I think if you're happy with the existing version, then you might want a
stick with it.
While a number of diehards don't really like the ribbon, I find that after
one gets used to it, then you start to like it.
I also am seeing the same with the navigation pain.
In fact I finally had one of those cases where when I went back
to access 2003 today, I started try to work with some forms on the screen, I
was aghast that when I'm looking at my form, I don't have a list
of my forms am working on the left side that can select from.
I thought it Was a bit strange that when looking at a form, I am unable
to select from existing list of forms, and that I have to minimize the
current form a working on, and THEN select form the forms list. I find 2007
much nicer in this regards.
However, for some, they don't like the navigation pane. This is again a case
where you have to actually spend a good afternoon with it. Once one figures
how to use the navigation pane, then it actually becomes quite nice to use.
I starting to like it more and more..
(It seems the older we get, the increased resistance we have to change.)
I also like the ribbon because positions are in the same
place, you start to develop memory muscle, and you'll find that the options
you're using are less mouse clicks away. It becomes a really nice easy click
click point point click click kind of process during development.
The other big change is the tabs and stacked controls
on reports and forms, and it is a big timesaver.
I've always found that fine turning reports takes WAY TOO much time
It is quite a bit of work when sizing or working with a report.
To remove a column in a report you have to delete the label in the
page header, and then you have to delete the text box control in
the details section. You then have to highlight all the labels
and "carefully" move them to the left (and you have to do the same
for the detail section).
In 2007 the new layout controls complete 100% eliminates all the above
toil and hard work. When you delete the label in the page heading, the
corresponding text box control in the detail section is also deleted, and
all the controls to the right auto matic move left for you. You also get the
same effect when you resize any of the text box controls, both the label and
all the controls to right of that control are automatically moved over for
you. This is just a huge timesaver, and when I use the old report writer I
instantly realize that the old report later shows it's 15+ years in age. I
find the old report writer really hard and difficult to work with. This was
always a sore point in access. Now this has been fixed and I absolute love
the new stacked controls and tabs controls for forms and reports.
The stacking and grouping of controls is a big change when you are
dealing with forms. (however you need to spend a few minutes on how
the grouping of controls work. You can certainly continue to do things the
old way, but I don't recommend it when this new feature works so well for
forms and reports layout, it really is a real nice step up in terms of how
access works.
As for additional features for developers, there are quite a few:
For example in a combo box, there's a new setting in the property sheet that
you can "set" what form to maintain the list of items for the combo box.
All date fields on a form now have an automatic date picker enabled by
default (but you can disable it if you want). I think it's about time that
we actually got a built in date picker for controls, it's been so many years
overdue, this is a nice feature.
Another large feature is the anchoring of controls. If you look at
when you use outlook, what happens when you use outlook on computers
with differently sized monitors? The outlook form does not change for
each resolution, but if you increase the size of the form, you see MORE
information because the text box controls on the form increase in size.
This is how access 2007 works if you use this new feature. Thus if you
place a buttons in the lower left of your screen and re-size it...the
buttons *remains* in the lower left corner as you re-size (it moves).
So, you close command button in the lower right corner of the form will
always say in that spot...even as you change the size of the form.
So, we much have the .net idea the anchored controls for our forms, and if
you increase the
size of a form, the length/size of the text box will also increase on your
form. (I think it's significant to point out that that's not the same thing
as scaling or resizing a form, because if you have a form with a limited
amount of data on it, and you simply re-size it to a larger screen
resolution, you're not actually going to display any more data and that
really does not get you anywhere).
There's also a new image control for displaying images on a form, this image
control solves a number of interesting problems. There is no more bloat
associated with it. You can specify a path name to a external picture and it
will display correctly WITHOUT you having to write any code. And, that
means
the image control can be used in a continuous form to display multiple
images.
Another nice features buttons that you place on a form now allow for text
and a graphic image. This is something that we've all wanted for years, and
now buttons allow this (about time!!). And, buttons can now be transparent
also.
There's also significant improvement in terms of how well access works with
share point. SharePoint opens up a whole new world of possibilities. You
simply install your software on several computers throughout the country,
and as long as they have an Internet connection you're all multiuser sharing
the same data. Of course office live is free right now (sharepoint on line).
So, you don't even have to set up a server, don't have to purchase a server,
and everyone's instantly multiuser anywhere anytime using the same data.
This is darn cool because you can eliminate a lot of red tape and don't need
to purchase or setup sql server, or nothing. I went to office
live.com...signed up..and have multile users sharing the same data in less
then one hour. So, users of your applcation can be anywhere in the world of
Internet connection, and you sharing data without even having to purchase a
server...
I suppose I could write on for consider more time. I guess the bottom line
is there some pretty big changes and lay out to forms etc. You have to be
prepared to go through a learning cure. The learning curve is not really
that high because you're familiar with the previous product and you have a
good starting base and understanding of it. However, there are quite a few
changes in the product, and you have to spend the time to "change" how you
do some things.
I think really only you can decide a case by case basis if it's worth it for
you to upgrade to access 2007. For me some of the features like sharepoint
and the new layout options are really what I like about 2007 the most.
