[AccessD] VM for different versions of Access - Resolved for now

Hi All,

In order to just get my client's database functional - not perfected, 
just functional - so they can record contributions and send out 
acknowledgement letters, I did install a VM (using VMWare Server) and 
load it with Win98 (with second edition update), then I installed as 
much of Office 97 as I needed (Access and Word, essentially).  About the 
only problems I really had with that are: 1) it is slow to work in, 2) 
the screen resolution is awful, and 3) it won't see my USB ports, so I 
couldn't use my flash drive or my USB-connected printer (I installed it 
and had the print feature print to a file, because I just needed to be 
able to preview my reports, not really print them).  For the future, I 
have to learn a lot more about this virtual machine business.

Working in that environment I succeeded in creating a new blank database 
and importing into it the functional portions of my client's Version9 
and Version10 databases.  The data tables of Version10 were whole and 
properly related, but many of the forms and reports were corrupted, as 
well as a few queries.  Pulling what worked from each of the database 
versions I was able to get Version11 to work nicely, and I tested the 
mail merge Word letter.  It works. 

One nice little extra is that I fixed a detail that bothered me.  The 
form letter had a field for the honorary prefix (Mr., Ms., Dr., etc.) 
before the field for the first name, which is great except when there is 
no honorary prefix used.  When that happens, the resulting name line 
starts with a space.  I know, it's a tiny detail, and it can be quickly 
fixed with a little search and replace action, but, I'm very picky!.  
So, I put in a conditional mergefield, which I knew could be done, but 
which I hadn't done since Word was a DOS program (yes, I AM that old), 
and it took me a while to sort it all out, but I got it and it works, 
and I'm delighted.

Next steps with this client include revisiting how they want to use the 
database - there are features in it that haven't been used since 1999 
when they moved their accounting to QuickBooks, for instance - and 
remodeling it.  Part of the remodeling will include splitting the 
database into BE and FE, an area where I have only a little experience 
so I'll be back for help.  Furthermore, I have to put more security 
measures in place than are there.  It is very clear that someone has 
been fooling around in the database, writing small queries with useful 
names like Query1, and changing table names (without updating the 
queries that depend on those tables) - stuff like that.  Someone knows 
enough to get into the database objects, but not enough to keep from 
doing damage.

My friend who built the database back in 1997, took the executive 
director at his word that nobody would mess with the innards of the 
database.  Ha!

Thanks for all the help I received from the members of this list.

Tina