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Free sermons and illustration databases designed especially for Evangelical Christian workers |
MS Access
version of the Kerux Database
| Inner links: | Main installation files - SID or Access2002 or Access97 |
| Illustration collections / supplements | |
| Sermon collections / supplements | |
| History of uploads and software developments | |
| Plea for help on future developments | |
| Information on updating your database (more thorough advice is here) |
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The Access database is much-improved over the earliest versions. Fill in blanks, click a button, and sorted illustrations pop up one after another. Most find it easy to use. Setup file installs it automatically on your computer, along with a detailed help file that will show you how to tinker with the forms and programming. (The help file must be in the same directory as the database.) This version has switchboard menus for 800x600 and 1024x768 resolutions. There are three versions:
To check out the help file by itself, click here (110k, zipped). Comments and error reporting are always appreciated. |
(Click on blue filename to begin download)
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Filename |
Description |
Size |
Date uploaded |
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Access installation files |
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Access mega-database
(Access 2002) |
This contains the entire database in the
MS Access 2002 format.
It is self-installing and creates
a directory on your hard-drive and puts an icon on your desktop.
It is a big file, so don't try it with a dial-up modem. The mega-database
contains over 35,000 sermon illustrations and 25,000 sermons. The mega-database requires a simple online registration. Your personal information is never shared with anyone. If you don't receive the password in 1 hour, check your Spam folder in case it is there, then contact me at dholwick@gmail.com. (Check out the summary of who uses the Kerux database.)
The new
Access 2007
has created headaches for several users.
If you are using the database with Access 2007, what has your experience been?
If you ran into problems, were you able to solve them? How did you do it?
The same with 64-bit version users. Contact me at
dholwick@gmail.com |
200+ meg |
Updated |
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Access mega-database
(Access 97) |
This contains the entire database in the
MS Access 97 format.
It is self-installing and creates
a directory on your hard-drive and puts an icon on your desktop.
It is a big file, so don't try it with a dial-up modem. The mega-database
contains over 35,000 sermon illustrations and 25,000 sermons.
Only about a third of users
take the next step.
But without a password, you can't
install the database! |
180+ meg |
Updated |
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This page can be confusing, can't it? Here is a how-to guide for installing the entire database, step-by-step. Even better, here is a
Visual Tour... |
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This is a try-it-out installation version, or what programmers call the "front-end". It is just like the mega-database except it contains only a handful of sermons and illustrations - you add the rest by downloading the sermon and illustration sets (and supplements), unzipping them, and then click the IMPORT icon in SID's iconbar. Be patient because each file can take 10 to 15 minutes to process and it may seem like the program is hung up, but it is not. |
1.1 meg |
Updated |
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Updates the Classic version to the Combo (SID-like) version. The
Classic version has multiple search screens but the searching is more limited in
ability. |
1.2 meg |
Updated |
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So you tried out the new Combo version and you don't like it -
here is the file to take you back to Classic. It retains the
opening Splash screen which gives the programmers more latitude in making
updates. It also prints out records in bookstyle, which many consider
easier to read from the pulpit. |
0.9 meg |
Updated |
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Goes with forms update file below. This update modifies
your Sermons table so that you will have a unique record number for any sermons
you add yourself. |
32 k |
New |
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Owners of previous Access versions (except those who are using
the new Combo format) should download this
update. It fixes a number of glitches
and provides new 1280x1024 forms for those with larger monitors. (As of
Jan 18, 2007, it includes the ability to change the font of illustrations and
sermons.) Install it just like a supplement. I recommend you try out the new Combo version (three lines up). It has a simplified search screen and even updates the Intro pop-up screen with no hassles. This file now fixes a persistent
Printing glitch on old Access forms. |
883 k |
Updated |
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For those who want to test the database in
the Access 97 format. Contains a handful of
sermons and illustrations but is fully functional. Existing Access users
who want to check out the new combo interface should download this file.
(The installation version at the beginning of this section includes the help
file and adds icons to your desktop.) |
910 k |
Updated |
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For
those who want to test the
database in Access 2002 (XP) format. Contains a handful of sermons and
illustrations but is fully functional. Existing Access users who want to
check out the new combo interface should download this file. (The
installation version at the beginning of this section includes the help file and
adds icons to your desktop.) |
650 k |
Updated, |
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| Kerux_help.zip |
The newest version of the Access help file, which is already included in
the installation versions. It works for all versions of Access. Unzip this and copy it over
the existing help file, which should be in the same directory as your database.
There are two versions - only the filename is different. The Kerux
databases just above require the Kerux_Access_help
file. If you have
Microsoft Vista, you need to download a file so you
can use old help files like this.
you must download WinHelp32.exe from the Microsoft Web site:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=82148 (from the support page at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607) |
238 k |
Updated Dec 18, 2007 |
A Note on Update Capabilities
A series of buttons allows users to download special datasets which update the database records automatically. For updates to work properly you should have at least version 5.3 which has the Import button on the Intro pop-up screen - previous versions will not work properly. The help file has instructions on how to transfer your data tables from a version prior to 5.3 to the newest version. Many sermons and illustrations do not have complete topics or secondary Scriptures entered, but as I update these on my own database I will make a file with just those changes and put it on this page. You will download a much smaller file and your existing database will be brought completely up to date. I also include instructions on changes you will have to make on your end. Always back up your database before updating it. (see warning below for some helpful advice)
Making a
Major Update
Every Access user of this database should have the version that includes the
"Update the Database" button on the Intro PopUp screen. (SID
puts this on an icon called IMPORT) This function works with a
table called
tblCommand in the supplement files table so your existing database
(version 5.1 and up) can add the new sermons and illustrations automatically. It will also update your existing ones.
The sets and supplements here are usually lacking three fields - the Rating
field, any personal note
field like "Date Used" and the "do_not_update" field - so your personal data
will not be erased. This also means you cannot just copy this material and paste it
in your tables.
Access users can manipulate the tblCommand table to allow you to update several tables at a time. But be careful - multiple large files will cause the error message "database is full." This can happen even if you update the sets separately. Your database is not really full, but your RAM memory is maxed out. This is a serious error message because it can lead to corruption in your database. Close the program, launch it again, and compact the database by going to the Menu Bar and clicking TOOLS, then DATABASE UTILITIES, then COMPACT THE DATABASE. It is a good idea to compact it after each large supplement or set.
If you (Access users only) are trying to do a major update with an entire "Holwick's Illustrations" or "Sermons" table (not just one of these sets) you will probably have to use a Make Table Query to break up the table into smaller chunks, then compose a tblCommand that references each chunk. The help file has an index entry for Make Table Queries that will show you how to do this.
A few times a year I will update all the main data sets and this will make the incremental supplements redundant. I have been grouping each year's changes in large supplements. Be careful - any changes you have made to these illustrations or sermons will be overwritten. Use the COMPARE feature to check out your database with the supplement. Also, read the description of each file carefully.
Warning BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP
Three times now I have wiped out my database. It makes me thankful that I have put all this material on the internet, but I have always lost several weeks of work when this happens. The warning to backup your database should be taken seriously. In my opinion, there is only one practical way to do this - I recommend getting an external hard drive. For around $100 you can get one that holds over 100 gigabytes. They are fast, you can program them to do massive backups overnight, and you can store it in a different location so a fire or other disaster does not wipe out your backup, too. "A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it." Proverbs 22:3
For those who are not prudent, I now offer a database recovery service. If your database becomes corrupted and you cannot open it, burn the database onto a CD or DVD and mail it to me. For $49 I'll recover it and send it back on another disk. If I cannot recover it, you don't pay. This service is for those who have accumulated a fair number of their own illustrations which they don't want to kiss away.
Where We Need Help
The Kerux database has seen tremendous improvements through the contributions of
Christian computer programmers around the world. One area of need it
someone who can program the Access database so it can accept RTF material like
the new SID does. We have figured out how to put an RTF memo field in the
database, but the formatting bleeds over into the following illustrations as you
cycle through them. Records that are pasted in with formatting do not have
this problem, but non-formatted records acquire the format of the previous
record when you cycle through them with the navigation arrows - if one record
has its first word underlined, all the succeeding records will be completely
underlined.
Brett Wilton was able to fix this for SID with C++
code. He wrote:
I solved the bleeding by checking if the text was RTF or not, to do
this you just check if it has the \\rtf header set. If it is plain
text I then reset the font back to its original value which I grabbed
when the program starts. Under SID the default font can be setup under
File->Options or on the toolbar for sermons & illustrations.
The C++ code for checking the RTF header is as follows:
// Get the Memo as a string Does anyone out there know how to implement this in Access97? (We use
this as the foundation because it gives us compatibility across all versions).
You can download a preliminary RTF version for Access
here.
You have to install the ActiveX component to use this correctly.
Go to homepage, Holwick.com Go to
sitemap for links to other files.
AnsiString head = DBMemoSermon->Field->AsString;
// Check if its plain text, if so set the default font
if (!AnsiStartsStr("{\\rtf", head)) {
DBMemoSermon->DefAttributes->Assign(defFont_);
}