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Saturday 29 November 2008, 4:39 PM
Ab-normalization at Experts Exchange - part 4
The question today:
How to choose multiple records when using a drop-down-list on an Access form?
It's impossible to use a combo box for a multiple selection. So the proposed solution is to use a list box with the Multi Select property set to Simple or Extended.
To create the necessary filtering with the selected items the #1 Access "expert" proposes to use some VBA code to loop through the Items Selected collection.
Impressive, but unnecessary.
There's a code less solution by using a sub form with a Yes/No field for the selection and now you can JOIN the reporting query with the sub form table and filter for the Yes/No field to be True.
It's an amateurs approach to use code to solve problems, but did I expect otherwise from the Experts Exchange #1 expert ?
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
(The question can be found at: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23822041.html)
How to choose multiple records when using a drop-down-list on an Access form?
It's impossible to use a combo box for a multiple selection. So the proposed solution is to use a list box with the Multi Select property set to Simple or Extended.
To create the necessary filtering with the selected items the #1 Access "expert" proposes to use some VBA code to loop through the Items Selected collection.
Impressive, but unnecessary.
There's a code less solution by using a sub form with a Yes/No field for the selection and now you can JOIN the reporting query with the sub form table and filter for the Yes/No field to be True.
It's an amateurs approach to use code to solve problems, but did I expect otherwise from the Experts Exchange #1 expert ?
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
(The question can be found at: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23822041.html)
Friday 21 November 2008, 8:39 PM
Ab-normalization at Experts Exchange - part 3
The question today:
How to trap error when form closes with a null value in an index or primary key field?
Obviously this member tries to close a partially filled for, or a so-called "dirty" form.
The "normalized" way to handle this is to issue a confirmation message that the user wants to abandon the record and when confirmed, issue a "Me.Undo" to restore the record contents and to close the form normally.
The Experts-Exchange #1 Access expert however proposes to code an error handling exit when dataerr=3058 occurs in the form_error event.
This will however work sometimes, but as the error code can differ, depending on the Access and Windows version, it's no 100% solution.
Moreover in general coding rules it's considered bad practice to code error handling afterwards when you can intercept / prevent such an error on forehand.
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
(The question can be found at: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23924143.html)
How to trap error when form closes with a null value in an index or primary key field?
Obviously this member tries to close a partially filled for, or a so-called "dirty" form.
The "normalized" way to handle this is to issue a confirmation message that the user wants to abandon the record and when confirmed, issue a "Me.Undo" to restore the record contents and to close the form normally.
The Experts-Exchange #1 Access expert however proposes to code an error handling exit when dataerr=3058 occurs in the form_error event.
This will however work sometimes, but as the error code can differ, depending on the Access and Windows version, it's no 100% solution.
Moreover in general coding rules it's considered bad practice to code error handling afterwards when you can intercept / prevent such an error on forehand.
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
(The question can be found at: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23924143.html)
Friday 14 November 2008, 8:47 PM
The Experts Exchange religion...
I was startled today to find a new "Following" section in the profile of the Experts Exchange members.
It's now possible to enlist as the follower of an expert....
Took me a while to comprehend the intention of this new "Following" feature, but it revealed some interesting thoughts.
In first instance I got the feeling that this site is moving into a "sect", allowing the questioners to worship the expert(s) by becoming a follower.
The next thought was $$ related. As $$ generating site Experts Exchange does need to bind the experts one way or another, so adding this feature should encourage the experts to stay working for free.
This does however trigger the evil thought that the traditional "expert point binding factor" is losing it's strength. Experts are egotrippers and showing off with millions of points will get them bored after a while. Now they can also show off with their number of followers..
Sure the "Following" section is a new invention as far as I know in the Q & A site business and will probably be copyrighted as soon as possible to protect the invention like the "expert points" were in the past.
For me however this feature is showing a desparate site trying to keep the experts working for free and moving them into a sect and we all know how a sect can ruin their members...
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
BTW When you're visiting the site you could try to become a nico5038 "follower", just check http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_314094.html
It's now possible to enlist as the follower of an expert....
Took me a while to comprehend the intention of this new "Following" feature, but it revealed some interesting thoughts.
In first instance I got the feeling that this site is moving into a "sect", allowing the questioners to worship the expert(s) by becoming a follower.
The next thought was $$ related. As $$ generating site Experts Exchange does need to bind the experts one way or another, so adding this feature should encourage the experts to stay working for free.
This does however trigger the evil thought that the traditional "expert point binding factor" is losing it's strength. Experts are egotrippers and showing off with millions of points will get them bored after a while. Now they can also show off with their number of followers..
Sure the "Following" section is a new invention as far as I know in the Q & A site business and will probably be copyrighted as soon as possible to protect the invention like the "expert points" were in the past.
For me however this feature is showing a desparate site trying to keep the experts working for free and moving them into a sect and we all know how a sect can ruin their members...
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
BTW When you're visiting the site you could try to become a nico5038 "follower", just check http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_314094.html
Sunday 9 November 2008, 11:36 AM
Ab-normalization at Experts Exchange - Part 2
When I see a question with a statement like:
"if someone chooses Mike Smith from the drop-down field, then Mike Smith will also automatically be entered in the other field?"
Then my first question would be why a firstname and lastname are stored in one field.
The next question would be where this drop-down field is getting it's information from.
And also a question why having this mechanism in place, while the proper sequence would be to have the user first determine or a person is already registered, before starting to enter a new one...
None of these questions are stated in the "answer comment", the questioner gets a simple answer with a Move statement, even without referring to a test and/or warning when there's already data in the target field that could be overwritten.
Another fine sample of the way you can be "helped" when paying for an answer.
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
(The question can be found at: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23885899.html or at http://www.altict.nl/Q_23885899.html when you have no free access)
"if someone chooses Mike Smith from the drop-down field, then Mike Smith will also automatically be entered in the other field?"
Then my first question would be why a firstname and lastname are stored in one field.
The next question would be where this drop-down field is getting it's information from.
And also a question why having this mechanism in place, while the proper sequence would be to have the user first determine or a person is already registered, before starting to enter a new one...
None of these questions are stated in the "answer comment", the questioner gets a simple answer with a Move statement, even without referring to a test and/or warning when there's already data in the target field that could be overwritten.
Another fine sample of the way you can be "helped" when paying for an answer.
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
(The question can be found at: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23885899.html or at http://www.altict.nl/Q_23885899.html when you have no free access)
Sunday 2 November 2008, 11:52 AM
Ab-normalization at Experts Exchange - Part 1
I'm always disappointed when beginners are pointed the wrong way.
The first glance at a table design like:
Table A - ID, LAstname, First Name, Year
Table B - ID, LAst Name, First Name, Year, accepted status
Triggers for me the question "Why two tables with almost identical fields?"
But as the beginner asks for how to delete rows in both tables when the [accepted status] holds a certain value, he's helped by an "expert" without even asking for the reason of this "design". Even the possibility of a Cascade Delete isn't mentioned...
It's obvious that this beginner should start with redesigning his database structure and should be pointed to an article about database normalization. Having this "process driven table design" will cause a lot of additional questions and coding, thus generating more "expert points" for this "would be expert". So it's obvious that it's not in the interest of this "expert" to point this beginner in the right direction and this (paying) experts exchange member is fooled by this "expert" as he thinks his problem is solved, while it just has started.
This bad service to a paying experts exchange "premium" member is even more embarrassing when you know that this "would be expert" even proudly states in his profile that he's an MVP....
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
(The question can be found at: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23762363.html and for those without member access a copy can be found at: http://www.altict.nl/Q_23762363.html )
The first glance at a table design like:
Table A - ID, LAstname, First Name, Year
Table B - ID, LAst Name, First Name, Year, accepted status
Triggers for me the question "Why two tables with almost identical fields?"
But as the beginner asks for how to delete rows in both tables when the [accepted status] holds a certain value, he's helped by an "expert" without even asking for the reason of this "design". Even the possibility of a Cascade Delete isn't mentioned...
It's obvious that this beginner should start with redesigning his database structure and should be pointed to an article about database normalization. Having this "process driven table design" will cause a lot of additional questions and coding, thus generating more "expert points" for this "would be expert". So it's obvious that it's not in the interest of this "expert" to point this beginner in the right direction and this (paying) experts exchange member is fooled by this "expert" as he thinks his problem is solved, while it just has started.
This bad service to a paying experts exchange "premium" member is even more embarrassing when you know that this "would be expert" even proudly states in his profile that he's an MVP....
Nic;o)
Still proud to be suspended from this "quality site" where wannabee experts rule and "quality" is just another word from the dictionary.
(The question can be found at: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Q_23762363.html and for those without member access a copy can be found at: http://www.altict.nl/Q_23762363.html )
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