Professional Troubleshooting with Tom van Stiphout and Kim Young

When your Access application suddenly stops working, having the right troubleshooting mindset and tools can mean the difference between a quick resolution and hours of frustration.

In this Access Pacific user group presentation, Tom van Stiphout and Kim Young share their combined expertise on troubleshooting Microsoft Access applications, covering both reactive problem-solving techniques and proactive measures to prevent issues. Their comprehensive approach includes practical demonstrations of debugging tools, strategies for taking over legacy applications, and tips for maintaining professional composure during critical system failures.

Whether you're dealing with mysterious runtime errors or inheriting a complex Access application, this presentation offers valuable insights into building more resilient systems and handling issues with confidence.

Common Error Types

• Unhandled errors in ACCDB vs ACCDE environments
• Standard VBA error messages with error numbers
• ODBC connection failures
• Custom error handling implementations
• Windows Event Viewer system errors

Debugging Tools and Techniques

• Using vbWatchdog for enhanced error tracking ($215 investment)
• Leveraging Windows Event Viewer for system-level errors
• Implementing Watch windows for variable tracking
• Utilizing Debug.Assert for code validation
• Creating custom debugging functions for forms and recordsets

Proactive Measures

• Maintaining standardized table naming conventions (e.g., app_ prefix)
• Documenting field definitions and changes
• Creating robust error logging systems
• Implementing three-tier development architecture
• Testing deployment procedures thoroughly

Database Design Best Practices

• Separating application tables from user data
• Maintaining field documentation
• Managing ordinal positions in tables
• Centralizing common code instead of duplicating
• Using parameter-driven queries appropriately

Professional Development Tips

• Learn one new Access feature/concept each month
• Practice troubleshooting scenarios before emergencies occur
• Document mission-critical functionality
• Maintain clear communication with stakeholders
• Set appropriate expectations during crisis situations

Handling Legacy Applications

• Assess database design and relationships first
• Evaluate code quality and structure
• Document existing standards and practices
• Set clear expectations with stakeholders
• Make strategic decisions about modernization

Conclusion

The presentation emphasizes that successful troubleshooting is as much about preparation and prevention as it is about reactive problem-solving. By implementing proper error handling, maintaining thorough documentation, and staying current with technology updates, Access developers can build more reliable applications and respond more effectively when issues arise.

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-3.5-Sonnet