Congratulations Pat!

[WindSailor]

Congratulations!

I see you are a Microsoft Access MVP.

About time...

Now if we can just get you to write that book...

 

[Pat Hartman]

Thanks. Actually, there is much more of a chance since with the advent of Office 12, there will be a requirement for new books so a book is more likely to be financially worth the effort to write. I hope you all understand that an author, especially an unknown author, makes less money on a book than the publisher, the distributer, or the retailler. So, those $50 tomes net around $3.00 to the author.

In case you haven't seen any pictures yet, the interface for Office 12 is COMPLETELY different from earlier versions. I am working with an alpha copy now but the first beta is due next month. When I get it, I will try to post some pictures of the Ribbon which replaces ALL menus and toolbars for ALL office applications. In concept, it's a good idea because it exposes more features so it will be easier for newcomers to discover functionality. Experienced developers will likely object to it since it takes some getting used to. But given the new features that you'll get with this version, it will be worth the effort.

 

[ghudson]

Congrats Pat!!!

From what I have read and seen; Office 12 will be quite a big step forward.

Here is an interesting link that was posted on another Access forum. It's a blog from one of the Microsoft developers.

http://blogs.msdn.com/erikaehrli/archive/2005/09/19/officesharepointpdcslides.aspx

The OFF302 file shows the Ribbon you mentioned.

 

[ScottGem]

Congrats Pat,

I thought that signature was new.

Scott<>

 

[Oldsoftboss]

Congrats Pat,
Can you give a brief overview / path of how you have achieved MVP. I take it from reading your posts that you are directly involved with Microsoft in some way. An insite would be interesting (well to me anyway!)

Dave

 

[skea]

Congs Pat.

 

[RV]

Very impressive Pat, well done!

RV

 

[ScottGem]

Congrats Pat,
Can you give a brief overview / path of how you have achieved MVP. I take it from reading your posts that you are directly involved with Microsoft in some way. An insite would be interesting (well to me anyway!)

Dave

Dave,

Check out this site:

http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

Specifically the FAQs page.

 

[R. Hicks]

Let me add my Congratulation Pat ...
I did not see this thread and made a post in the WaterCooler Forum.

You are very deserving of this award and will be an asset the the existing MVP group.

RDH

 

[Pat Hartman]

Thanks again to everyone. It is quite an honor.

Oldsoftboss, to answer your question, Last January the Connecticut Access Users Group contacted Microsoft for some information/support regarding our regular monthly meetings. As part of this process, I had occassion to correspond with one of the MS Access development team leads. Well, given my love for Access and my desire to see it get even better, I took it upon myself to send an Access database containing a large number of feature requests as well as some complaints. Having the ear of someone who could actually do something regarding my suggestions was just too good an opportunity to pass up. Our contact was impressed and after some discussion, I pointed him to this forum to see my contribution to the community. At that time MS invited me to join their Access Insiders group (now called the Access Advisary Council) and to attend a meeting at MS headquarters in Redmond in March. In March I met several MVPs and they recommended me to the committee that chooses MVPs.

 

[Rich]

I wonder if you'll get a personal invite from Bill for drinks and a game of cards, that would be the icing on the cake

 

[KenHigg]

Congrats Pat,

And thanks for forwarding all of our comments to ths MS people...

(Who wanted the ribbon thingy? )

 

[Pat Hartman]

(Who wanted the ribbon thingy? )

The ribbon was an office wide "innovation". Unfortunately Access is positioned as an Office component and so the ribbon was inflicted on it also. I think it actually has potential. But it is huge and gets in the way. Hopefully, they will do something about that before the final release. Maybe they'll make an option to hide it. It is much less of an issue in word but in Access it will cause me to resize all my forms - I really hate the maximized look so all my forms are sized to fit.

 

[Pat Hartman]

I wonder if you'll get a personal invite from Bill for drinks and a game of cards, that would be the icing on the cake

I actually met Bill (not that he'd remember me) two years ago in Montreal. My partner were playing in the World Mixed Pairs (female-male parterships only) and we played against Bill and his partner. All I know is Bill and his partner didn't make the cut but my partner and I made it to the final round. We didn't win but for me, makint it that far was a victory since that was the first time I had ever played in world compitetion.