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MS Access Forum / General 1 / January 2006Access Development Freelance
Hi all, I wanted to start a thread that might help many of us. I worked for a company for 12 years, until this past Christmas when they let me go. Getting rid of the higher dollar guys, in favor of more profit, was the reasoning. Oh well. Anyhow. I built this companies network from the ground up. Then about 8 years ago, I developed a MS Access 2.0 database. This database, much like others, was supposed to just tiny bits. Over the course of time, we converted to 97, then to 2000, then this past summer to 2003. The database now runs almost every aspect of the company, from contract management to payroll (outsourced) to contact management to sales to production measurement and budgeting tools, except the Accounting end, yet it interfaces and pulls data out for custom report in Access. Towards the end of my tenor, say the past 3 years, I had 2 guys doing the hardware/break fix, while I spent most of the time developing. The company is about $50 million in size, with about 80 users access this database daily. The back end is SQL, front end Access. Ok, enough of the history lesson. What I would like to figure out, since I feel I have become pretty good at creating, modifying/making databases, is any suggestions on how to get into consulting/freelance Access work. I know, that I have read other threads, that state there aren't a number of truly qualified Access developers out there. I've tried finding free lance sites, but that seems like a fruitless effort. Any help for a guy in Cincinnati who is trying to make it in life, would be appreciated. Would be good to hear everyone else's take on this. Thanks for looking and commenting. > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Thanks for looking and commenting. Try these job sites: http://www.dice.com/ http://www.flipdog.com/ http://justsqlserverjobs.com/ http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ Try a temp agency like Robert Half, etc.  SignatureMGFoster:::mgf00 <at> earthlink <decimal-point> net Oakland, CA (USA) Thanks. I wasn't looking to get back into a "job", but rather do consulting/freelance. I appreciate your "job" sites. Was trying to get a thread going to "network" with other developers who are doing freelance type work. Anyhow, thanks for your help. > Try these job sites: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Try a temp agency like Robert Half, etc. Also, find a user group in your area. Two places to start looking are: http://www.apcug.org and http://www.microsoft.com/communities/guide/usergroups.mspx. I am working on two contracts right now, both of which originated because of my involvement with a user group. In my area, there are a lot of employment firms who "broker" contract work -- you'd need to ask around in your area. Volunteer and do DB work for non-profit, charitable organizations. Many newspapers have a column about volunteer opportunities. Do NOT advertise in the newsgroups, but provide good answers and include (munged) contact information in your SIG and you might get some responses. If you should advertise, you'll be disrespected by responsible participants, as PC Datasheet is. Larry Linson Microsoft Access MVP Cy, A note about Larry --- For the past several years, I have gotten 6 to 10 requests for help each week, sometimes more, from Access users seeing my signature line in the newsgroups. A couple of years ago, Larry emailed me and said that he was having trouble finding work and asked if I would subcontract some of the work I was doing to him. I didn't because I already had assistance when I needed it. Now he condemns me for providing help to anyone from the newsgroups. You might have seen some of the libelous negativity about me in the newsgroups but the fact is that the number of requests have increased and I am passing on more work than previously. SignaturePC Datasheet Your Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word Applications Over 1100 users have come to me from the newsgroups requesting help resource@pcdatasheet.com > > Try these job sites: > > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Larry Linson > Microsoft Access MVP > I have gotten 6 to 10 requests for help How many knew that there was a price attached to your "help". These newsgroups are for free help, not for soliciting. > You might have seen some of the libelous negativity about me in the > newsgroups You need a new dictionary. Check the definition of libel. Can you point out what was false. Shall we persue you for your libelous statements? > but the fact is that the number of requests have increased and I am > passing on more work than previously. No stevie, the fact is that these newsgroups are for free peer to peer help. Just because you have been able to con some of the new users, does not make it right. John... Visio MVP Here's one of the biggest losers you will ever encounter. All he can do is pollute the newsgroups with his negativity. He never makes any contribution to the newsgroups. Some comments--- 99% of the requests I get initially start with "What would your fees be to ...." I provide help for a very reasonable price. Here are a few comments I have gotten -- I like it a lot. It does exactly what I want, very good job. Thanky you and I repeat GOOD JOB OK, Perfect, well done. See you when I need something more. Your very helpful email speaks volumes about your level of professionalism. I will definitely keep your contact information for anyone who needs these types of services - we very frequently get local businesses contacting us looking for exactly the type of service you provide. One word: Wow. I had no clue it could be such an "aesthetically pleasing" interface. I figured it'd just be a big chart. That's amazing. You've really helped me cause out a lot, and you've done a tremendous job with this demo. With this, I can more easily explain how a database could help us out. Thanks for looking ahead. That is the reason I really feel safe working with you. couple of the programmers who do work for me, need to be checked to told to do every step of the way. With you, I just need to tell you what I need to be done, and you will think ahead of all the problems that might occur in the process. And if there is any doubt, look back five posts previous to this one, "What is the syntax for displaying ....." Yep Thats the syntax Thanks a bunch Jerry --- PC Datasheet Your Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word Applications Over 1100 users have come to me from the newsgroups requesting help resource@pcdatasheet.com >> I have gotten 6 to 10 requests for help > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > John... Visio MVP > I provide help for a very reasonable price. Here are a few comments I have > gotten Oh Jesus Christ, will you just f.ck off. What about for providing advice on pk/fk that betrays a total lack of knowledge about that most basic of relational database techniques, implementing table level constraints (aka relations in Jet) for data integrity? The construction of an interface that allows creation of orphaned records and relies on form level code to avoid such? And giving such advice trying to pass yourself off as an authority on such? OMG, give me a break. SignatureTim http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~tmarshal/ ^o< /#) "Burp-beep, burp-beep, burp-beep?" - Quaker Jake /^^ "What's UP, Dittoooooo?" - Ditto > 99% of the requests I get initially start with > "What would your fees be to ...." If Steve's memory about "helping people" for a fee is as faulty as his memory about my asking him to throw some work my way, his quotes are not to be trusted. And, to think, _he_ tries to label John Marshall, selected by Microsoft to be an MVP because of his contributions to the user community, as a "loser" -- it is to laugh. Poor Steve. There was a time when he, mostly, followed the rules and just put contact information in his SIG line, but need or greed or something got the best of him. He apparently can't read the FAQ at http://www.mvps.org/access/netiquette.htm, or can't understand it, or (my guess) just won't abide by it. Larry Linson who cast an approving vote for the creation of this newsgroup back in 1993... you can find the record of that if you Google And so, Larry, let's cut through all your subterfuge and evasiveness crap and I will ask you bluntly -- Isn't it true that a couple of years ago you emailed me and asked if I would subcontract to you some of the Access database work I was doing for people who saw my name in the newsgroups and sent me an email requesting fee-based help from me? Steve PC Datasheet > > 99% of the requests I get initially start with > > "What would your fees be to ...." [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > of this newsgroup back in 1993... you can > find the record of that if you Google Apparently, he knows the difference of using e-mails for private business, but not you. In an effort of making him look bad (and there is nothing wrong to inquiry about new potential business), you just confirm your jerk status. > And so, Larry, let's cut through all your subterfuge and evasiveness crap > and I will ask you bluntly -- [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > of this newsgroup back in 1993... you can > > find the record of that if you Google > And so, Larry, let's cut through all your sub- > terfuge and evasiveness crap and I will ask [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > newsgroups and sent me an email requesting > fee-based help from me? No subterfuge and evasiveness on my part, Steve: The short answer to your question is "No, I did not." The longer answer is: Before you began your "intensive advertising" campaign in the newsgroups*, I corresponded with you by e-mail. It is entirely possible that I discussed the state of the Access contracting business, and it is entirely possible that I asked if you were getting any business from your answers in the newsgroup. It is NOT possible that I asked to subcontract to you. * that would be, after you reduced your SIG to four or five lines, as I advised you to if you wanted to be accepted by the online community, but before you began responding with "Contact Me Privately", trying to sell services that others would provide for free. Reasoning behind the long answer: After reading about your dealings with the subcontractor about whom you first posted to this newsgroup, and your refusal to pay him (even the agreed hours, if I recall) because he did not accomplish all you thought he should within the estimate, I would never consider subcontracting to you. I do not do business with people I know are not likely to live up to the agreements they make. And you had demonstrated that was your nature -- that you were looking for excuses not to pay people for the work they did for you. Life is too short to waste part of it dealing with people who "stiff" their subcontractors. Is that sufficiently clear? If not, let me try to be "blunt": I wouldn't trust you to pay for work that a subcontractor does for you, because you yourself have said that you did not, in at least that one case. For the information of anyone reading this: I have done subcontract work for some participants in CDMA but they were people I could and did trust. And, it was never work they solicited in the newsgroup. Most of us can read, don't have any trouble understanding, and abide by the FAQ at http://www.mvps.org/access/netiquette.htm and the charter of the newsgroup, which you can read there. Larry Linson <snipped all te crap here> > And if there is any doubt, look back five posts previous to this one, "What > is the syntax for displaying ....." > Yep Thats the syntax > Thanks a bunch > Jerry You are a real champion here Steve! Indeed a good answer! Chapeau! > --- > PC Datasheet > Your Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word Applications > Over 1100 users have come to me from the newsgroups requesting help > resource@pcdatasheet.com SignatureTo Steve: Over 300 users from the newsgroups have visited the website to read what kind of a 'resource' you are... To the original poster: Most people here have a common belief that the newsgroups are for *free exchange of information*. But Steve is a notorious job hunter in these groups, always trying to sell his services. Before you intend to do business with him look at: http://home.tiscali.nl/arracom/whoissteve.html (updated) Arno R >"StopThisAdvertising" <StopThisAdvertising@DataShit> wrote in message news:43db3e1c$0$12840$ba620dc5@text.nova.planet.nl... >Before you intend to do business with him look at: >http://home.tiscali.nl/arracom/whoissteve.html (updated) >Arno R Arno, the web site looks good. It's just the facts. Leave the name calling to datasheet (everyone that disagrees with him is a dimwit, loser, idiot, goon or worse). SignatureRandy Harris tech at promail dot com I'm pretty sure I know everything that I can remember. > Arno, the web site looks good. It's just the facts. Leave the name > calling > to datasheet (everyone that disagrees with him is a dimwit, loser, idiot, > goon or worse). I like The Goons, they're funny :-) I just find it a bit strange that there are these hordes of people reading this, all of whom seem to adore Steve, and none of them have ever made the effort to post a supportive message. > I just find it a bit strange that there are these hordes of people > reading this, all of whom seem to adore Steve, and none of them > have ever made the effort to post a supportive message. Er, don't give him any ideas. SignatureDavid W. Fenton http://www.dfenton.com/ usenet at dfenton dot com http://www.dfenton.com/DFA/ > I just find it a bit strange that there are these hordes of people reading > this, all of whom seem to adore Steve, and none of them have ever made the > effort to post a supportive message. We've frightened them away, of course. They have an FK of 0. SignatureTim http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~tmarshal/ ^o< /#) "Burp-beep, burp-beep, burp-beep?" - Quaker Jake /^^ "What's UP, Dittoooooo?" - Ditto >> I have gotten 6 to 10 requests for help > > How many knew that there was a price attached to your "help". > These newsgroups are for free help, not for soliciting. Just for reference, I get a lot of Access questions via email, and I refuse to anwwer the questions there. I direct them to post here, and usually if someone has beaten me to it, I then answer the question in the newsgroup. Theoretically, I could charge people for answering their questions, but I'd much rather contribute to the Access community, which has provided me with so much. SignatureDavid W. Fenton http://www.dfenton.com/ usenet at dfenton dot com http://www.dfenton.com/DFA/ I never get any Access questions via email, but I answer them right away and free-of-charge. Access Developers die at 25 and are buried at 65. Why would you want to become one? I graduated from College just before Sputnik. I started to work at NASA using Clipper and a 286 XT. I developed all their database software and all their data was stored on three 5.25 inch floppies which were kept in a briefcase chained to my wrist. Of course, I always had two armed bodyguards accompanying me everywhere. When I joined the Triple Nine Society the scientists got jealous and when I applied for the Mega Society last Christmas that was too much and they let me go. Getting rid of the higher IQ guys, in favour of more prestige, was the reasoning. NASA?! Lyle, do you know if the moon landings were faked? Or should we consult with Kyle on this question in order to get the truth? SignatureDanny J. Lesandrini >I graduated from College just before Sputnik. I started to work at NASA > using Clipper and a 286 XT. I developed all their database software ... I'm not sure. Just when Sheppard set his foot on the moon, my partner was having a big orgasm. I'm pretty sure it was faked bacause she faked everything else. Now if we apply that principle to western media, what do we get? Regardless, all the noise, thrashing and clenching prevented me from observing carefully. I don't know what Kyle was doing at the time ... probably something wild, so he's unlikely to know either. >I wanted to start a thread that might help many of us. I worked for a >company for 12 years, until this past Christmas when they let me go. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >aren't a number of truly qualified Access developers out there. I've >tried finding free lance sites, but that seems like a fruitless effort. I can't suggest much in the what to do department beyond checking the want ads, especially those from consulting firms. Even if you don't want to work for someone else, it might keep you going until you can find some contacts of your own. Given your description of the db you developed for your previous employer, sooner or later, I fully expect them to call you looking for help with another enhancement. If they do, be sure to charge them the going rate in your area. You don't owe them anything "for old times sake" and are in a fairly strong position compared to folks that are unfamiliar with the company and the db. -- Marsh After people read this previous post from Cy I'm sure he'll have thousands of offers. You'll probably want to hire him to spruce up some of your code! ********** 1. Cy Jan 26, 7:18 pm show options Newsgroups: comp.databases.ms-access From: "Cy" <googlej...@computunity.com> - Find messages by this author Date: 26 Jan 2006 16:18:49 -0800 Local: Thurs, Jan 26 2006 7:18 pm Subject: Method Not Found, Access 97/2000 Conversion Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse Hello Fellow New Group Folks, Here's today's problem. I was called in to help convert an Access 97 database to Access 2000. 99% of all my Access Dev. work has occurred in 2000, so I know very little about 97, however, from everything I read, it sounded like a conversion from 97 to 2000 should go smoothly. Boy was I wrong. Here's what we got. There is a form, that lists a group of employees. There is a command button, that when pressed, is supposed to go out and see if there are any "results" for this particular employee. If there isn't any results, it is supposed to prompt the user to see if they'd like to add a result at that time. Works great in 97. Gives a method not found. I looked at the code, with no avail. Here is the code. *********************************************************************************************************** Private Sub Results_Click() On Error GoTo results_err Dim a, mers As Recordset, f As Form Dim mydb As Database, resrs As Recordset If Me.Dirty Then DoCmd.DoMenuItem 0, 0, 4 Select Case Me!stype Case 2: Set mers = Me.RecordsetClone mers.Bookmark = Me.Bookmark If IsNull(mers.[res_no]) Or mers.[res_no] = 0 Then a = MsgBox("There are no results yet for this appointment. Do you wish to add some?", 36, "No results yet") If a = 6 Then Set mydb = CurrentDb Set resrs = mydb.OpenRecordset("result-alcohol") resrs.AddNew resrs.date_reptrcv = date mers.Edit mers.[res_no] = resrs.result_no mers.Update resrs.Update DoCmd.OpenForm "results-alcohol", , , "[result_no] = " & CStr(mers.[res_no]), , acDialog Me!Positive = alcres("results-alcohol") DoCmd.Close acForm, "results-alcohol" End If Else DoCmd.OpenForm "results-alcohol", , , "[result_no] = " & CStr(mers.[res_no]), , acDialog If Forms.[results-alcohol].cpos Then Me!Positive = 1 Else Me!Positive = 2 DoCmd.Close acForm, "results-alcohol" End If Case 3: Set mers = Me.RecordsetClone mers.Bookmark = Me.Bookmark If IsNull(mers.[res_no]) Or mers.[res_no] = 0 Then a = MsgBox("There are no results yet for this appointment. Do you wish to add some?", 36, "No results yet") If a = 6 Then Set mydb = CurrentDb Set resrs = mydb.OpenRecordset("result-drug") resrs.AddNew resrs.date_reptrcv = date mers.Edit mers.[res_no] = resrs.result_no mers.Update resrs.Update DoCmd.OpenForm "drug result", , , "[result_no] = " & CStr(mers.[res_no]), , acDialog mers.Edit If Pos("drug result") Then mers.Positive = 1 Else mers.Positive = 2 If susp("drug result") Or (mers.Positive = 1) Then mers.mro = False Else mers.mro = True mers.Update DoCmd.Close acForm, "drug result" End If Else DoCmd.OpenForm "drug result", , , "[result_no] = " & CStr(mers.[res_no]), , acDialog mers.Edit If mers.Positive < 3 And Pos("drug result") Then mers.Positive = 1 Else If mers.Positive < 3 Then mers.Positive = 2 If susp("drug result") Or (mers.Positive = 1) Then mers.mro = False Else mers.mro = True mers.Update DoCmd.Close acForm, "drug result" End If End Select Me.Refresh results_cont: DoCmd.SetWarnings True: DoCmd.Hourglass False Exit Sub results_err: If Err = 3260 Then MsgBox "This data is currently locked out. Hit Enter to try again" DoEvents Resume End If msgdisp GoTo results_cont End Sub ********************************************************************************************************* It fails on this line, so far. If IsNull(mers.[res_no]) Or mers.[res_no] = 0 Then What I don't understand is what "method" in 97 is res_no? I was thinking that the brackets would indicate that it is a field, but there is no object in the database with that name. I also know that it fails on this lines as well: resrs.date_reptrcv = date and what is date_reptrcv Any help would be appreciated. If anyone has a utility or something that helps sift thru this code and made recommendations for changes, that is helpful also. No matter what, this group has always been good to help out. Any help is appreciated. ******** >After people read this previous post from Cy I'm sure he'll have >thousands of offers. You'll probably want to hire him to spruce up some >of your code! Gee, I missed that thread. Well, a lot of us need a little help now and then, but then I do have to wonder if moving the DAO ref up the list is part of the "solution" in an A97-A2K conversion. -- Marsh > >After people read this previous post from Cy I'm sure he'll have > >thousands of offers. You'll probably want to hire him to spruce up some [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > -- > Marsh Marsh, if you're referring to the post by Wayne Gillespie, he did go on to stress the importance of disambiguating all of the reference uses. I think that is what most people would consider a "correct" solution - not relying on reference priority. SignatureRandy Harris tech at promail dot com I'm pretty sure I know everything that I can remember. >> Lyle Fairfield wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >that is what most people would consider a "correct" solution - not relying >on reference priority. No, not Wayne's response. I was referring to the OP's statement that he had moved ADO up the list. Of course disambiguating is a good practice, but the odds of having an A97 mdb that had a reference to ADO below DAO is pretty slim, especially considering the question. Most often in these conversions, it is best to just remove the unneeded ADO reference instead of moving the DAO ref up the list. If he had just let Access do the conversion, there wouldn't even have been an ADO ref. -- Marsh > >> Lyle Fairfield wrote: > >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > -- > Marsh Oops. Sorry. I misconstrued. (trying to redeem myself by using a 25 cent word) ;-) SignatureRandy Harris tech at promail dot com I'm pretty sure I know everything that I can remember. What about an A97 mdb with literals in place of predefined constants? What are the odds of that? I don't have AC97 and I can't remember. Can we get the value of a field with (just) Recordset.Field in AC97? I say the odds that the whole cover story is true are pretty slim, and the odds that the code ever worked anywhere are slim; and how about the odds that "99% of all my Access Dev. work has occurred in 2000", so I know very little about 97"; In this thread he writes: "I built this companies network from the ground up. Then about 8 years ago, I developed a MS Access 2.0 database. This database, much like others, was supposed to just tiny bits. Over the course of time, we converted to 97, then to 2000, then this past summer to 2003." So what, in general am I concerned about? Treating this person's code as if it's satisfactory, (it's a bucket of sh.t), and welcoming him to the great association of Access Developers is a great way of perpetuating the notion, in the Development world and elsewhere that Access Development is a joke. >What about an A97 mdb with literals in place of predefined constants? >What are the odds of that? [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >perpetuating the notion, in the Development world and elsewhere that >Access Development is a joke. All valid points Lyle. I am guilty of not keeping track of the context across multiple threads. His view of his talents is his view, but, as you have pointed out, it is his work (as demonstrated in the other thread) that should be evaluated. Perhaps that's what prompted the situation of this thread? -- Marsh |
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