[Teddy]

Well, I posted a FAQ. Naturally I didn't have the time to add the content I would like to see, but it's a start. If you have suggestions about topics, style, content, flow, etc let me know. There's nothing saying we can't try out a few different formats before we settle on the best, I'm open to anything.

[anandjbsc]

One thing I would like to see in this forum is

There are a lot of thread telling about record locking and things like that but not even a single line of sample code.If someone could write a sample app using access 97 or 2k with visual basic 6 explaining the basics it would be very helpful

[healdem]

One contender for a FAQ in my view is going to good books / references

eg "try these are useful resources"
I might inlclude the Access MVP site, Anything from Dev Ashish, Allen Browne amongst others. Its no bad thing to suggest that people actually try the help system. mebbe we even need to consider a brief section on how to use the help system if your first request was unsuccessfull (eg think of alternative words).

We get a lot of questions rehashing the same areas, the same information (not having a pop but anandjbsc's request is relatively common, as is the what do I need to do to use a server backend rather than JET). Another classic is workgroup security. In part becasue the site search is so flaky we seem to endup retyping the same info.

Personally I get a little hacked off when I see the same sort of stuff coming through which is amply covered in reference books or online resources. I'm thinking that a quick list of have you checked these resources first. even WWGS - what would Google say.

We shouldn't loose the focus of this site to act as a community resource to help fellow developers, and encourage one and all to contribute to that. But some of the stuff just seems sheer laziness.

Mebbe its a product of my background but I want to have close at hand a good solid reference that I can read when I want (or need) to but a lot of people here don't seem to want to shell out for what I regard as basic tools of the trade (I include the Access Developer Book as a basic tool of the trade)

[danlindley]

Greets;

I'm relatively new to this forum, and have skim read this thread, and a lot of good ideas have been thrown out. When i caught the thread subject 'what do you want to see...?", before i read on a few things came to mind....

(thread) Tutorials in the "non code" - something anyone can contribute to, simple tutorials on creating better forms (even using the access wizard), organising data efficiently, downloadable samples even? Possibly complex but non-code related tutorials .

(thread) Code snippets - Code that serves certain functions put in here. What would be good would be in the FAQ or similar, or even with the thread, the means an ways of getting the code to work in your db. eg. how to paste the code to work behind a button, or onload etc.

After reading this thread, something else became apparent that would be a useful tool...

(thread) Directory (sticky) - Just a list of all tutorials [linked to original post in either of the above threads] and code snippets. It would be a pain to establish and need to be kept up to with regards to maintainance, but none the less very useful.

All in all, with those few things i think you'd have all bases covered. If people couldn't find the relevant code/tutorial, then they would post a thread. If someone did post a thread without searching first a link would be all they'd be given to the right post.

I'm not sure though about restricing users activity in anyway. I think that whether you are a guru, or a noob that does things simply and differently all contributions are valuable. I do think that a lot of people are into finding and answer and then you'd not see them again until they encounter another problem and remember they joined this forum.. what i say is...

All the answers are valuable and may proove useful to other people, and contributers to the forum. The code that someone created for a hit and run can be added to the library, and may serve further purposes for other people. Let hit and runners come to the forum by all means, what they don't know is they are contributing more than they think.

:0)

Dan

[danlindley]

Greets;

Another thought crossed my mind, how about a Testing Ground, where people can post thier DBs for testing and feedback from forum users? ... similary, a samples collection??

Just a thought;

Dan

[Teddy]

Good stuff Dan...

We could play with the idea of a testing ground forum, but I don't think it's really necessary. We've had folks post sample db's for review more than once. They tend to receive a volume of immediate feedback.

The "samples collection" is part of what I have in mind for a code library. Snippets/techniques/samples.. that type of thing.

Directories for these threads are inline with thread, see the FAQ for an example...

[syntaxerror]

I'm pretty much a rookie, but I do find my way through some vb coding

I agree with separating the FAQS dummies, for my brethren,
from FAQS plus plus for some that are a bit more substantial.

I believe it wont hurt if there is some type of guideline/template for questions, specially from rookies(like me).


attempting to be part of the solution,
syntaxerror

[sco08y]

Some thoughts:

Recently I got done with a project and I'm liable to have enough time coming up to take it apart and put lots of little code snippets into the code repository. I probably won't be on the web very often, but that shouldn't matter much.

I was thinking that when I start putting stuff up, I ought to break it up into categories and while everyone has his own way of thinking, we're probably going to agree 90% of the time.

Processes: When we're solving a problem at work whether it's with a DBMS or a lot of paperwork, we have to work out some kind of processes. For example, a new person arrives so there have to be a series of things that happen. It's amazing how many stupid problems go away when you work out what your processes are and how they need to happen.

HCI: To make processes happen, human beings interact with computers to store the data. For that to work, we need an interface that is learnable, safe, quick and powerful enough to handle situations we might not anticipate.

Schema: Same thing schema normally means, but with considerations of the Access DBMS.

UI: The nuts and bolts of making the UI happen, including VBA that controls the UI.

Backup: On my project, I made a single button that would back up the database. One frikkin' button. The bastard hasn't clicked it in three months. Obviously getting users to backup data isn't straightforward.

Security: Access's security tends to work just fine until you go next door to show your boss what you're working on and he can't get into it. Also, I'd rather prevent bad people from ever getting hold of my files rather than hoping that someone's password is good, not to mention the unknown implementation of the unknown encryption algorithm.

Auditing: So, you *think* your integrity rules work and you *think* you're running backups and you *think* your database file is secure. Now, how do we check on that?

Anyway, I apologize in advance if it takes me a while to respond, but I *will* get back to you eventually.

[Emal]

I hope my thread is relevant to this discussion. If the question is "What do you want to see in the Microsoft Access Forum" then I think as a forum member/user I can suggest my ideas which I believe will benefit all forum members and users.

Despite the fact that this is the most fantastic access forum and the most helpful members I have ever come across, I would like to see the following options in this forum:

1. One page or option where all questions, suggestions and comments relate to "Table" e.g. if a user has a question that is a table question or relates to table then, he/she can post that threat under the table option.
2. One page or option for "Queries"
3.One page or option for Forms.
4. One page or Forum for reports
5.One page or option for Pages
6. One page or optoin for Macros
7. One page or option for Modules

I do very much agree with other friends who have suggested FAQs availability on this forum.

I do apologise for not being able to come up with some useful ideas and that is because I am not good with codes and advanced features involved.

Good luck.

[armytool]

What about adding a "classifieds" section where people list the type of database they need and see if someone already has one they are send them?

[Emal]

That is a very good idea but whenyou say "Send them?" do you mean if some one has a database he/she should send it to that suggested "Classifieds" section? It would certainly be a good idea but I am a bit not sure whether people will send their private db especially if they have personal and sensitive e.g financial infos.

[Teddy]

Originally Posted by armytool

What about adding a "classifieds" section where people list the type of database they need and see if someone already has one they are send them?

I like this idea. Well, the second part of it. I think this would make a good category under the faq or code repository as "database templates" wherein users can submit generic templates for databases that they would like to share.

As far as classfieds, we have the following forums:

• Job Opportunities, for those requesting professional developers
• Marketplace, for those who wish to sell their finished products.

[cskatesv]

The idea of a template seems good to me. I would add a request for a keyword index and a search process to access it. The template would help by prompting the submitter to provide some keywords to assist moderators in properly filing threads under related topics. Hyperlinks and bookmarks could allow some pretty sophisticated cross filings, or even decision trees.

[destrang]

How about a way to save a post to a "Favorites" list?
De

[Teddy]

Originally Posted by destrang

How about a way to save a post to a "Favorites" list?
De

You might be interested in the "subscribe" feature that lets you keep sort of a "favorite" list of various threads. You can also configure the forums to email you when a thread which you have been subscribed to sees new activity. I believe you can subscribe to threads via the "thread Tools -> Subscribe to This Thread" at the top of each page in any given thread.