The Workbench for Microsoft® Access
Home Page | Download Here | Online help Here |  Download help file here  | Order Software  | Upgrades

Improvements Made To The Workbench

17/4/08 5.1.1 You can now add notes for those obscure computer names that mean nothing. i.e. Name of person using the computer or email address or phone number.  The delivery button will create a zip file with dates in it for files that don't use the Workbench version system.

3/1/08 5.0.21 Live Version New Shortcut builder for Workbench.exe, increased height of Workbench main form 2 cm fixed bug with Auto-Exit

7-May-07 5.0.18  Comprehensive support for Access 2007. Moved the Open With and Run exec menu items to the top menu bar. Don't Delete Your Old Versions of Access / Office Accidentally.  New improved code window to replace the clipboard approach for code samples.

8-March-07 4.6.18   Build a zip file of the database whose name includes the version name (requires Winzip or similar). Very handy for keeping backups of versions. You can double click on the zip file in Folder to open a zip file. If you select a zip file using select button, it will open the zip file. Backups tab allows you to create a Zip backup file and open the zip file. Workbench command lines now support /wbbackupzip for zip file backups. Now supports PKZIP command line program (pkzipc.exe) for creating zip files. Clicking all labels next to check boxes change the check box value itself.

13-Nov-06 4.5.17  Ability to hide or show buttons and the decompile checkbox

12-Sept-06 4.5.9 Improvements to information about users when selecting a database. To help you test Access forms fit a uniform screen size (like 1024 x 768), there is a blue fixed sized form in the Workbench. All you have to do is position your Access Window on the top. A new Folder tab makes it much quicker to switch to and compact/backup multiple databases in a folder. Download the beta here.


2-June-06 4.4.33  Added a new hyperlink to make it easier to open the folder that the current database is in.

6-March-06 4.4.28  Building support for ADP files (compacting, favorites and backups mainly). Workbench now works with databases that have been hidden in windows explorer.

Added a new button to make it easier to include software database version information in the main forms of databases. Button can be found in the Deliver form. Next version of Workbench will allow you to query the database (very basic). It remembers the last SQL entered for each database. Handy for things like querying the internal userlogs. Introduced a New link on the current tab to make it easier to fire up a new Workbench window.
 

2-March-06 4.4.14 Fixed an annoying little quirk in the Favorites list box so that database ID field didn't turn into a text box suggesting renaming was possible. Most Recently Used databases form has been upgraded to allow for Adding the database to the favorites list when you open the database. Also the MRU form appears automatically when you first install the Workbench to make it easier to get started plus it searches for versions of Access on your computer so that the best MRU list is shown. The Add favorite button, generates an automatic 8 character ID for the database.

1-Feb-06 4.4.7 Added support to allow Regnow registration.

6-Dec-05 4.4.6 - MDE database compiling. Tightened up the process for decompiles to guide the user to follow the correct procedures for a proper decompile. Read more. Built in support for the vb123 rss/xml feed so that you can read it without an RSS reader.

26/09/05 4.3.3 Integrated online help (inc. this page) through the use of hyperlinks in the menus and on some screens. Support for Access database passwords in workbench favorites to make User Lists. Added file size checking for backup interval option. Added an open current folder button to the Favorites Tab. Backup all your workbench settings for later recovery after moving to a new computer or a systems failure. Added a filter files box to the Backups Tab for easier sifting of multiple backups.

26/07/05 4.2.10 Change the startup properties of the database without opening it. The message box now has a vertical scroll bar for displaying larger messages.

26/07/05 4.2.2 Installs better on multi-user computers running NTFS file systems. New entry in favourites allows you to select the number of days between backups for the favorite. The software looks at the dates of backups in the backup folder and if it is over the number of days, the backup checkbox is selected automatically.

27/6/05 4.1.25 Added index words Tab to the help file. Improvements to Administration form includes hiding of messages about where to add code for MDE files and any database where you select the check box at the bottom of the form. Buttons like Remove Message File are only turned on when a file actually exists.

27/6/05 4.1.14 A form to display the Most Recently Used selections for all versions of Access. You can then select from those to continue on. You now can find your sandbox mode directly from the Workbench. Improvements to the Add button in Favorites to ensure that existing selections are not overwritten.

14/6/05 4.1.4 Improved support for disconnected hard drive volumes. There is now a button to add the database version table to your database.

14/6/05 4.1.3 New button to open the backup folder directly.
Workbench  Command line support for the following commands
/wb2000 /wb2002 /wb2003  >> to open Access files with you required version of Access
/wbCompact  /wbBackup /wbDecompile /wbCompile so that the Workbench will run these options when all users log off.  Read more


Workbench  Command line support for Access commands
/compact /decompile /excl/nostartup /ro  More on Access command lines here
ie  You can setup a shortcut that says 
c:\program files\vb123\workbench.exe c:\yourFolder\northwind.mdb /compact
and the workbench will startup and select the compact checkbox for you.

Workbench Auto-Exit option so workbench closes down when all the backups, compacts etc are completed.

9/5/05 Added association support for the workbench shutdown and message file types so that you can startup the workbench from the files in Explorer and see the contents of the files.

5/5/05 Improved searching for the locations of Access Executable to make it easier to set up the workbench.

23/3/05 4.0.2 Administration options for sending messages to users and shutting down the database. Adding database messages. Improved support for versions of database including free download sample download sample. New menus for the system. Easy shortcut to the local folder. Improved help files.

7/12/04 3.7.5 Attempt to repair of a database irrespective of warning messages or user lists. Messages can be assigned to a database. These will appear in the Workbench when a database is selected.

8-Aug-04. (1) You can select from Access 2003, 2002 or 2000 to open you Access 2002 or 2000 format databases.  (2) There is now a facility to view and change the release version of the database. The release data and version number need to be stored in a table in the database. We provide the format for this with the registered copy. (3) The software includes a button to open backup databases in the backup folder. This is useful when you are looking for the original of that form that you just edited. You can also delete backup databases produced by the workbench from the backup tab in the workbench.

25-March-04 3.5.1
Supports Compile All Modules and Decompile from the interface. Probably the fastest way you will every find to undertake these necessary activities. Also the beta includes support for MDA files, remembers compact and backup selections if you close the workbench before they are run. Will allow you to save your workgroup file details (username and encrypted password if required) with the database for quicker switching between databases. Passwords are now obscured in the show Access command line viewer for greater security.

6-Nov-03 3.1.6
New setup program which means that right clicking on .mdb, mdw, mde files will allow you to go straight to the Workbench. The unused file association with .ldb files now will automatically fire up the workbench to show you the users in the database. Start program from Quick Start icons on taskbar. Cleaner and more versatile installations and removal of software. New help for the new features.

4-Nov-03 3.0.1
In response to our most popular request, the software includes a backup on demand capability that works whenever everyone leaves the database. All you have to do is select the database (from your favorites) and select the Backup checkbox. Backups of the database are made with a file prefix that includes the date and time so that backups are really easy.  There is now an an auto compact facility that will ensure that your database is compacted whenever a certain size is reached. This works whenever you click on a database in your favorites list.

28-Mar-03 2.0.19
All the command line switches are now supported through a command line text box. This makes opening databases in readonly or runtime mode or with the /Decompile Switch easy.  These command line scripts can now be transferred to a new desktop shortcut from the Advanced view on Current tab. This means building complicated shortcuts for Access is now just a Cut and Paste away. If you are trying to compact a database and want to look at another, a new workbench session can be launched. The workbench can detect if a database is encrypted. The F4 hotkey will open the database. Want to add right click to the Windows Explorer to open the Workbench in Windows 2000 or XP. Read more.

11-Mar-2003 2.0.11
The Security Workgroups selector now has a Do Not Select Workgroup check box to make it easier to switch to your default workgroup file. Issues with coordination of favorites and the compact/lock check boxes resolved.

1-Mar-2003 2.0.3
Database favorites now make it easy to switch between databases. You can categorize your databases and sort them. New tab control for switching between displays. Display issues fixed on Current Tab from vers 2.0.3

8-Feb-2003
New release of the internal logging software with improved vba, more flexible shutdown procedures and better messaging.

Version 1.4.3  3-Feb-2003
Added compact check box to allow compaction of database after all users
exit the database. Also good for developers to compact the database
after they finished editing.
Added open exclusive checkbox that appears when no one is using the database.
Changed the Lock button to a checkbox. Updated messages to assist with using the program.
Now allow locking of workgroup databases secured from Admin workgroup user.
Who's On list is now updated automatically (if required) according to settings
under Options. Compacting will occur if selected at this stage.
Careful consideration was given to User list preparation for slow networks.

Version 1.3.4   29-Oct-2002
Secure databases are now supported for computer/user lists
Storage of your favourite username and password (encrypted) for fast opening of Microsoft Access.
Fixed locked message when no users were in database.
Made display for LDB files simpler.
Better messages and displays.
Integrated context sensitive help messages.
Support for bypassing startup options and autoexec macro

Version 1.2.6  25-Sep-2002
Add support to Open Access databases from main menu
Added html help file
Added sendto/ openwith support for mdb, mde and mdw files
Added workgroup file support to open databases with multiple workgroups
Added GUI interface for program options

Version 1.1.27  and earlier 12-sep-2002
Support for password protected databases
Ability to view databases by using the sendTo/Open with right click methods
Added current directory open for quicker location of databases
Added Access logging software to complement the workbench.
Added support for MDE and MDW workgroup files.
Fixed a number of locking database issues.
Added support for the LDB file type associations in Windows Explorer.
User shutout locking is now enabled so you can stop new users opening a database when you are trying to shut it down for maintenance
Removed reference to Access library to reduce installation errors.
View computer name and remove connections shown by this program.
Show when database is in design view and when no one is in database.
Show whether database is Access 97 or 2000/2002 format.

Feedback !!!  

We love coming up with ideas but we would rather have your suggestions. Click Here to email your suggestions to Garry and his team.

Links >>>  Home | Search | Workbench | Orders | Newsletter | Access Security | Access professionals