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This appendix provides suggestions for the naming of variables and other database objects. The suggested standards are based on the Leszynski Naming Conventions (LNC) for Microsoft Access. If you want more information about these standards or want to obtain the full copy provided by Kwery Corporation, contact Kwery via the order line at 1-800-ATKWERY or on the product information line at 206-644-7830. Kwery can also be reached via CompuServe at 71573,3261 or via fax at 206-644-8409.
When creating variable names, it is important for you to make the type and intended use of each variable clear and self-documenting. Here are a few rules to follow:
Adherence to these conventions will go a long way toward keeping your code concise and readable. Table B.1 recommends prefixes for Access object tags.
Prefix |
Control Type |
Example |
app |
Application |
appInfoBase |
chk |
CheckBox |
chkReadOnly |
cbo |
ComboBox |
cboLanguages |
cmd |
CommandButton |
cmdRefreshTable |
ctl |
Control |
ctlAny |
ctls |
Controls |
ctlsAll |
ocx |
CustomControl |
ocxCalendar |
dcm |
DoCmd |
dcmOpenForm |
frm |
Form |
frmDataEntryView |
frms |
Forms |
frmsClientsAndOrders |
img |
Image |
imgHeadShot |
lbl |
Label |
lblShowAllCheckBox |
lin |
Line |
linDivider |
lst |
ListBox |
lstLastTenSites |
bas |
Module |
basErrorControl |
ole |
ObjectFrame |
oleWorksheet |
opt |
OptionButton |
optReadOnly |
fra |
OptionGroup (frame) |
fraColorSchemes |
brk |
PageBreak |
brkTopOfForm |
pal |
PaletteButton |
palBackgroundColor |
prps |
Properties |
prpsActiveForm |
shp |
Rectangle |
shpHidableFrame |
rpt |
Report |
rptOrders |
rpts |
Reports |
rptsTodaysChanges |
scr |
Screen |
scrSecondSplashScreen |
sec |
Section |
secOrderDetail |
fsub |
Subform |
fsubBillableHours |
rsub |
SubReport |
rsubTopFiveSales |
txt |
TextBox |
txtAdditionalNotes |
tgl |
ToggleButton |
tglShowFormatting |
Table B.2 provides prefix tags for standard variable types, as well as the storage space required by each.
Prefix |
Data Type |
Storage |
Example |
byt |
Byte |
1 byte |
byteArray |
f |
Boolean |
2 bytes |
fSecurityClear |
int |
Integer |
2 bytes |
intLoop |
lng |
Long |
4 bytes |
lngEnv |
sng |
Single |
4 bytes |
sngValue |
dbl |
Double |
8 bytes |
dblValue |
cur |
Currency |
8 bytes |
curCostPerUnit |
dat |
Date and Time |
8 bytes |
datStartTime |
obj |
Object |
varies |
objActiveObject |
str |
String |
1 byte per character |
strFirstName |
stf |
String (fixed length) |
10 bytes + 1 byte per char |
stfSocNumber |
var |
Variant |
16 bytes + 1 byte per char |
varInput |
The Jet Database engine utilizes objects that you might need to refer to in VBA code. Table B.3 lists the DAO object types and their standard naming prefixes.
Prefix |
Object Type |
cnt |
Container |
cnts |
Containers |
db |
Database |
dbs |
Databases |
dbe |
DBEngine |
doc |
Document |
docs |
Documents |
err |
Error |
errs |
Errors |
fld |
Field |
flds |
Fields |
grp |
Group |
grps |
Groups |
idx |
Index |
idxs |
Indexes |
prm |
Parameter |
prms |
Parameters |
pdbe |
PrivDBEngine |
prp |
Property |
prps |
Properties |
qry (or qdf) |
QueryDef |
qrys (or qdfs) |
QueryDefs |
rst |
Recordset |
rsts |
Recordsets |
rel |
Relation |
rels |
Relations |
tbl (or tdf) |
TableDef |
tbls (or tdfs) |
TableDefs |
usr |
User |
usrs |
Users |
wrk |
Workspace |
wrks |
Workspaces |
In addition to the standard notations for variables, there are variable notations for scope and lifetime. These should be placed at the beginning of the variable, before any other prefix. Table B.4 lists the scope and lifetime prefixes.
Prefix |
Description |
(none) |
Local variable, procedure-level lifetime |
s |
Local variable, program-level lifetime (static variable) |
m |
Private (module) variable, program-level lifetime |
g |
Public (global) variable, program-level lifetime |
Table B.5 provides general naming convention tags for the Database window objects.
Prefix |
Object Type |
tbl |
Table |
qry |
Query |
frm |
Form |
rpt |
Report |
mcr |
Macro |
bas |
Module |
There are two sets of naming conventions you can use when naming specific Database window objects: Either use the prefix for the general object prefix from the table or supply one of the more descriptive tags listed in Table B.6.
Prefix |
Suffix |
Object Type |
tlkp |
Lookup |
Table (lookup) |
qsel |
(none) |
Query (select) |
qapp |
Append |
Query (append) |
qxtb |
XTab |
Query (crosstab) |
qddl |
DDL |
Query (DDL) |
qdel |
Delete |
Query (delete) |
qflt |
Filter |
Query (filter) |
qlkp |
Lookup |
Query (lookup) |
qmak |
MakeTable |
Query (make table) |
qspt |
PassThru |
Query (SQL pass-through) |
qtot |
Totals |
Query (totals) |
quni |
Union |
Query (union) |
qupd |
Update |
Query (update) |
fdlg |
Dlg |
Form (dialog) |
fmnu |
Mnu |
Form (menu) |
fmsg |
Msg |
Form (message) |
fsfr |
Subform |
Form (subform) |
rsrp |
SubReport |
Form (subreport) |
mmnu |
Mnu |
Macro (menu) |