What has happened to to functionality of the D-base format?

[Guest]

10 years ago I preferred the D-base format to spreadsheets and I was able to
use Alpha 4, Fox Pro and early versions of Access with ease to build all
sorts of products, mail merge, etc. By Access 97 this ability became limited
and now with 2003 it is GONE!
I realize the programming world wants MORE D-BASE POWER, but what about
returning database use back to us non-programmers and D-base developers.
Isn't there a way to return the intutive features of the database program? I
can't even figure out how to add two fields in 2003 and merging with the
right format from Access to Word for a mail merge is no longer easy! You've
killed the database for the "little guy" and I really would like it back.
Can't you strip down the professional version of Access for home use? Maybe
return to Access 97 and build in features that allow us non-programmers to
use it easier. A "calculate age" function would be nice! Just an observation
from a fan of the database, that now doesn't feel I even know the game.

 

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

10 years ago I preferred the D-base format to spreadsheets and I was able to
use Alpha 4, Fox Pro and early versions of Access with ease to build all
sorts of products, mail merge, etc. By Access 97 this ability became limited
and now with 2003 it is GONE!
I realize the programming world wants MORE D-BASE POWER, but what about
returning database use back to us non-programmers and D-base developers.
Isn't there a way to return the intutive features of the database program? I
can't even figure out how to add two fields in 2003 and merging with the
right format from Access to Word for a mail merge is no longer easy! You've
killed the database for the "little guy" and I really would like it back.
Can't you strip down the professional version of Access for home use? Maybe
return to Access 97 and build in features that allow us non-programmers to
use it easier. A "calculate age" function would be nice! Just an observation
from a fan of the database, that now doesn't feel I even know the game.

http://www.directdeals.com/category-office-97-professional.aspx
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

10 years ago I preferred the D-base format to spreadsheets and I was able
to
use Alpha 4, Fox Pro and early versions of Access with ease to build all
sorts of products, mail merge, etc. By Access 97 this ability became
limited
and now with 2003 it is GONE!

What exact funcitnally is gone? I came from a old quickbasic enofment, and
then went on to use dbaseIII, and then FoxPro, and now ms-access.

I find ms-access a MUCH better programmers envoimnt then thsoe above
mentione dproducts by a long shot.

Isn't there a way to return the intutive features of the database program?

What features do you speak of? Can you give some examples?

I can't even figure out how to add two fields in 2003 and merging with
the
right format from Access to Word for a mail merge is no longer easy!

Compared to what product before? How did you write and do the above
before?

What, compared to the old dos FoxPro...? You got to be kidding me!!!

Today, this whole process takes NO CODE at all. Just build a
query that concatnents the two fields together..and you then
launch word..and start the mail merge wziard? This sounds to
me that you want to walk when you have a car avaibaling?

Furhter, if you do
want to write code, you have a much better enovment, and more
flexiable tools.

As for merging to ms-word? Heck, that is very easy..and has never
been more easy to do....

I would fire up the query builder, build my quiery with the fields that I
want. For a collum that returns
the first + lastname, in the query builder I would go:

FullName:[FirstName] & " " & [LastName]

Now, just fire up the word merge in word, and use the query as the
source..you are done!!!

If you are looking to do somting diffentc, please ask....

If you want a pre-built solstion that lets you place a buttion on a form,
and merge the current roecr to word, then
simply use my "super easy word" merge smaple here:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/msaccess/msaccess.html


So, so far, we have the first approach that TAKES NO code.

We also have the 2nd suggestion to use a increae free lbiary of mine (I
really suggest you try the smaple I have..and if you use it, then you can
enable word merge
for any form you have tiwh ONE line of code.

You've
killed the database for the "little guy" and I really would like it back.
Can't you strip down the professional version of Access for home use?
Maybe
return to Access 97

What features in a97 have been removed from a2003? I worked extenicvlry in
both versions..and I find I like a2003 better now. I perfoer the the split
IDE, and I also like the extensosn to the programming lanauge that have been
added since a97 (the split command, a instrrev come to mind).

A "calculate age" function would be nice! Just an observation
from a fan of the database, that now doesn't feel I even know the game.

There is a nice code sample here:

http://www.mvps.org/access/datetime/date0001.htm

In fact, there is 3 code examples in the above. just take the function
example, place it in standard code module, and for EVER MORE you will now
have a nice age calc function. In fact, what is so nice about ms-access is
the "ton" of examples available. You put that code example in your
application, and you don't even have to write the code since there is so
many examples...

The only thing I can figure out here is that you don't want to spend any
time leaning how this stuff works..but I can assure you that coding your
above questions in ms-access is FAR FAR easier then it used to be in the old
days....

On the other hand, if you don't like cars...and want to stay with a
horse..that is understandable here...

By the way, spend some time browsing that www.mvps.org/access site. There is
enough nice little code examples to keep you happy for a good year or two...