourse is to reformat your hard drive and to reinstall your applications and documents. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of this beta cycle, the only way to ensure that you have removed all old files and registry entries from the Windows 95, Microsoft Access 95, Microsoft Office 95, the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit for Windows 95, and Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 betas is to reformat. Many people have seen improved performance and stability after this process.

We understand how painful this process is, but it is the only sure way to have a clean install. After several failed cleanup efforts, we have reformatted our own beta test computers to purge the old beta files and registry entries.

Before reformatting your hard drive be sure to:

1. Make backups of all documents you want to keep.

2. Have on hand all application installation disks.

3. Have on hand all old application disks required to install upgrades.