Multi-Developer projects in Access 12

A

aaron.kempf

hey

does anyone know if there are going to be improvements for multiple
developers with the new file format?

it would be really nice if multiple developers could edit forms in the
same app at the same time

i mean-- dreamweaver can do this

and is there still goign to be 'open exclusive' vs just open?

-aaron
 
A

Albert D.Kallal

it would be really nice if multiple developers could edit forms in the
same app at the same time

Yes, you been able to the above for the last few versions.

As with all Microsoft developer products, when you start to have multiple
developers, the approach is to use Visual Source Safe (VSS).

You need to use VSS.

VSS allows you, and a team of developers to "check in", and "check out"
code. This ability when used with ms-access also extends to all objects
(forms, reports, macros, queries, code modules).

And, if you screw up something, you can discard your check-out..and start
over!!

So, multiple developers can work on the same project at the same time.

Here is some screen shots of VSS with ms-access.

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/vss/index.htm

Note how the there is a new little "lock icon" or a "check mark" icon beside
each object. The ones with check marks are objects that I check out for
development.

You need to have VSS, and also need to grab the VSS add in for a2003 in the
downloads section.
 
A

aaron.kempf

ok so what version of source safe do i need to do ths?

do I need office developers edition to do this?

I just still dont see how that helps-- will it really allow multiple
developers to keep track of stuff like that?
 
A

Albert D.Kallal

ok so what version of source safe do i need to do ths?

Hum, I got VSS 6.0. It might work with earlier versions, but I don't know
(sorry)
(my bets are you need VSS 6.0)
do I need office developers edition to do this?

No, you don't with a2003. (earlier versions, I think you did!!).
You do however need to download the VSS add-in for ms-access 2003

You can find that here, just go to general downloads

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads

Then, type in the search box, (upper left) the following:

source code control access
I just still dont see how that helps-- will it really allow multiple
developers to keep track of stuff like that?

Yes!! is does!!

I have to assume you are new to "team" development. When you have more then
one developer working, the VSS is standard fair.

So, yes, two developers can now check out a form, or several queries, or
reports (or whatever) they want to work on. They can then work on them
undependably of each other. They can run, write code, do whatever to that
stuff they checked out all day long. When then they check "in" their
changes, then those changes are put into the master copy, and that gives you
a resulting access application.

Not only that, if you got a weird error, or something that does not work,
but worked yesterday, and you roil back, and build a version based on
yesterdays code.

If ask any developer about source code control, many will tell you that it
is the ONLY way to write code.

In many companies, if you check in code that "breaks" the build (ie:
introduces a bug that prevents the application from working), then often you
are NOT allowed to go home until you fix what you broke!!! So, each
developer has to take responsiblity for what they "check out" to work on,
and when they "check in" the code, it better work, as these things keep
track of who did what!!
 
A

aaron.kempf

but do you know if i need 6.0c or 6.0d or will 6.0a or 6.0b work?

i'm not new to team development; i just would like to use VSS to keep
track of different versions of queries on the mdb side

-aaron
 
A

Albert D.Kallal

but do you know if i need 6.0c or 6.0d or will 6.0a or 6.0b work?

Hum, don't know.

When I go help->about in VSS explorer, , I get:

Version 6.0 (Build 8163).

Not aware (sure) where the "c,d, b " etc. version comes up, but standard VSS
6 should work...
 
A

aaron.kempf

i believe that 6.0c shipped with VSS that was included with office
2000 developer; and i think that the VSS that comes with .NET is 6.0d

i just dont know if officeupdate.microsoft.com will update visual
studio and that type of thing

(it SHOULD, but im sure it doesn't)

I just want a pleasant VSS experience.

Anyone know if the VSS 2005 beta works with the Access 2003 Addin?

I just would love a modern interface
 
P

Philipp Stiefel

Anyone know if the VSS 2005 beta works with the Access 2003 Addin?

No, AFAIK it does not. IIRC there was some information regarding
this matter on the VSS2005-Beta-Website at www.microsoft.com.
So far I didn't find any Information on if this has changed with
the RTM-Version of Visual Source Safe 2005.

Cheers
Phil
 
P

Philipp Stiefel

Albert D.Kallal said:
Yes, you been able to the above for the last few versions.

As with all Microsoft developer products, when you start to have multiple
developers, the approach is to use Visual Source Safe (VSS).

You need to use VSS.

Well, actually you haven't. In theory you can use any source code
control system that supports the Microsoft SCC-API. Almost every
serious SCM-Software does that. In practice however there are some
issues with many systems when it comes to the interaction with the
Access-PlugIn and the use of the SCM-System from within Access.
Nevertheless there are some SCM-Solutions that really work with
Access. - At least as good as Visual Source Safe (6.0) does.

I finally managed to translate my article on this topic to English.
If you are interested in using SCM-Software with MS Access you
might want to have a look at it.
-> http://www.codekabinett.com/rdumps.php?targetDoc=ScmAcc&Lang=2

Best wishes
Phil
 

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