[AccessD] Create a .lib library for use with Access

Sun Mar 26 14:43:18 CDT 2023

For multi-user clients I always had the user run a batch file which
downloaded the FE and the lib to a common standard location, then fire up
the FE which already had the FE referencing the lib at that standard
location.  So basically, if I needed to change or update the library or the
FE, no user is in it out on the server and I can do what I need.  Once I am
finished, I send a message to get out and back in.  'Back in' runs the
batch file which downloads the two pieces and starts the local copy of the
FE.

On Sun, Mar 26, 2023 at 1:01 PM Daniel Waters <df.waters at outlook.com> wrote:

> In my systems the latest App and Library files were always copied to the
> client PC prior to opening (if needed).  Otherwise, the single referenced
> library would have been referenced by multiple clients at once.  A lot of
> code and forms in that library file updated tables in the single database
> file which was on the local server.
>
> Dan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AccessD <accessd-bounces+df.waters=outlook.com at databaseadvisors.com>
> On Behalf Of John Colby
> Sent: 26 March, 2023 11:11
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving <
> accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Create a .lib library for use with Access
>
> Bill, my understanding is that any code in a module is pulled into memory
> at the first reference to anything in that module.  So ... it is possible
> that the mdb / accdb that contains the FE is on the local machine and the
> library is somewhere else.  So there could be (probably isn't though) a
> difference in how long it takes to get at the code in a library.  Once that
> code is loaded however, all of it is in memory.  AFAIK it is more that just
> code as well,  All memory for constants and global variables are also
> assigned / loaded.
>
> On Sat, Mar 25, 2023 at 9:46 PM Bill Benson <bensonforums at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Jim- any impact to performance?  If the VBA in db2 (db referencing
> > db1’s
> > vbproject) were to run its own code instead, which would likely finish
> > faster?
> >
> > I guess I could do an experiment with some loops and UDFs but figured
> > this might be something you know OTOH.
> > Tia
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 22, 2023 at 8:20 AM Jim Dettman via AccessD <
> > accessd at databaseadvisors.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >  FWIW, I prefer to keep a "BaseCode" DB, and just import modules in
> > > as needed.
> > >
> > >  Get's rid of all the hassles with using library DB's (having unique
> > > function names, worrying about where code is executing, reference,
> etc).
> > >  It also let's me control the code better.   If I keep one lib DB,
> using
> > > that for every app, if I make a change that will break something,
> > > all
> > apps
> > > that depend on it will break until I can change all of them.  With
> > > importing, the apps still have the same code until I import the new
> > > code from BaseCode, at which point, I can make the adjustments.
> > >
> > >  Only time I'd use an addin/lib DB, is if it was a utility for a
> > > wide audience and that's all I was providing.
> > >
> > >  To each their own, but this is what I've found works best overall
> > > for shared code for me.
> > >
> > > Jim.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: AccessD On Behalf Of Arthur Fuller
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 7:38 PM
> > > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving <
> > > accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [AccessD] Create a .lib library for use with Access
> > >
> > > Stuart,
> > >
> > > Thanks for the link. I read another of his pieces, and learned the
> > solution
> > > to a completely unrelated issue, as well.
> > >
> > > On Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 6:28 PM Stuart McLachlan
> > > <stuart at lexacorp.com.pg
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Good article here on how to build and use them:
> > > >
> > > > https://www.devhut.net/ms-access-library-databases/
> > > >
> > > > On 21 Mar 2023 at 11:55, Arthur Fuller wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Thanks, Jim. That's what I thought, but I couldn't remember the
> > > > > file name extension.
> > > > >
> > > > > On Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 7:36AM Jim Dettman via AccessD <
> > > > > accessd at databaseadvisors.com> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > A "lib" file in Access with VBA code is put in a .accda or
> > > > > > .mda file.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It can include any Access object (tables, forms, reports, etc)
> > > > > > and have VBA code.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > You create it with Access and VBA just as you would normally and
> > > > > > write VBA code.   Once saved, you then use it in other apps by
> > > > > > setting a reference to it or using it as an add-in.  This is
> > > > > > the
> > way
> > > > > > all the built-in Wizards work in Access.  The Zoom box for
> > > > > > example that you get when you hit Shift/F2 is in a library
> database.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In regards to a .dll or type lib, you create those in
> > > > > > something else, then either write a DECLARE in your code, or set
> a reference
> > > > > > to it in your app, then make calls/use it.   But there's no VBA
> > > > > > associated with it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > HTH,
> > > > > > Jim.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: AccessD On Behalf Of Arthur Fuller
> > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 5:29 AM
> > > > > > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving <
> > > > > > accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [AccessD] Create a .lib library for use with
> > > > > > Access
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Ok, I'm wrong. But I thought John Colby has created one,
> > > > > > consisting of VBA code. Maybe I misunderstood; it wouldn't be
> the first time.
> > > > > > But I was given to understand that one could collect a bunch
> > > > > > of reusable code and package it. Maybe John meant that he
> > > > > > references it, although if it's not a .Lib file or a .DLL,
> > > > > > then I have no clue as to how one might reference it. It seems
> > > > > > a shame to gather all that reusable code and then have to
> > > > > > import it into the next app one is going to write. But I guess
> > > > > > if that's what's required, ok, I'll do it that way. Creating
> > > > > > an Add-In seems totally wrong. (Actually,
> > I
> > > > > > am creating an Add-In, but it has a form as well as some
> > > > > > modules,
> > so
> > > > > > that's quite another kettle of fish; easy enough to implement,
> > > > > > though.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 3:47AM Stuart McLachlan
> > > > > > <stuart at lexacorp.com.pg> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > How do you expect to use a .lib file in Access?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > If we are talking about same thing, a .lib is a file which
> > > > > > > is statically linked  into an application at compile time.
> > > > > > > (And that's a realy compile to a .exe file - not what Access
> > > > > > > does with VBA code)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > It's essentailly the same as a DLL wrapped inside an
> > > > > > > executable file.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On 21 Mar 2023 at 2:35, Arthur Fuller wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I'm having lousy luck searching for this. I keep getting
> > > > > > > > hits that tell me how to create a library database, not a
> .lib file.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Suggestions?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > Arthur
> > > > > > > > --
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> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
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>
> --
> John W. Colby
> Colby Consulting
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-- 
John W. Colby
Colby Consulting