Recent Articles and Tips

Some of my recent reading....

Mac 101: Use Archive Utility preferences for control over archives

Tutorial: 98 Snow Leopard tips, tricks and tweaks

The ABCs of VoIP

4 password managers offer security anytime, anywhere

Free Web-based Voice Mail Services

ComputerWorld just ran this article about 4 different free voice mail services.

Your Own Personal Cell Tower!

AT&T is soon releasing a mini-cell tower that connects to your home Internet connection and gives you reduced rates. You pay for it once for $150 and then it just ties in with your existing Internet connection. Just read about it on TechRepublic.

10 things to remember when upgrading servers

10 things to remember when upgrading servers: "

You can avoid problems and gain peak efficiencies by following certain practices when upgrading a server. Erik Eckel offers this field-tested list.

---

Servers are almost always deployed, at least initially, with specific objectives in mind. Regardless of whether the server is deployed in a small business or large enterprise, frequently the server’s role changes over time. Due to growth, budget cuts, rack limitations, or other factors, servers deployed for one purpose must often begin fulfilling additional services and responsibilities.

That’s why it’s important to periodically audit systems. Reviewing a server’s resource load helps ensure the organization optimizes performance and prevents downtime. However, system administrators can’t just break a case and drop in more RAM here or upgrade disks there. Server upgrades always require planning. Here are 10 things to remember when upgrading servers to ensure systems perform at peak efficiencies.

Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.

1: Always start with a verified data backup

Never make any changes to a server, even minor upgrades, before confirming a verified data backup exists. Whenever a server is powered down, there is no guarantee the server will come back online. While rare, I’ve seen servers that were shut down simply to install Windows performance and security patches fail to restart.

2: Consider creating an image backup

Several manufacturers offer IT professionals disk cloning technologies that simplify recovering servers when failures occur. Some, including Acronis Inc. and StorageCraft Technology Corp., provide a universal restore option that enables recovering a failed server even to a different bare metal chassis. Downtime is drastically reduced. When upgrades go south, disk images can help recover not only data but a server’s complex configuration in a hurry.

3:    Don’t make multiple simultaneous changes

Most every IT professional understands the importance of minimizing server restarts, so novices are tempted to complete multiple simultaneous upgrades using a single shutdown. But adding disks, replacing memory, installing additional cards, and other tasks should all be performed separately. Why? When things go wrong a day or two later, the process of isolating the change responsible for the error is exponentially more difficult when multiple simultaneous changes were made. If only a single change is introduced, it’s much easier to track the potential culprit.

4: Monitor logs closely after making changes

Following server upgrades, never assume all is well just because the server booted back into its OS without displaying errors. Monitor log files, error reports, backup operations, and other critical events more closely than ever. Leverage Windows’ internal performance reports or third-party monitoring utilities, such as those from GFI Software’s HoundDog or Quest Software’s PacketTrap, to ensure all is performing as intended whenever changes or upgrades are completed.

5: Confirm the OS

It’s easy to forget the operating system a server is running. This is especially true when a server room isn’t standardized and multiple boxes sport a collection of operating systems. Even veteran administrators, caught within the whirlwind confusion that marks many enterprise IS departments’ days, have tried installing 8GB of RAM on a 32-bit Windows Server 2003 machine. Only by first performing a quick audit (including a quick 32-bit versus 64-bit check) of the system to be upgraded can you confirm the OS is compatible and will be able to use the additional RAM (or other resources) being installed.

6: Confirm the chassis supports the upgrade

Server hardware is famously inconsistent. Manufacturers frequently change model numbers and product configurations. Whenever installing additional disk controllers, disks, memory, or other components, you can review the manufacturer’s technical specifications online before ordering upgrades. But only by opening the case can you be 100% confident that the actual server deployed within the organization will accommodate the upgrade.

7: Don’t assume plug-and-play

Whenever installing new hardware, don’t assume the device will plug-and-play well with the server’s operating system (even if the manufacturer states the component is compatible). Before you order upgrades, perform a Google search to learn the experiences other technology professionals encountered when deploying that same component using the same OS. Since the upgrade is being completed on a server, confirm the component is listed on the OS vendor’s hardware compatibility list. It doesn’t hurt to check the server manufacturer’s forums, too, to learn of issues other techs encountered when installing the same device on the same server.

8: Optimize performance

Be sure to follow up on any upgrades requiring associated software adjustments. For example, just adding memory to Windows servers doesn’t automatically optimize Windows’ performance using the additional RAM. System administrators must also update a server’s virtual memory settings to optimize Windows’ operation following a memory upgrade. Further, when new disks are introduced, the page file may need to be moved to the new disk to gain performance advantages.

9: You get what you pay for

Certainly, less expensive disks, RAM, power supplies, and other components are always available. But when it comes to servers, it doesn’t pay to cut corners. Only high quality, high availability components should be deployed in servers. While these items may cost marginally more than other (lesser quality) alternatives, the performance and uptime benefits more than offset the additional expense.

10: Document changes

Surely you’re maintaining log files for each server. Within the documentation for the server just upgraded, update the documentation to note the component that was upgraded, the manufacturer, the vendor and even the order number and serial numbers, if possible. Include warranty and support information as well. The more documentation you have on hand, the easier it will be to isolate and repair issues that arise later.

---

Check out 10 Things… the newsletter

Get the key facts on a wide range of technologies, techniques, strategies, and skills with the help of the concise need-to-know lists featured in TechRepublic’s 10 Things newsletter, delivered every Friday. Automatically sign up today.

"

(Via 10 Things.)

AT&T Fires Back at Verizon

Verizon has become increasingly bold in their attacks on AT&T. The most recent commercial depicts an iPhone as a recent newcomer to the Island of Misfit Toys because of the alleged thin coverage provided via AT&T's 3G network.

While I find the commercial really amusing, I have to tell you that in my own experience with Verizon wireless data, I have been extremely disappointed.

I do a lot of camping in Northern California and up until the end of this month, will have carried two different wireless cellular modems with me. Only about half the time do I get coverage at the state parks with either Verizon or AT&T. In all but one experience, I had no coverage from Verizon but did with AT&T.

I'm not an AT&T fan, however, but they have better coverage in the places where I'm more dependent on cellular data. I'm still baffled at how they can have such predictable black holes of coverage in the middle of S.F. or on Highway 37 between Novato and Sear's Point.

I can also add that 3G is definitely not created equally. This summer we drove from northern CA to southwestern MT via Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. I did many impromptu tests of wireless data along the way and the coverage by AT&T was equal to or better than Verizon the entire route. And when both had good signal, there was no appreciable difference in speed, even though AT&T's was listed as being on their older and slower 'Edge' network while Verizon was on their '3G.'

My other issue with Verizon is their failure to adopt global standards in mobile technology--specifically, to use SIM cards or GSM with their mobile devices. How long has Europe been using SIM cards now? 10 or 15 years? T-mobile and AT&T are the only national carriers in the US who get this....

Anyhow, AT&T fired back today with a press release stating their position with regard to Verizon's attacks. Good reading, enjoy!

In Depth: 10 iPhone shortcuts for new owners

In Depth: 10 iPhone shortcuts for new owners: "

Apple is known for loading its software with handy shortcuts and tricks to make your life easier. You will struggle to find a definitive list of these in the documentation, and many people actually discover them by accident.

With the iPhone and iPod touch, Apple designed a whole new operating system. Essentially a stripped down version of Mac OS X, the iPhone/iPod OS has some great hidden shortcuts and timesavers, which could make your everyday use of the device quicker and easier.

The revolutionary Multi-Touch interface isn't just designed to be tapped, there are actually a host of gestures and movement combinations that perform specific actions. And despite only having two hardware buttons, these work differently depending on how you press them.

Some of the tips related to making calls will only work on an iPhone, of course, but most of these shortcuts will also work on the iPod touch.

01. Show iPod controls

The iPod application has the ability to run in the background. If you're using a different app and you want to pause or skip a track, double tap Home to display iPod controls.

02. Tap the title bar

Scrolling to the top of a page in Safari can be slow. Double-tap on the title bar where the time is displayed and you will jump back to the top. This also works with SMS conversations.

03. Control iPod when locked

If your iPhone/iPod touch is locked but you need to change the volume, pause or skip tracks, double-tap Home and you can control the iPod app and see what track is playing.

04. Make calls from Safari

Phone numbers in Safari display as links. If you press and hold on the number for a couple of seconds, it will display in a pop-up window. This also works with web links.

05. Quick delete button

You can delete items by swiping your finger across the right side of emails, SMS conversations or podcasts when in List view. Videos are marked and erased at the next sync.

06. Quickly add suffixes

In Mail, press and hold on the .com button to reveal .net, .edu .org and .co.uk shortcuts; just select to enter them. This also works when entering URLs in Safari.

07. Force quit apps

If an app freezes, press and hold the Home button for around six seconds to force quit it. If an app quits repeatedly by itself it probably needs updating by the developer.

08. Fix Caps Lock

With Caps Lock Enable on (Settings > General > Keyboard), double-tap Caps Lock to fix it on or off. If its off, click and hold Caps Lock then slide over to a letter to capitalise it.

09. Alternative characters

When you are typing, you may want to use non-standard letters. Press and hold certain letters including A, E, I, O or U to access alternative versions for different languages.

10. Configure iPod controls

In the iPod app, go to More > Edit. From the resulting screen you can drag and drop shortcuts into the four slots at the base of the screen for the things you access most often.

Related Stories

• Samsung's i7500 phone turns up in white
• Apple gets defensive over dictionary rejection
• LG's GD910 watchphone costs less than expected
• Underworld stream first 'live' iPhone concert
• Samsung promises Android for less than £60

"

(Via TechRadar: All latest feeds.)

QuickBooks Pro 2008 on Terminal Server 2008

Microsoft's Terminal Server 2008 (on Server 2008) has come a long way from its previous iteration (Server 2003). One of the many attractive features is application virtualization deployed through Terminal Services.

One group has about a half dozen remote and local users of Terminal Services who need to access QuickBooks. Now Intuit does offer their 'Enterprise' version of QB which is supported under Terminal Services but the catch is the cost (about triple of Pro for the same number of users) and the fact that it creates new data files that are not backwards compatible.

The QB installation goes fairly smoothly of putting QB Pro 2008 on the server but there are a couple of items that caused huge problems in reconciliation, printing to PDF, and e-mail reports; all of which make a call to the bundled Amyuni Document Converter that is built-in to the QB installation.

This client's environment is Server 2008 Enterprise 64 bit Terminal Server and there are several blogs and community posts about working with Vista 64 bit and having to change out the print driver to the new one, as well as deleting and re-installing the PDF Converter and often times Intuit's suggestion to fix many things is to uninstall and reinstall the program.

The best general solutions site that I found was at CCRSoftware. I followed the instructions to a tee but things hung up when trying to create a new printer port. What I found that worked was to login as the local admin on the terminal server (NOT as a domain admin, interestingly enough) and then I could create the port. Prior to that I wasn't able to create the port (invalid name was my error message from Windows).

After creating the port and installing the latest Amyuni driver (the link to download is also on the same document), the local administrator could generate PDFs. The catch was that the default Windows printer had to be one configured as a local printer in the Terminal Server. I then added the most popular local printers for the remote users, disabled the GPO and RDP client properties to set the local default printer to the TS default printer. This way the user can set one of the other printers as the default and it won't switch back.

I then logged into the TS as a normal user from AD, set the default printer to be one of the TS's local printers, and voila, I could reconcile, send reports in e-mail as PDFs, and save as PDFs!

Like I mentioned, nearly all of the information that I had found previously had to do with making it work on Vista 64 bit, of which Server 2008's core is based upon so I knew I was close but QB uses the PDF converter to perform many functions so for those to work correctly, it has to be dialed in just right.

20 Facebook apps to try

For those of you who prefer to NOT look at the web interface to Facebook.... People kept asking me what I thought of the new interface and I had to respond that I honestly didn't know since I've been using the app for the iPhone for so long. For those who prefer their Facebook fat, there are several fat client options out there as well.

20 Facebook apps to try: "Are you tired of using Facebook online? Then turn to these desktop clients, which will give you most of the functionality of the site without forcing you to head to the Web."

(Via Clippings.)

Canon EOS 5D Mk II

Canon EOS 5D Mk II: "

The Canon EOS 5D was a revelation. But a lot has happened since then. Nikon and now Sony have full-frame sensors.

So while the Canon EOS 5D Mk II is a major development of the original, it's never going to enjoy the same near-monopoly as its predecessor. So what's changed?

The new bits

The sensor resolution has gone up from 12.8 megapixels to 21. The 2.5-inch 230,000 pixel LCD has been replaced with one half an inch larger and with four times the resolution. And the new 5D has technology inconceivable when the original 5D was launched, notably a Live View mode and a 1920 x 1080 HD movie mode... we were impressed with the D90, but this is something else again.

The definition is such that there must be more than a few mid-high end camcorder makers starting to wonder if they've backed the wrong horse. Canon's latest Digic IV processor means that the new camera can shoot at 3.9fps compared with the old camera's 3fps, and it handles these big files very well.

In our tests the camera matched Canon's claim of 13 consecutive RAW files at full speed, but it did slow down after that and, once the buffer was full, it took around 20 seconds to clear.

High ISO

Other, less obvious enhancements include a larger, brighter viewfinder, two 'silent' Live View modes for unobtrusive photography, an ISO increase to 6400 in normal shooting and an amazing 25600 in 'expanded' mode.

An Auto Lighting Optimiser extends the camera's dynamic range, opening up shadows without sacrificing highlights, and a peripheral lighting option promises to reduce or remove any corner shading caused by your Canon lenses.

Design and handling

Much of the 5D Mk II's appeal, though, is tied in with its handling rather than its technology. The appearance and layout will be instantly familiar to anyone who's used a high-end EOS before, but Canon has tweaked and reined the user interface to make it better than ever.

Like other pro cameras, this one has two control dials. The first is mounted in the conventional location on the top of the grip. The second, though, is a much larger dial which lies flat on the back of the camera.

Its size and its knurled edge make it very easy to spin with your thumb. Twin control dials mean it's much easier to make independent shutter speed and aperture adjustments, but this rear dial does a lot more.

It's used for menu navigation too – a small joystick just above can be used to move between the menu tabs, but you move down the options by 'spinning' the rear dial. It's both fast and precise. But there's one more twist.

Quick controls

Interactive LCDs have proved their worth in amateur cameras, notably Olympus's E-series and the Nikon D60. They have the advantage that they both show the current settings and enable you to change them directly. And that's just what Canon's introduced on the 5D Mk II. You can stick to the traditional control method if you prefer, or use the new interactive 'Quick Control Screen' instead.

The big question is whether the 21-million pixels have made a big difference to the image quality. One worry will be that the higher pixel density harms the high ISO performance, but in fact the image quality at ISO 6400 is strikingly good. As good as the Nikon D700/D3? Maybe, maybe not. But it's impressive.

What's clear, though, is that the increased resolution really puts the emphasis on lens quality. We tested the 5D Mk II with the 24-105mm f/4 IS lens usually supplied with it as a kit, and found the performance to be good but not exceptional, and this includes some chromatic aberration at the edges of the frame at shorter focal lengths that you might not be expecting to see.

Having said that, the Digital Photo Professional RAW converter/editor supplied with all EOS SLRs has an option to fix this. It can dial out lens aberrations including chromatic aberration, distortion and corner shading automatically, using the lens data and settings embedded in the image's EXIF data.

Digital Photo Pro is sometimes overlooked, but it's a very capable program. In particular, it reveals a lot more fine, textural detail than you tend to see in the 5D Mk II's JPEGs.

JPEG vs. RAW

Like other EOS SLRs, this camera produces clean, noise-free JPEGs but at the cost of fine, high-frequency information. It doesn't affect every image by any means, but there are some subjects in some lighting where the surfaces and the details seem to drop below the camera's detail 'threshold' and are rendered with a characteristically 'glassy' look.

This shouldn't trouble potential 5D Mark II owners, partly because the files are so large that the detail involved is very small and partly because most are likely to shoot RAW anyway. And this is where the Digital Photo Pro software ties in perfectly with the camera, duplicating the Picture Styles, white balance presets and other on-camera adjustments.

Ultimately, the 5D Mk II no longer has a single, conclusive advantage – it's going to have to rely on a combination of things, like its Live View, its HD movie mode and, perhaps most of all, its superb build, design and handling and the backup of Canon's extensive and long-established professional lens and accessory range.

Related Stories

• In Depth: 10 easy ways to improve your photography skills
• Ricoh R10

"

(Via TechRadar: All latest feeds.)

How to Crack Excel Spreadsheet Passwords

How to Crack Excel Spreadsheet Passwords: "Often when an employee departs, they take important Excel passwords with them. This guide outlines how to use a simple Excel password recovery application to crack lost or forgotten passwords, allowing you to unlock password-encrypted Microsoft Excel documents quickly as possible.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Slideshow: Jazinga VoIP PBX

I've not ventured into roll-you-own VoIP but this stuff is pretty cool.

Slideshow: Jazinga VoIP PBX: "The Jazinga MGA120 is an easy to use Asterisk-based VoIP PBX appliance. Read the full review."

(Via Clippings.)

Google fine-tunes Gmail's IMAP access options

This is pretty cool for those of you using Google Mail (gmail) with an IMAP client, such as an iPhone, Apple Mail, Outlook Express, etc.

It allows you to essential unsubscribe from given folders. Finding the option was a little messy though. First you have to login to the webmail interface for GMail, then choose Options at the top right, then Labs, then scroll down and enable advanced IMAP settings.

Google fine-tunes Gmail's IMAP access options: "Google now gives people some precise control over how other e-mail applications can use Gmail with IMAP. It's minor, but shows the wisdom of Google's approach."

(Via Clippings.)

The little Leopard laptop

Netbooks seem to be quite the rage these days and while I'd love to see Apple come out with their version of a netbook, this is an interesting alternative to getting Mac OS X on one of them.

The little Leopard laptop: "

Filed under: Hardware, Portables, Hacks, How-tos, Odds and ends, Leopard

I can always tell when I'm bored, because that's when I think up some challenge for myself. The initial spark for this challenge came when I wrote a post a few months ago about how Paul O'Brien at Modaco had successfully installed Leopard on a Windows-based 'netbook'. TUAW's Mike Schramm further fueled the fire with this post about an Eee PC running OS X.

Netbooks are tiny laptops with a mini price tag to match. Many netbooks sell for less than $500, with 1 GB of RAM, either a 16 - 20 GB solid state disk drive or 160 GB hard disk drive, Wi-Fi, and a built-in webcam. When you consider that these little machines also weigh about the same or less than a MacBook Air, they're a bargain. However, they usually run Windows XP or Ubuntu Netbook Remix, and frankly I'd rather have good old Leopard.

Asus has been making netbooks for a while under the Eee PC moniker, while MSI (Wind), Acer (Aspire One), and even HP have jumped into this growing market recently. It wasn't until I received a direct mail catalog from Dell featuring the new Inspiron Mini 9 that I started thinking seriously about trying to load Leopard on it.

Despite the fact that I'm sure that Apple will announce a low-cost netbook soon, I ended up buying a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook to install Leopard onto. The rest of this post describes how I did it using instructions and files found at various Web sites.

Continue reading The little Leopard laptop

Permalink'|'Email this'|'Comments

"

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Video: Five things to know about VoIP over wireless

Video: Five things to know about VoIP over wireless: "

Voice over IP can provide substantial savings on your phone service by routing phone calls over an IP network. You can even run VoIP over Wi-Fi, but you need to be aware of certain limitations. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives highlights the key issues to help you prepare for wireless VoIP.

You can also read the original article that this episode is based on:

10 things you should know about working with an offshore team

"

(Via Tech Sanity Check.)

Top 5 Gadgets That Could Get You Arrested

Good thing I didn't know about these when I was a kid!

Top 5 Gadgets That Could Get You Arrested: "

OK, we'll admit it. Some of us are drawn to dangerous gear like bears to a picnic basket. There's just something devilishly appealing about mixing a few of our favorite things (tech toys) with one of our least (a ride in the back of a squad car).

Although we'd never condone breaking the law with these five gadgets, we can't deny our morbid fascination with them. Just remember: If misused, these gizmos could get you slapped with a set of handcuffs along with a criminal record.

1. The WASP Knife

width="350" />

A vicious double-whammy of sharpened steel and freezing gas menaces watermelons everywhere.

Image: Courtesy of WASP Knife

Designed to quickly dispatch marauding undersea predators, this 5.25-inch hunting/tactical blade conceals a catastrophic one-two punch. After you shank say, a Great White Shark, a flick of a button injects the beast with an 800-psi blast of compressed air. This basketball-sized sphere of freezing gas decimates the interior of whatever it's injected into; whatever's left simply floats to the surface. It works great on watermelons, too.

Why It'd Get You Arrested:

Stabbing random objects on dry land (and then making them explode) is the fast track to a vandalism charge. Turning the WASP Knife on an innocent creature for non-defense purposes, though? Depending on the state, you're looking at aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon, animal cruelty or even the rarely used 'mayhem' charge.

2. Sonar II Burner

width="350" />

The Sonar II can burn through garbage bags and retinas with equal aplomb.

Image: Courtesy of Wicked Lasers

Look, everyone wants a lightsaber. But we can't have them because: A) midi-chlorians don't exist and, B) law enforcement agencies are already less-than-enthused over high-power handheld lasers. Consider for a moment, Wicked Lasers' Sonar II Burner. Essentially a more powerful version of the lasers found in Blu-ray players, this six-inch tool doesn't have to compensate for anything; it can light matches, burn holes through paper and melt plastic.

Why It'd Get You Arrested:

Where to begin? At 60mW, the Sonar II is totally capable of starting fires (arson), burning retinas (assault) and disorienting airline pilots (Gitmo).

3. EMT Paintball Sentry Turret

width="350" />

Fires 30 rounds per second. Fully automated. Illegal in virtually all forms of competitive paintball.

Image: Courtesy of Evolution Model Technology

May the Flying Spaghetti Monster's noodley appendage help the poor schmoe who ends up in the cross hairs of the Sentry Turret. This remote-controlled, tripod-mounted paintball cannon unleashes oil-based vengeance at 30 rounds per second on full-auto. And all you paint-balling pros take note: The EMT is not some glorified sloppy-shot Brass Eagle. Integrated-vibration dampeners plus rotation/tilt mechanisms make rounds fired from this gadget highly accurate.

Why It'd Get You Arrested:

With the amount of paint the Sentry is capable of unloading, you'd definitely be facing accusations of assault, disturbing the peace and any other charges your welt-covered victims care to press.

4. Fiber Laser Marking System

width="350" />

It may not look menacing, but this portable laser can sear images into rock, glass and metal.

Image: Courtesy of Laser Photonics

If you're going to deface public property, you might as well get an assist from technology. Laser Photonic's unintentional contribution to this practice is the 'Handheld Fiber Laser Marking System.' This portable, high-power laser was originally designed for etching graphics into industrial surfaces like metal, glass and stone. Sure, it lacks the DIY charm of spray paint. But it makes up for this by running off a car battery, and being able to etch almost any graphic you can load on a multimedia card.

Why It'd Get You Arrested:

Tagging public property with such creativity and zeal is likely to bump up the charge. A number of states reserve the right to boost vandalism charges to the felonious level if the damage exceeds $400, is especially malicious or is performed by a repeat offender.

5. Lil' Buttie LB110

width="350" />

Don’t let the name fool you; this gadget is not your friend … if you get caught illegally tapping a phone line with it.

Image: Courtesy of Test-Um

You don't have to work for the NSA to listen to other people's phone calls. A nifty lineman's handset like the Lil' Buttie LB110 is enough to do the trick. This cheap, easy-to-find gadget is the cornerstone of tapping a phone line. All it really takes is hooking the handset's alligator clamps to a set of exposed telephone wires and syncing up the handset. Once you're on the line, you can snoop on conversations, record them or even dial out at your leisure.

Why It'd Get You Arrested:

Despite what you may think, owning a 'butt set' isn't illegal. Don't be fooled though -- unless you're using it for running diagnostics on your own phone line, someone's bound to drop the hammer. Getting caught using (or even installing) an unauthorized line is the express lane to a felonious wiretapping charge, and/or a lifetime of government scrutiny. Trust us on this one.

"

(Via Clippings.)

iPhone Tips

Pogue has written up a book. the iPhone Missing Manual and he has posted some highlights of tips on his site.

10+ things that are broken in Access 2007 [and how to fix some of them]

Some things here that I'd not heard about as well as fixes to others. Great article, Jody!

10+ things that are broken in Access 2007: "

If you switch to Access 2007, you’ll encounter more than just a radical new interface. As Susan Harkins explains, some things are just plain broken. See what you can hotfix and what you’ll have to live with.

---

New software versions never ship bug-free, and Access 2007 is no exception. A number of things don’t work as you expect. A few things don’t work at all. Although there are too many issues to list here, we’ll look at some of the problems that might be troublesome to most users at some time or another.

Note: This information is also available as a PDF download.

#1: Access 2007 loses printer specification

Access associates reports with the default printer when you create it. However, you can save a non-default printer to a report via the Page Setup dialog box. Unfortunately, Access 2007 loses that setting and sends the report to the default printer. Interestingly, if the non-default printer was set using a previous version, it still works. Download and install the hotfix.

#2: Where oh where has my Spell Check gone?

The decision to make Spell Check invisible probably annoys me more than any other change. I wish I could whine, ‘Oh my God’ like Janice on the 90s sitcom Friends. Spell Check isn’t exactly broken — it’s just hard to find. Then, when you do find it, it isn’t always available. At least you can still press F7 to check spelling. Or you might want to add Spell Check to the Quick Access toolbar to keep it handy:

1. Click the Office button.


2. Click Access Options (at the bottom right).


3. Choose Customize.


4. Select Popular Commands from the Choose Commands From list.


5. Scroll down and select Spelling, as shown in Figure A.


6. Click Add.


7. Click OK.


8. Now the Spell Check feature is readily available via the Quick Access toolbar, shown in Figure B.

Figure A

Figure B

Even with the feature accessible, it won’t work all the time. If you save and close an object, Spell Check is often available when you reopen the object. That shouldn’t be necessary, but I’ve run into it several times.

#3: Some shortcut menus are broken

Subform shortcut menus, also known as context menus, don’t work in Access 2007. In earlier versions, a right-click displays a context-sensitive menu. Download and install the hotfix to get subform shortcut menus back.

#4: There’s no more single-click browsing

Now here’s one that’s sure to confuse most users. In earlier versions, you could hold down the Previous and Next navigation buttons in a form’s Navigation toolbar to quickly cycle through all the records. This behavior is similar to clicking the First or Last button, but you can actually see Access cycling through the records. This behavior is totally gone in Access 2007 and there’s no fix for it. It’s just gone.

#5: Don’t go changing…

I haven’t been able to re-create this one, but I’ve seen reports that Access 2007 won’t let you change a text box to a label. Now, realistically, I don’t imagine you’d want to do this too often, but it’s strange enough to warrant reporting. In Design view, right-click a text box and choose Label from the Change To command. Then, save the form. If Access 2007 crashes, you have the bug. Just delete the text box and manually add a label.

#6: Date Picker enabled, despite setting

Access 2007 automatically adds the Date Picker to Date/Time controls, making it easier for users to enter and change date values. In Design view, you can set the Date/Time field’s Show Date Picker property to No to inhibit this enhancement. In other words, if you set this property to No, none of the inheriting objects will display the Date Picker — except it doesn’t work consistently. Specifically, queries still show the Date Picker. There’s no fix for it, and my guess is, it’ll stay broken.

#7: Name conflicts may occur

Access 2007 doesn’t handle forms that share the same name as a table or query, which was never a problem in earlier versions. It’s supposed to, but it doesn’t. You might get one of two errors if a form is named the same as a table or query:

• The expression On Click you entered as the event property setting produced the following error: The expression you entered refers to an object that is closed or doesn’t exist.


• The expression may not result in the name of a macro, the name of a user-defined function, or [Event Procedure]. There may have been an error evaluation the function, event, or macro.

This problem takes a bit of work to fix:

1. Click the Office button and then click Access Options.


2. Choose Current Database.


3. Check Perform Name AutoCorrect in the Name AutoCorrect Options section, as shown in Figure C, and click OK.


4. Close and reopen the database.


5. Right-click the form in the Navigation Pane and choose Rename.


6. Enter a new name for the form.


7. Click Save on the Quick Access toolbar. Or close the form and click Yes when prompted to save.

Figure C

#8: When is old new?

When you edit a value, that control’s OldValue property equals the control’s previous value until you save the record. In other words, OldValue equals the value that Access restores if you undo a change (by pressing Ctrl + Z or choosing Undo from the Edit menu).

Access 2007’s combo box control has a bug in this area: A bound combo’s OldValue property will return the current value and not the old value when the combo is bound to 2007’s new multivalue field.

This bug is going to be a serious problem if you need this functionality. As far as I know, there’s no fix. My best advice is to capture the current value as a static variable instead of using OldValue.

#9: Rich text is unavailable in subforms

Microsoft has added rich text capability to 2007 text controls — sometimes. Okay, the truth is, the capability is there, but you might not know how to put it to work because the Format ribbon is unavailable in Form View. However, you can use the tools in the Font group — sometimes. This group is disabled for subforms. What all that means is you can’t assign formats to a rich text control in a subform using a tool or menu. You can, however, highlight the text and use keyboard shortcuts, such as Ctrl + B for bold and Ctrl + U for underscore. Since this is more a result of tool placement and not an actual bug, I doubt Microsoft will fix it.

#10: Memo fields are flaky

Memo fields have always been a bit buggy if you did anything besides enter lots of characters. 2007 memo fields have two problems:

• If you change the Append Only property to No, Access 2007 wipes out the column’s history. Don’t expect a fix for this because this is by design and not a bug, according to Microsoft.


• Running a query that contains a GROUP BY clause on a Memo field against a list in Windows SharePoint Services may corrupt the data in the Memo field. For now, Microsoft suggests you use a Text field instead of a Memo field, which doesn’t really help if you actually need a Memo field. And if you don’t need a Memo field, why would you be using one?

#11: It just doesn’t add up!

For several versions, you’ve been able to add fields in Datasheet view. In Access 2007, a new table created in this manner comes complete with an ID field, and as you add fields to the new table, Access increments the first ID value by 1. Surprise! For instance, if you add three fields before you save the table, the ID value is 3, as shown in Figure D.

Figure D

There are three simple workarounds:

• Add a second row before you add fields to the table.


• Save the table before you add a field to the table.


• Avoid creating tables in Datasheet view (the best solution).

#12: Layout view crashes Access 2007

If you change a control’s Control Source property in Layout view, Access 2007 may close unexpectedly (crash!). You may or may not get one of the following error messages, and neither really helps:

• Microsoft Office Access has stopped working.

• Microsoft Office Access has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

For now, the simplest workaround is to change the Control Source property in Design view.

#13: Vista users aren’t immune

If you install more than one version of Access under Windows Vista, you’ll run into trouble. It’s a Registry problem: Regardless of which version you open, Access uses the library registered last. Interestingly, Access 2007 will run, after a quick installation fix.

There are numerous and complicated workarounds, but the best solution is to avoid installing multiple versions of Access on Vista. Better yet, just avoid Vista altogether.

---

Susan Sales Harkins is an independent consultant and the author of several articles and books on database technologies. Her most recent book is Mastering Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express, with Mike Gunderloy, published by Sybex. Other collaborations with Gunderloy are Automating Microsoft Access 2003 with VBA, Upgrader’s Guide to Microsoft Office System 2003, ICDL Exam Cram 2, and Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Access 2003, all published by Que. Currently, Susan volunteers as the Publications Director for Database Advisors. You can reach her at ssharkins@gmail.com.

"

(Via Clippings.)