Last objects to be updated

[ryetee]

I want to know what the last set of objects to be updated are.
I know I can display objects in order of last modified but the results are limited in that it appears to display those recently modified, those modified with 2 weeks and those older. Unfortunately the changes were made just before lockdown last year and then forgotten about. I can right click every module and select properties which will give me last modified date but there are quite a few objects and I'm after saving time Is there a easier way?

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Someone might have a better answer for you. However your question reminded me of a Tip I give out to would-be developers, particularly when you're working in code modules. The tip:- " Bring your Code to the Top" For a better explanation of I what I mean, along with a video, have a look at my website here:-

Bring Latest Code To Top - Nifty Access

A very simple but very useful technique - bring the latest code you are working on to the top

www.niftyaccess.com

 

[arnelgp]

a good programmer keeps a record (whether in paper) of
all object modified / created.
he has to be systematic.

 

[ryetee]

a good programmer keeps a record (whether in paper) of
all object modified / created.
he has to be systematic.

....and if he isn't and I have to pick up the mess?

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I have to pick up the mess?

On the two occasions where I had to pick up after someone else, without the benefit of the original programmers assistants I might add, I was unsuccessful, and completely and totally demoralized by the task.

I vowed to never allow myself to get in that situation again!

If I am ever presented with a similar job in the future, my approach will be to build my own program using the original program as the specification for my version.

My first step would be to do a flow chart of everything that the program does.

Collect new customer details.
Process customer order.
Arrange shipping
Produce invoice
Produce statement
Process payment transactions

Then have flowcharts for each of the above processes.

Once you've got these flowcharts you can discuss the flow with the people that actually use the programme. You might then discover that the reason you've been called in, is that the software is not working as well as the user's would like.

You will also quickly discover if you actually have the authority you need to to insure the database is built correctly, or if you have just been called in to cover someone's ass!

 

[gemma-the-husky]

It is a real pita that access seems to update the last modified date of modules when you open the dbs. The date created is OK, but not the date modified. It makes it very hard to fund recent code changes.

@ryetee I don't think you are correct about the dates. I am sure they all show OK for me. Maybe you rebuilt or compacted and repaired, or something like that, which caused the dates to change. I am not saying a C&R does do that (in fact I am pretty sure it doesn't)- but something of that nature might cause the effect you noticed. Dropping and relinking linked tables definitely changes the modified date for the tables.

 

[ryetee]

Unfortunately I don't have that luxury but here's what I did.

It is a real pita that access seems to update the last modified date of modules when you open the dbs. The date created is OK, but not the date modified. It makes it very hard to fund recent code changes.

@ryetee I don't think you are correct about the dates. I am sure they all show OK for me. Maybe you rebuilt or compacted and repaired, or something like that, which caused the dates to change. I am not saying a C&R does do that (in fact I am pretty sure it doesn't)- but something of that nature might cause the effect you noticed. Dropping and relinking linked tables definitely changes the modified date for the tables.

I think you've misunderstood about the date. The properties date is correct but you have to look at each in turn or run a report and plough through the report which is what I'm doing now. The bit that would have been good would be to arrange the objects in last date modified. This works if you've amended something in the last few days but anything older gets group under one heading could older and then it's in alphabetical order.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

if you select queries (or any object type), you can then right click at the top where it says queries, and then there are various sort by options to sort the queries. You get every query in date order. There must be a different option where it shows you the different view, which you described. Selected full details, and you get the date included.

Having said that, I still preferred the A2003 view, and before that I preferred the A97 view.

The search bar is very useful, though.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Here's a query that might be helpful. It doesn't include modules because their dates change whenever you open the database and this query is trying to the dates objects were changed. It sorts them newest change date to oldest. It is not a reliable method of determining when objects were changed. I've looked for years and haven't found one. Access seems to be a bit capricious regarding when it "updates" the DateUpdate.

SELECT MSysObjects.Name, MSysObjects.DateUpdate, MSysObjects.Type
FROM MSysObjects
WHERE (((MSysObjects.Name) Not Like "MSys*") AND ((MSysObjects.Type)=-32768 Or (MSysObjects.Type)=5 Or (MSysObjects.Type)=-32764 Or (MSysObjects.Type)=1))
ORDER BY MSysObjects.DateUpdate DESC;


The best option if you want a tool that can compare one database to another and highlight changes can be found on www.fmsinc.com. I've used most of their tools and they are all highly useful and reasonably priced considering how long it would take me to build something similar.


Here's a list of Object Types. You might have different objects in your database. To see them, just remove the where clause in the above query and figure out what they are based on their name.

Type    TypeDesc
-32768    Form
-32766    Macro
-32764    Reports
-32761    Module
-32758    Users
-32757    Database Document
-32756    Data Access Pages
1    Table - Local Access Tables
2    Access Object - Database
3    Access Object - Containers

4    Table - Linked ODBC Tables
5    Queries
6    Table - Linked Tables or Files
8    Relationships
9    Constraints

 

[ryetee]

Thank you for all the replies.
In the end I used a query using MSysObjects which has last modified date and has allowed me to suss it out!

 

[Pat Hartman]

Remember what I said. Last modified date is not accurate but it still might work for what you are doing.