Computer Learning Zone

Run-time error 9, "Subscript out of range," usually means VBA is trying to access something that does not exist. Often it is an array position outside its valid range, but it can also involve missing collection items or keys.

This episode explains what a subscript is, why indexes can be too high or too low, and why zero-based arrays created with VBA's Array function are a common source of off-by-one mistakes. Three values might soun...

Conditional formatting can flag an entire field, but that is not much help when a long notes box contains several paragraphs. In this episode, Richard Rost shows how to highlight every occurrence of a search word or phrase inside a Microsoft Access text box without changing the original table data.

The discussion uses VBA, rich text controls, HTML-style formatting tags, and the Replace function to create a separate display field wit...

Do you really need to replace a working Microsoft Access application just because remote employees, mobile devices, or web access are entering the picture? Often, the answer is no. The important question is not whether Access is old, but what business problem actually needs to be solved.

This episode separates the Access front end from the database backend and explains why they do not have to be replaced together. A business can mov...

BOF and EOF are easy to memorize in Access VBA, but understanding what they mean can save you from some very confusing recordset behavior. This episode explains why EOF alone does not prove a query returned no records, especially after code has moved past the last row.

Learn how DAO recordsets track a current record, what happens when you use MoveNext or MovePrevious, and why BOF and EOF are boundary positions rather than actual rec...

Microsoft Office installation failures can be frustrating, especially when the error message offers little more than "something went wrong." This episode covers the common reasons Word, Excel, Access, and Microsoft 365 may refuse to install.

Learn why leftover files from older Office versions, pending Windows updates, antivirus interference, low disk space, installer issues, and 32-bit versus 64-bit conflicts can stop an installatio...

Need to know how many calendar days two date ranges have in common? This episode covers a simple, reusable VBA approach for Microsoft Access that works whether ranges partially overlap, one contains the other, or they do not overlap at all.

The key is to identify the later start date and earlier end date, then handle the important no-overlap check before calculating the result. Richard also discusses the often-missed difference betw...

Before compacting a shared Microsoft Access back end, restoring a backup, or changing table designs, it helps to know whether anyone is still connected. A small Access lock file can provide a quick warning that the database may be in use.

Richard Rost explains what LACCDB and LDB lock files do, why they are useful in split databases, and why their presence is not always proof that someone is actively working. A crash, lost network c...

Getting stuck in Microsoft Access can lead to a flood of conflicting search results, outdated advice, and more questions than answers. This episode looks at where to find dependable help, from Microsoft's documentation and built-in F1 support to active Access forums, technical communities, news sites, and professional consultants.

Richard Rost explains how to match the kind of problem you have with the right source of support. A sim...

"What does it mean to pull data in Access?" It sounds simple, but the answer depends entirely on where the data lives, where it needs to go, and whether you want a live view or a permanent copy.

This episode clears up the most common meanings behind the phrase. Learn when to use a relational query to display customer details alongside orders, when copying values is appropriate for historical records such as shipping addresses and pr...

Can you see your records in Microsoft Access but suddenly cannot edit them? A form that beeps, a locked field, or a query that opens read-only can be frustrating, especially when the database worked fine yesterday.

This episode explains why the form is often just the messenger. The real issue may be the underlying table, a linked data source, network permissions, record locks, form properties, control settings, or a query Access can...

Class modules can seem intimidating in Microsoft Access VBA, especially if most of your code lives in standard modules and form events. This episode explains what class modules actually are, how they differ from tables, forms, reports, and standard modules, and why they are not something every Access developer needs to use.

Learn the basic object-oriented ideas behind classes, including blueprints, objects, instances, properties, me...

Test your Microsoft Access fundamentals with five beginner-friendly questions covering the building blocks of a well-designed database.

Learn why tables store data, why customer orders belong in a separate orders table, and why splitting first and last names can make sorting, filtering, and personalized letters much easier. The quiz also clears up the practical difference between forms for on-screen data entry and reports for printe...

Why does entering a date like 11/40 in Excel or Microsoft Access turn into 2040 instead of 1940? The answer is Windows' two-digit year cutoff, a system setting that decides which century a two-digit year belongs to.

This episode explains why the cutoff exists, why Excel and Access can interpret dates the same way, and why the default behavior may be a problem for medical offices, genealogy work, museums, cemetery records, and other ...

Ready to take your Microsoft Access database from your office desktop to a fully online solution? In this episode, we explore one of the most practical challenges for Access users: connecting your Access data to SQL Server and making it accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Your host, Richard Rost from Access Learning Zone, walks you through the whole process, highlighting the tools you will need, common pitfalls, a...

Put your Microsoft Access relational database knowledge to the test with five questions covering the building blocks of a well-designed database.

This quiz explores how related tables work together, why a vehicle record should store a CustomerID instead of repeating customer details, and how one-to-many relationships handle customers with multiple orders or vehicles.

It also covers the many-to-many relationship and the role of juncti...

Have you ever opened your Microsoft Access database and found you suddenly cannot make changes because it is locked in read only mode? You are not alone. In this episode, Richard Rost from Access Learning Zone breaks down why this happens, what "read only" actually means in Access, and the most common (and easily overlooked) reasons this frustrating problem occurs.

From simple slip-ups like accidentally opening your database in read...

If you are new to Microsoft Access, this episode is a fun and informative way to brush up on the basics. Join us for a lighthearted quiz covering essential Access terms, like which object actually stores your data and what types of objects are used for different tasks in the database. Whether you are confused by terms like table, field, and record or just want to make sure you are using the right tool for printing reports, this epi...

Ever opened your Access database to see the dreaded "Automation Error Catastrophic Failure" and wondered if all is lost? You are not alone. On this episode, we demystify one of the most alarming errors in the Microsoft Access world and explain why - despite its over-the-top name - it is rarely as disastrous as it sounds.

Join instructor Richard Rost as he breaks down what typically causes this error, from corrupted compiled VBA code...

Thinking about moving your Microsoft Access database online so it is easier to share with remote employees or access from anywhere? In this episode, Richard Rost from Access Learning Zone guides you through everything you need to know to set up a SQL Server online hosting account with WinHost. Learn why hosting your database in the cloud is more accessible and affordable than ever, and get a behind-the-scenes look at choosing a hos...