Access 2019 Bible

CHAPTER 22Using Access Macros

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Getting acquainted with macros
• Understanding macro security
• Working with multi‐action macros
• Using submacros for actions that are frequently required
• Making decisions with conditions
• Using temporary variables
• Handling errors and debugging your macros
• Understanding embedded macros
• Comparing macros to VBA

Macros have been a part of Access since the beginning. As Access evolved as a development tool, the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) programming language became the standard in automating Access database applications. Macros in versions prior to Access 2007 lacked variables and error handling, which caused many developers to abandon macros altogether. Access today has these, which make macros a much more viable alternative to VBA than in previous versions. If you're creating a database to be used on the Web, or if you aren't a VBA guru but you still want to customize the actions that your application executes, then building structured macros is the answer.

ON THE WEB

This chapter uses a database named Chapter22.accdb. If you haven't already downloaded it from this book's website, you'll need to do so now. This database contains the tables, forms, reports, and macros used in this chapter.

An Introduction to Macros

A macro is a tool that allows you to automate tasks in Access. It's different from Word's Macro Recorder, which lets you record a series of actions and play them back later. (It's also different from ...