"Ken Ismert" <ki*****@texassystems.com> wrote in message
news:11**********************@g44g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
Great comments Ken.
Most programmers of Microsoft
products are unfamiliar with this cooperative group method of working.
Hum, I think one needs to clarify the above. I should add that the VAST
majority of ms-access downloads include full source code. One of the great
things about ms-access is the INCREDIBLE amount of examples, help and sample
codes with full open source included.
If you are saying that most ms-access developers don't use source code
control, then yes, I understand the above statement. However, when you
compare ms-access, and the INCREDIBLE amount of samples with full open code,
I bet ms-access ranks near the top in shared, and open code. There is an
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT of sites and downloads for ms-access. Further, the product
is well over 10 years old, and thus has had a great head start in terms of
web sites and free open code. Ms-access (unlike VB6) continues to grow and
have new users jump on board every day. So, we continue to get new web sites
with example (open) code for ms-access. So, I don't think the ms-access as
community is not cooperative, and is not sharing. The access community is
likely one of the BEST comminutes in terms of sharing things. And, the fact
that we are reading this newsgroup is proof of the contributors to this
community.
So, I do agree that as a rule, these shared and free open access
applications are NOT THE result of collaboration, but that does not mean
that the ms-access community does not share their code,and most ms-access
downloads do include the source code openly, and freely.
As for using source code control, VSS does work well with ms-access (take a
look at the screen shots here..and note the check marks, and "locks" for
code and forms that I have check-out. (anything with a check mark is what I
check out to work on).
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/vss/index.htm
Now, as for having a group effort for this help system. ?
We could go about this in two ways:
1) have people use the code, and make suggestions, and then Nick
can incorporate those changes.
2) Implement a source code control system, and have people work
on the product in that fashion. I don't know if the project is large enough,
or needs this type of approach. (and, worse, most ms-access developers don't
use VSS, or some other source control system -- even more worse is we would
need to extend the VSS to the web).
It is always tough to get people on board, and as mentioned, coordination of
the contributors would not be easy. If it is just a few people, then no
problem...
The other issue(s) is what is the future direction of the product to be
(what are people asking for!). (my bets would be more tools on the
ms-access side to edit the help text...and ONLY need the help compiler for
the compiling...but NOT NEED to use help workshop, or whatever to edit the
results). And, something to generate help id's in ms-access would help.
To be fair, I think Nick has got a good idea in something that the community
can use, but figuring out a way to get the ms-access community to contribute
is going to be tough. This is going to be tough not because the ms-access
community is not generous, but just the way the community works.
Further, MOST of the ms-access community is not comprised of developers, but
a very large portion is users. Most software projects are able to get
contributors when the majority of users are themselves developers, and user
systems/tools tend to have a tough time getting developer support.
Anyway, certainly some food for thought....
--
Albert D. Kallal (Access MVP)
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
pl*****************@msn.com http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal