Access 2010 comes with a new macro builder, this is one feature gets all the features take a back seat in terms of my attention. In addition to the new macro builder you might be interested in the new data types from SQL server 2008 and getting then on to your Access projects and it’s integration with Access services and SharePoint 2010.
Share a database using Access Services
With Access 2010, you have access to Access Services in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, you can create a Web database by using Access 2010. Users can access a database in a Web browser window, but the author must use Access 2010 to make design changes. Although some desktop database features do not translate to the Web, you can do many of the same things by using new features, such as calculated fields and data macros. In Office Access 2007, there was limited support in sharing a database to the Web, where you could only publish your lists and move the database to document libraries.
Connect to a Web service.
With a web definition file provided by a Web service administrator, you can connect to a Web service as an external data source. After the definition file is installed you can link to the Web service as a linked table.
Export to .pdf and .xps
In Access 2010, you can export data to a .pdf file format or an .xps file format (XML Paper Specification) to print, post, and distribute e-mail. This makes it possible for users to view your datasheet without having to install Access on their computers and is easily distributable. In Office Access 2007 this capability was also available through a downloadable add-in. Beginning with Office Access 2007 SP2 and continued with Access 2010, this feature was built into the product.
Enhanced security
Strong integration with Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 help you more effectively manage data and allow you to make your information tracking applications more secure than before. You can audit revision history, recover deleted information, and set data access permissions by storing your tracking application data in lists on SharePoint Foundation 2010.
Support for SQL Server 2008 data types
Access 2010 provides limited support in Access projects (.adp) for the following seven new data types introduced in Microsoft SQL Server 2008:
- date
- datetime2
- datetimeoffset
- time
- geography
- geometry
- hierarchyID
geography,geometry and hierarchyID are data types that are unsupported in table or view design mode in Access 2010. SQL Server 2008 design tools is an alternative for creating tables, views, stored procedures, and functions when you use any of these three data types. You can still use Access 2010 to design reports, forms, modules and macros that reference these data types.
A new macro builder
In Access 2010, Macro Builder is more flexible and easier to use, macro actions are easier to find, and IntelliSense helps you type expressions more accurately.
Watch this video as an introduction to the new Macro builder.
Calendar control (mscal.ocx)
The Microsoft Calendar control was controller by mscal.ocx in previous versions of Microsoft Office. This is not available in Microsoft Office 2010. An alternative is to use the new date picker control in Access 2010. Opening an application from an earlier version of Access where the control was used will generate an error message in Access 2010 and the control will not appear. This applicable to all applications designed in previous versions of Microsoft Office relying on mscal.ocx
Backward compatibility between Access 2010 and Access 2007
Access 2010 introduces features that are not supported in Office Access 2007. Office Access 2007 SP2 offers limited viewing and designing capabilities. Office Access 2007 SP1 will not open databases that contain these features.
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