Revision Counts for Access Project

[IndianaJonesWB]

I have an Access Project as a front end for a SQL DB. I have a master
copy and distribute copies of it to my other users.

I would like to display a revision count on the first Main Form so that
when looking at the copies on other user's machines I can tell right
away if they are working with the latest version.

A Last revisied date would work too but it needs to be the last
revision or number of revisions to the front end itself.

[davidjpike]

Maybe you could drop a local table in the front end containing the
version number. Read this value from the table onto the main form, or
on opening the database assign it to a global variable.

If you need help with the above, post back as someone may have a better
answer.

Dave

[Bas Cost Budde]

da********@lyco s.co.uk wrote:

Maybe you could drop a local table in the front end containing the
version number. Read this value from the table onto the main form, or
on opening the database assign it to a global variable.

That is exactly what I do and I'm very happy with the setup. As is my
customer. We're in a design cycle and this provides just the extra
control we need!

--
Bas Cost Budde, Holland
http://www.heuveltop.nl/BasCB/msac_index.html
I prefer human mail above automated so in my address
replace the queue with a tea

[IndianaJonesWB]

How do I get the Revision Count into the local table? How does it get
updated?

[davidjpike]

Okay,

Before you go to release your next "front end" simply make a new table
maybe call it something like:

chkVersion - in this put one field, called whatever you want. (chk is
short for check).

Then stick in the version name/number.

The easiest (probably very slow but simple) way is then to place a
textbox onto your main form. Then use a dcount function to read the
value from your table.

There really are loads of different ways to do this, some of them a lot
better. But that should give you a simple start.

Does this help any?

When you send out your next front end, simply change the number in the
table you created above. That way the users will be able to see what
version the software is.

Dave

IndianaJonesWB wrote:

How do I get the Revision Count into the local table? How does it get updated?

[Bas Cost Budde]

IndianaJonesWB wrote:

How do I get the Revision Count into the local table? How does it get
updated?

I do it manually. If you want some automation, you have to *very
carefully* consider what you call a revision, and under what
circumstances you want such an update.

I tried and came up with so many afterthoughts and doubts that I didn't
bother, and wrote a small routine that updates the revision number, and
outputs the objects changed since the last revision to a log file.

--
Bas Cost Budde, Holland
http://www.heuveltop.nl/BasCB/msac_index.html
I prefer human mail above automated so in my address
replace the queue with a tea

[IndianaJonesWB]

I was looking for something more automatic.

Basically any change to the ADP configuration should trigger a change
to the Revision Count or Version or whatever. But the DateLastModifie d
changes whenever the database is opened, so that doesn't seem to work.

[Bas Cost Budde]

IndianaJonesWB wrote:

I was looking for something more automatic.

Basically any change to the ADP configuration should trigger a change
to the Revision Count or Version or whatever. But the DateLastModifie d
changes whenever the database is opened, so that doesn't seem to work.

Automatic... trigger... I recognize that.

What about the good old hidden form approach, the one that closes last
when you exit Access? That would be a moment to decide whether to note a
new revision.

The question, or rather decisions, about what exactly constitues a new
version still remains. Count of objects changed? Compile All disturbes
that. Number of controls, or lines of code? Quite intensive, and maybe
an inaccurate measure.

What do you think?

--
Bas Cost Budde, Holland
http://www.heuveltop.nl/BasCB/msac_index.html
I prefer human mail above automated so in my address
replace the queue with a tea

[IndianaJonesWB]

Doesn't it seem like Micorsoft would keep track of changes to the ADP
file's Configuration in one place? Like a Checksum or CRC for the
file.

Why would the DateLastModifie d change when the file is simply opened
and closed? In an ADP File there's no real data. It's just a front
end.

Apparently this isn't straightforward (unless I'm missing something
obvious).

I've done front ends for other things (like with WonderWare) and they
keep track of revisions. What a pain!

[Larry Linson]

<da********@lyc os.co.uk> wrote

Maybe you could drop a local table
in the front end containing the
version number. Read this value from
the table onto the main form, or
on opening the database assign it
to a global variable.
Access Projects (ADP/ADE) don't _have_ "local tables". That is one of
several reasons I use Access Databases (MDB/MDE) instead, whenever it is my
choice. For MDB/MDE, your suggestion is a good one.

You could put the "local" version number in a label on a Form, though.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP


If you need help with the above, post back as someone may have a better
answer.

Dave