Microsoft Access

Computing: Software: Microsoft Access

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Microsoft Access is a software application that combines a database engine, a programming language (VBA) and IDE, and forms designed to allow easy display and editing of database records.

Weaknesses

The following apply to Access 97 and may not apply to later versions:

• Although it is possible to write functions to translate source data into a different display format, it is not possible to write corresponding routines to translate user data-entry back into source data. It is not possible, therefore, for the user to edit data in a form or query if it has been manipulated in certain ways, including fields in queries above a certain level of complexity as well as any data which is the result of a function.
• Data from some sources (tentatively: queries of a certain complexity or higher, or possibly certain types of JOINs) cause data in continuous forms to be formatted improperly. The user has to manipulate the form in certain ways in order to restore the display.
• There are no tools for recovering data from a corrupted database file (.mdb)
• There appears to be a limit on the number of tables/queries which can be open simultaneously. This number is never stated outright, but if you try to open too many forms in an application written in Access, a message pops up saying "can't open any more databases", and some of the fields on the last form opened may be empty or display improperly.