Access Updater
Automatically Update Microsoft Access Front End Database Files
Resources
The Problem
If you are running a Microsoft Access database over your network, and you have it set up correctly between multiple users, that means you have a Back End file with your tables (or SQL Server) along with a Front End database file for each of your users.
It's easy to make changes on the Back End, but distributing updates for the user Front End files can be a nightmare. This is where Access Updater comes in.
It's very difficult to distribute changes to multiple Front End databases when you make changes. Access cannot update itself. Furthermore, even if you map to each user's shared network drive (which is a lot of work) they have to exit the database for you to update the file, and if they shut their machine off for the night, you're out of luck.
 The Solution
Access Updater allows you to make whatever modifications you want to your Front End file (the Admin copy). Then, with one click you can "push" updates up to a shared server folder.
Whenever your users load up their database, it will first check for updates. If an update is found, it will download and install the new Front End file before loading the database.
Optionally, you can also check for updates and have them installed automatically at timed intervals (hourly, for example). This is a great option for "unattended" databases, like an Email server.
Full Purchased Database
Once you have purchased the full database template, come back to this page and click on the Download button below. This will give you access to the ZIP file containing the Access Updater Template ACCDB file. The WalkThru video above gives you complete instructions on how to integrate this Template into your database setup.
Updates
Please note that this Template is very much "Version 1.0" software. While I have been running it for several weeks in my office and have tested it fully, I cannot guarantee that there are no bugs in it. Before you install it on any mission critical database setups, please make sure you have a full backup of everything beforehand. I will not be responsible for any problems incurred by your use of this software. I have several updates planned already, and you will get FREE copies for all version 1.x updates of this Template. I'll post a list of updates soon.
Feb 1, 2022: I've been having a problem with my personal copy of AccessUpdater where if, for some reason, Access doesn't close down all the way and MSACCESS.EXE is still running in the background, then the VBA FileCopy command won't make copies of the needed files because they're open. I got around this by switching to the FSO CopyFile command. I've updated the template to v1.1. If you want to integrate the changes into your existing setup, just copy the FSOCopyFile sub in the module to your module, and rename any instances of "FileCopy" to "FSOCopyFile". There should be 6 of them in a default installation.
Learn How This Database Was Built
As of right now, I don't have any plans to turn this into a full Seminar where I show you how to build the database from start to finish. However, if enough of you want to see how it was built, let me know. Post a comment below and say you're interested in a full Seminar for this Template. I'll be happy to record one if there is interest.
License
For internal use only. This template does NOT come with a royalty-free license. You may only customize the template for your business needs and for use within your organization at one location ONLY. You may not resell or distribute any form of this template to others without express written permission. Contact me for additional information on obtaining a license to distribute if you plan on including this template in a product you are reselling. Additional licenses are required if you plan on using this template with more than ten (10) employees or in multiple locations within your organization.
Not a Finished Product
Please keep in mind that most of my template databases are not designed to be finished products that are ready to go in a working environment. My templates are meant as starting points for you to customize for yourself so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. This requires that you have a basic understanding of Microsoft Access development. To work on most of my databases you should have completed my Access Beginner series and the first couple levels of my Expert series at a minimum. Most of my databases require knowledge of SQL and VBA as well. Keep in mind that most of my templates are not like off-the-shelf software. They're starting points for developers to be able to modify and use as their own. It really is going to be in your benefit to watch all of the prerequisite videos so you understand the database and how it works moving forward. This is not like QuickBooks where you just install it and use it. My templates are mostly designed for people who already have an understanding of how Microsoft Access works.
Customize For Your Needs
If you would like to discuss customizing this template for your needs, and integrating it into your current setup, please see my consulting page for details. While I no longer accept custom jobs that are specific to a single user, I may include your features in a future version of this template if they have mass appeal. If you are looking for custom enhancements made to this template just for you, visit my Developer Network.
Technical Support
Please note that technical support is NOT guaranteed for any of my courses, seminars, or templates. If you require help with modifying this template, you may post a question in the Forums, however an answer to your question is not guaranteed. If this template comes with an accompanying Seminar, then you should purchase that Seminar to see how the database was constructed. If not, then you should have taken the suggested courses. Most of my templates are designed on a Developer level and you should have a thorough understanding of SQL and VBA before attempting to modify them. If you have a problem with one of my databases, I will only support the unmodified database exactly as it's downloaded from my site. If you have modified it in any way, it may not be something I can help you with. You can post in the Forums, and I may be able to help you, but if the issue doesn't exist in my unmodified database, it's not something I can support.
Questions?
Got sales or customer service questions about this template? Feel free to contact me. If you have technical "how do I" questions about this template, you discover a bug, or want to suggest a new feature, then please post your comments below.
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- Best practices for deploying your Access Database
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Intro In this video, I will show you how to use the Access Updater tool to automatically distribute updates for your Microsoft Access front-end database files across your network. We will talk about common challenges with updating front-end files, how to set up the Access Updater, and how it streamlines the update process for both administrators and users. I will walk through adding the necessary form and module to your database, configuring update settings, and managing rollouts with logging and backup features. This solution works entirely within Microsoft Access with full source code included.Transcript Introducing the Access Updater, brought to you by AccessLearningZone.com.
The Access Updater allows you to automatically update your Microsoft Access front-end database files across your network. If you are running a Microsoft Access database over your network and you have it set up correctly between multiple users, that means you have a back-end file with your tables, or SQL Server, or some other type of database server, along with front-end database files for each of your users.
It is easy to make changes on the back-end file, but distributing updates for the user front-end files can be a nightmare. This is where Access Updater comes in. It is very difficult to distribute changes to multiple front-end databases when you make those changes. Access cannot update itself if it is running. Furthermore, even if you map to each user's shared network drive, which is a lot of work, they have to exit the database for you to update the file, and if they shut their machine off for the night, you are out of luck.
The solution is Access Updater. It allows you to make changes and modifications to your front-end file, the administrator copy, whenever you want. Then, with one click, you can push updates to a shared server folder. Whenever your users load up their database, it will first check for updates. If an update is found, it will download and install the new front-end file before loading the database.
Optionally, you can also check for updates and have them installed automatically at timed intervals, once an hour, for example. This is a great option for unattended databases like an email server. You can easily push updates to all of your users across your entire network. Each database will update itself when started, or they can be programmed on a timer.
You do not have to run around at different stations, only set it up one time. You do not have to email your users that there are updates. They have nothing that they have to install or download themselves.
All you have to do is add one form and one module to your existing front-end file and put the Access Updater database in your admin folder. Then you will go around your network once, and with less than five minutes per workstation, you can have each user set up for automatic updates.
This is a complete Access-only solution. There are no separate programs to download, no EXE files, no DLLs, no OCX files, nothing but Access files. You get the complete source code, a completely unlocked database when you purchase the Access Updater, so you can modify it for your needs. And, of course, every update is logged in a log file so you can see which users are up to date and which have not updated in a while.
This is how easy it is to set up the Access Updater.
First, put the Access Updater ACCDV file in your database admin folder. Next, copy your current front-end file to your shared server folder. In your admin front-end database, the one that you work on, import two objects - the Access Updater form and the Access Updater module. Set the Access Updater F form as your database's startup object so when you start the database it loads up the Access Updater form first.
Open up the Access Updater form and log on as admin. The password, the default password to set up, is ALZ. You can change that in the code if you want to. Type in whatever your startup form is, like main menu app, customer form, or whatever the normal startup form is for your database. Next, type in or browse for your front-end database, the one you just copied up to your server shared folder. Click on Save Settings and then push your first update. The Access Updater will perform its magic.
Your front-end file will be copied up to the server, and any changes you make to the Access Updater database file will also be copied up. Of course, you get the full source code so you can make any changes and updates that you want. When the update is complete, your original admin front-end database will relaunch. You will see that no updates are necessary, and after three seconds your main menu form will open.
Every file is backed up before being copied and everything, as far as updates go, is logged on the server.
Now, once the admin station is all set up and you get the files on the server, setting up each user is simple. Copy the front-end file and the Access Updater database file from the server shared folder, the ones you copied up there earlier. Copy those down to the user's personal folder on their system. You only have to do this one time. After this, the database will take care of it for you.
Now, open up the user's front-end file. Very similar to when you were setting up your station, type in a unique username like user123. Enter the name of the startup form and select the same front-end file on the server that you specified before. Save the settings and restart the database.
When the database restarts, you will briefly see Access Updater start up and notify you that there are no updates. After three seconds, your main menu will load and you can continue to use your database.
Now, whenever you, the admin, make changes to your front-end file, all you have to do is click on the push update button. Your user's databases will check for updates whenever they start up. If an update is available, they will be given a 10-second warning, and you can change that before a restart.
In addition to checking for updates on startup, you can use a timer event on your main menu to check for updates at regular intervals, such as hourly. There are two sample main menus with different types of timers included with the template so you can see how to implement this if you wish.
Access Updater will automatically update the app title for your database with the current published version so you can make sure that all of your users have the most up-to-date front-end file.
For more information on the Access Updater template, please visit my website at AccessLearningZone.com. I will put a direct link to the Access Updater template in the description box below this video.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. Thanks for watching.Quiz Q1. What is the main purpose of the Access Updater?
A. To automatically update Microsoft Access front-end database files across a network
B. To back up SQL Server databases
C. To share Access tables online
D. To migrate Access databases to the cloud
Q2. Why is it difficult to distribute updates to multiple front-end databases manually?
A. Users often forget to update their files
B. Access cannot update itself if it is running, and manual distribution is time-consuming
C. Access databases are read-only by default
D. Network permissions prevent updates
Q3. What does the Access Updater allow administrators to do with their front-end files?
A. Easily make changes and push updates to a shared folder
B. Email users with update instructions
C. Automatically update the back-end tables
D. Share files via OneDrive
Q4. How does the Access Updater check for updates?
A. Every time the user launches the front-end database or at regular intervals with a timer
B. Only when the admin clicks a button
C. Through email notifications sent to users
D. Only once a week
Q5. What do users need to do to receive updates using Access Updater after the initial setup?
A. Nothing; updates are handled automatically by their database copy
B. Reinstall the Access Updater every time
C. Manually download updates from the admin
D. Email the administrator for new files
Q6. What is required to integrate the Access Updater into an existing front-end Access database?
A. Add one form and one module from Access Updater and set the startup object
B. Install an EXE file on each PC
C. Register an OCX control
D. Configure Windows firewall rules
Q7. What must an admin do the first time when setting up Access Updater on their own front-end?
A. Import the Access Updater form and module, enter settings, and push the first update
B. Set up user permissions for each user
C. Create new tables in the back-end
D. Modify ODBC settings
Q8. During user setup, what unique information is required?
A. A unique username for each user
B. The user's email address
C. The user's computer MAC address
D. The user's Office 365 password
Q9. What happens when Access Updater detects that an update is available?
A. Users are given a 10-second warning before the update is applied
B. Updates are silently installed with no notice
C. The system administrator receives an email
D. Access automatically closes without warning
Q10. What type of solution is the Access Updater considered?
A. A complete Access-only solution with no external EXE, DLL, or OCX files
B. An add-on that requires .NET components
C. A cloud-based deployment tool
D. A SaaS subscription platform
Q11. What logging feature does Access Updater provide?
A. It logs every update in a log file, tracking which users are up to date
B. It emails logs to users daily
C. It only logs failed updates
D. It creates an entry in the Windows Event Log
Q12. Where are the Access Updater ACCDV file and the copied front-end file initially placed?
A. In the admin folder and in the shared server folder, respectively
B. On every user's desktop
C. In the Windows System32 directory
D. In each user's cloud storage
Q13. How often do you have to configure each user's workstation with Access Updater?
A. Only one time, during the initial setup
B. Every time there is a new update
C. Every week
D. Every time the user logs in
Q14. What does Access Updater do to your database's app title?
A. Automatically updates it with the current published version number
B. Resets it to a default value each time
C. Leaves it unchanged
D. Removes all text from the title
Q15. What is the default admin password for Access Updater setup?
A. ALZ
B. PASSWORD
C. ADMIN
D. 1234
Answers: 1-A; 2-B; 3-A; 4-A; 5-A; 6-A; 7-A; 8-A; 9-A; 10-A; 11-A; 12-A; 13-A; 14-A; 15-A
DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.Summary Today's video from Access Learning Zone introduces the Access Updater, an efficient tool for automatically keeping Microsoft Access front-end database files updated across your network.
When you run a Microsoft Access database with multiple users, you'll typically have a back-end file that stores your tables, perhaps using SQL Server or another database server, and then individual front-end database files for each user. While updating the back-end file is straightforward, distributing updates for the user front-end files can be extremely challenging. Access on its own can't update a front-end if it's running, and even if you manage to map all user network drives, it requires each user to close their database at precisely the right time. If a computer is off, your update can't reach it.
Access Updater eliminates these headaches. With this tool, you simply make changes or improvements to your administrator copy of the front-end file whenever you need. Then, with a single action, you can publish these updates to a shared folder on your server. Every time a user launches their database, Access Updater checks for new updates and, if one is available, automatically downloads and installs it before the database opens. There's also an option to have the updater check on a regular schedule, such as once an hour, which is particularly useful for databases running in an unattended manner, like those managing emails. This system allows you to keep every user's front-end synchronized across your network with minimal effort and no extra involvement from your users.
You don't have to notify users about updates, nor do they need to perform any installations or downloads themselves. Everything happens automatically. Setting this up only requires adding one form and one module to your existing front-end database, and placing the Access Updater database in your administrator folder. The process to configure each user is incredibly quick, usually taking less than five minutes per workstation, and you only need to do it once.
The entire solution is built with Microsoft Access, so you don't need to download any extra programs or deal with files like EXEs, DLLs, or OCXs. When you purchase Access Updater, you receive full source code and a completely unlocked database, giving you the freedom to customize it as needed. All update activity is recorded in a log file so you can monitor which users are current and who might be falling behind.
Setting up Access Updater is straightforward. First, place the Access Updater file in your admin folder. Copy your front-end file to the shared server folder. In your admin version of the front-end, import the Access Updater form and module. Set the Access Updater form to be your database's startup object so that it loads first each time you open the database. After launching the form as admin, log in using the default password, which is ALZ (you can change this in the code if you prefer). Enter your usual startup form, such as Main Menu or Customer Form. Specify or browse for the front-end file copied to the shared network folder, save the settings, and push your first update. Access Updater does the rest.
Your updated front-end will be copied to the server, and any changes to the Access Updater database will also be distributed. Everything is transparent, customizable, and logged. Once the update is complete, your admin front-end relaunches; if no new updates are present, your main menu opens after a brief wait.
To configure additional users, copy the updated front-end and Access Updater database files from the shared server location to each user's personal folder. This only needs to be done once. When the user opens their front-end database for the first time, assign them a unique username, specify the startup form, and select the network front-end file. Save the settings and restart the database. On restart, Access Updater will notify the user if there are no new updates, display a brief message, and then launch the main menu as normal.
Whenever you need to distribute updated front-end files, simply use the push update feature. Each user's database will detect and install the update the next time it starts, providing users with a brief notification and a countdown before restarting for the update. You can also include timer events in your application's main menu to check for updates at defined intervals. Sample main menus using different types of timers are included with the template so you can easily implement periodic checks if desired.
Access Updater automatically updates your database's application title to reflect the most current version, helping ensure everyone is running the latest release.
You can find a complete video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on everything discussed here on my website at the link below. Live long and prosper, my friends.Topic List Overview of Access Updater functionality
Solving the problem of distributing Access front-end updates
How Access Updater checks for and installs updates
Configuring automatic update intervals with timers
Required files and setup steps for Access Updater
Importing the Access Updater form and module
Setting the Access Updater form as the startup object
Initial admin setup and login process
Specifying the default startup form and password
Selecting the front-end database file for updates
Pushing the first update to the server share
Backup and logging features during updates
Copying files from the server to user systems
User setup and configuration of Access Updater
How user databases check for updates on startup
Performing updates with a warning before restart
Using timer events to check for updates automatically
Updating database app title with current version
Access Updater source code availability and customization |
