Microsoft recently introduced the 2007 version of Microsoft Office and Microsoft Access. You can play a demo here:
I started working with Microsoft Access over 10 years ago using the Microsoft Access 2.0 version. Over the years I've seen many versions come and go. For any software manufacturer introducing new versions of their software ensures continued sales.
We have all become accustomed to computer software manufacturers introducing newer versions of software and forcing their customers to upgrade through different means. One of the most common ways is to refuse to sell and support earlier versions of their software. Then, when a business needs to install new computer machines and upload all necessary software for employees to do their jobs, businesses are forced to go to newer versions of software.
In all my years of business I've become accustomed to these marketing tactics and don't think much about the newer versions of Access when they come out.
Office 2007 - however is vastly different. I am writing this review of Access 2007 for one purpose only - to urge you to avoid upgrading as long as you can.
Two of my clients have already upgraded. Microsoft outdid itself in fixing what was never broken in the first place. Following are just a few of my initial observations.
Navigation Pane
From the very beginning Access objects (tables, forms, reports, queries, etc?) have been organized in the Database Window. One would select the "table" tab and all tables in the database could be viewed to the right of the "table tab" in the database window. This is no longer the case. Now all objects are organized in a Navigation Pane. On the surface this does not seem like a major change, but the end result is more cumbersome navigation when trying to locate Access objects. The old Database Window would allow sorting of objects by type, name, date created, etc? If an end-user created a query on a specific date and forgot what she/he named it - she/he could search for the query by sorting in date order. Or?. An end-user could search for an object by type (this was especially helpful with queries because there are many different types of queries).
Access 2007 organizes all database objects (tables, forms, reports, queries, etc..) in one "pane" on the left hand side of the screen. The objects do NOT flow into columns - this can be quite cumbersome if one has dozens of queries to search.
Command Ribbons/Tabs
Microsoft Access standard menus and toolbars no longer exist in Access 2007. Actually - Microsoft Office standard toolbars and menus no longer exist in any of the office suite products. You will not find them in Word 2007, in Excel 2007 or in Power Point 2007. They have been replaced with Command Ribbons and tabs. The command ribbons and tabs easily consume the top 1/3rd of your computer screen. To view a sample of these Ribbons and Tabs simply follow the demo link given above.
The new ribbons and tabs are more cumbersome, requiring more steps to access commands we are all familiar with in using Access, Word, Excel and Power Point. If you are keyboard person and have traditionally used keyboard short-cuts to access common menu and toolbar commands you will find that many of these short-cuts no longer exist. It is now necessary to use the mouse EVERY time you want to access a common command. In addition, if you decide to minimize the ribbons and tabs because they consume the top 1/3rd of your screen - it will require more steps to access the command you want.
On the surface - one or more additional steps to access a command does not seem all that much. But, when an end-user is accustomed to keyboard short-cuts in and very familiar with standard toolbars and menus the time needed to complete common tasks (using the new and hefty ribbons and tabs) in Access, Word, Excel, and Power Point increases and becomes very frustrating for end users.
Discarding Common Access Code Lines
Most lay users of Microsoft Access never write one line of code. The problem is that many Access databases are built by people who do write and use code. I have yet to figure out all common code lines (used for years across all earlier versions of Access) that have been discarded. But, both clients who have upgraded have had to have me rebuild common search functions because the underlying code used in their database search functions was disabled. The upgraded databases did not recognize very BASIC commands to run filters effectively. This problem with Access cost my client time and money because they had to pay me to come in and redo something that was working effectively BEFORE the upgrade. As a database consultant - it has cost me frustration rebuilding something that should NOT have to be rebuilt during an upgrade process.
Now - in terms of building databases the cost in time and money wasn't that much. BUT, it is frustrating non-the-less.
The long and short of it is that am NOT impressed with Office 2007 in general and Access 2007 in particular. Like everyone else in the business world I will have to adjust and so will you. At this point in time, Microsoft dominates the market. For all of the frustrations, it is difficult to find an office suite as robust and integrated as Microsoft Office Suite. (I have explored the Open Office Suite - and it holds future promise, but it is not yet as mature a software as Microsoft Office Suite). The day will come when you will be forced to upgrade - but my professional and ethical recommendation would be to hold off as long as possible.
