Access Add-in Helper with Geoffrey L. Griffith

Ever wondered how to package your Access applications as professional add-ins without the typical headaches?

In this Access Pacific user group presentation, Geoffrey L. Griffith demonstrates two custom tools he developed: an Access Add-in Helper that automates the complex process of building ACCDA files, and a Database Property Editor that lets you view and modify database properties directly. Born from a June meeting discussion about the need for better property editing tools, Geoffrey's solutions tackle the tedious manual steps that often lead to errors when creating Access add-ins.

Whether you're looking to distribute your Access tools professionally or simply want better control over database properties, Geoffrey's automated approach and practical insights will save you significant development time.

The Access Add-in Helper Tool

Core Functionality

• Automated ACCDA Generation: Takes your development database and creates a complete add-in package
• Project Management: Maintains a list of all your add-in projects with build history
• Version Control: Automatically handles major/minor build numbers and creates organized build folders
• Build Options: Supports database compacting and ACCDE compilation during the build process

Configuration Features

• App Settings: Configures startup forms, database titles, and application icons
• Database Properties: Sets navigation pane visibility, startup options, and other database-level settings
• Additional Files: Includes supplementary files in the build output
• Add-in Menu Setup: Configures how the add-in appears in Access's ribbon interface

Summary Properties Management

• Metadata Configuration: Sets database title, company, comments, and other summary properties
• Registry Integration: Properly configures the USysRegInfo table for add-in registration
• Automated Module Creation: Adds startup modules and required functions automatically

The Database Property Editor Add-in

Property Viewing and Editing

• Complete Property Access: Displays all database-level properties with their types, values, and collection indexes
• Interactive Editing: Allows modification of existing properties and creation of new custom properties
• Type Support: Includes all settable DAO property types with reference documentation
• Real-time Updates: Refreshes property collections after each change

Technical Insights

• Built-in vs Custom: Shows both system properties and user-defined properties
• Property Protection: Prevents deletion of critical built-in properties like database name
• Collection Management: Demonstrates proper handling of DAO property collections

Add-in Catalog and Distribution

Community Resources

• Free Add-in Directory: Curated list of available free Access add-ins with download links
• Easy Discovery: Searchable catalog integrated into the helper tool
• Future Expansion: Plans for community contributions and updates via GitHub

Installation and Management

• Standard Office Directory: Quick access to the Office add-ins folder for manual management
• Version Tracking: Build numbering helps identify and manage multiple add-in versions
• Update Handling: Addresses common issues with Office 365 automatic updates

Technical Deep Dive

Property Collections Architecture

• Database Properties: Focus on Application.CurrentDB.Properties collection
• Summary Properties: Access to document summary information through containers collection
• Property Inheritance: Understanding how properties cascade through object hierarchies
• Registry Integration: How USysRegInfo table entries become Windows registry keys

Development Techniques

• Workspace vs Current Database: Using DBEngine.Workspaces(0).OpenDatabase for safer property editing
• Error Handling: Proper validation when setting different property types
• Build Automation: Step-by-step process for reliable add-in creation

Troubleshooting and Best Practices

Common Pitfalls

• Zero-based Indexing: Property collection index handling differences
• Registry Conflicts: Managing add-in updates and reinstallation issues
• Office Updates: Dealing with automatic add-in removal in Office 365
• Property Validation: Understanding which properties can be safely modified

Development Workflow

• Separate Dev and Build: Maintaining clean development databases while automating production builds
• Version Management: Using build numbers and folders for organized releases
• Testing Strategies: Safe methods for testing add-ins without corrupting development files

Conclusion

Geoffrey's presentation showcases practical solutions to common Access development challenges, demonstrating how automation can eliminate error-prone manual processes while providing better tools for database management. The live debugging session revealed valuable insights about property handling and alternative database access methods.

Recording

The full recording is available on YouTube:

Join Live!

Want to get even more out of these presentations? Join the live Access User Group events! The next upcoming events are listed on the AUG Event Calendar.

Attending live gives you the opportunity to:

• Interact directly with presenters during Q&A sessions
• Network with other Access developers
• Share your own experiences and challenges
• Get immediate answers to your specific questions
• Participate in group discussions

With multiple user groups across different time zones (and languages!), you're sure to find a meeting time that works for your schedule.

Acknowledgements

• Base cover image generated by FLUX-schnell
• Initial draft generated by Claude-Sonnet-4