Lookup is a powerful
search client for Microsoft
Access databases.
Lookup 8 Demonstration Video
Lookup is the flagship of my developed software range. It
is a simple yet powerful client for searching Microsoft Access databases.
Lookup includes links to the most commonly used windows tools
and allows you to add 10 of your most commonly used programs as well.
These programs can be sorted by you and will link to the function keys across
the top of your keyboard (F1-F12) as shortcuts. Our database even
comes with the Australian postcode database included.
The key to Lookup is it's simplicity. The simple,
intuitive interface is designed to put the things you need where you can find
them the fastest, and the less menus and buttons the easier it is to learn and
use. Behind this simple interface however are a large number of features
that work to make it easier for you from automatically loading the right
database when you open the program, to automatically sizing the grid so that your data is displayed clearly.
Even our database
includes Australian postcodes.
How fast is it?
During testing I was averaging 3000 results per second with a
maximum of almost 16000.
Where did it come from?
Originally developed in 1998 for Office 97, Lookup is ideal for
small-medium businesses for product or customer searches. It was developed
for The Pool Clinic (www.poolclinic.com.au)
and the Lookup Suite runs daily on 6-9 clients simultaneously for product and
customer information.
The Pool Clinic perform all testing on my
product.
LOOKUP
8
What's better about Lookup 8?
Lookup 8 is the result of looking at how people used Lookup and doing the things
it does best even better. It looks simpler, like I have taken all the features away, but peek under the covers by right clicking or accessing a menu and you
will discover how Lookup has grown up to be more efficient than ever before.
Lookup 8 is a major rewrite of the entire
program and has taken about 9 months to complete development and testing.
This upgrade is a step towards more flexible,
powerful, upgradeable Lookup and was designed to focus the
application on what it does best - querying access databases - and removing the
bugs and improving the usability of the program. Code has been tweaked right
throughout the application to enhance performance and improve
upgradeability. Even more SQL functionality for power users. I have also implemented
some common components across my range to ensure better more modular coding and
I have simplified licencing.
When was it released?
February 2010
First Build: 8.0.0.120 6/2/10 (Production Release)
So what's different?
Better SQL search capabilities
Compatibility with newer access databases *.accdb
(2007/2010)
Faster, simpler, more powerful and more flexible search
criteria for simple searching
Improved saved searches and last 10 searches functionality
New design, no analog clock or opening hours, more search
results
More configuration on grid colors and performance options.
Improved ability to add files or programs to the program
list and automatically open them in the default program type in windows
Updated menus and Access options
Better configuration file, easier for administrators to
modify, better management for performance and application development.
Plenty of new options. Remembers window location and size.
A new style help file.
A new installer which manages upgrades
without affecting your settings.
Lookup Search in SQL Mode
Lookup Access Object Viewer
Lookup Program Preferences
Lookup Settings Preferences
Lookup Auto Load Preferences
Version 8 brings a streamlined look to the search bar with
more power in less space for entering search queries. The Query Box will
reappear to give more room for complicated queries when using the new SQL MODE
which allows you to enter partial SQL strings into the search browser to
undertake more complex searches. I have increased the range of settings, added a
number of built in SQL functions, incorporated a much larger range of search
operators, changed the settings file formats and locations, updated the Access
platform for newer databases, introduced grid paging, updated the Excel export
and introduced the Access Object Viewer, and there is even more...
Search Access Tables & Queries fast (shows number of results and time
taken)
Uses minimal network bandwidth.
Flexible search functionality including a filter to narrow down the
results of a large search.
Concise menu system with less menus and more features.
digital clock with date, time, day of week and monthly calendar.
Search logging for analysis or system monitoring (includes results and
time taken).
Auto fit grid spacing will resize the grid to fit your data making it easy
to view all fields and saves resizing columns.
Auto-load function will launch common database automatically for
day-to-day use.
Adjustable grid font size and colors
Customisable program menu makes it easy to create shortcuts to your other
commonly used applications.
Export results to Excel to generate reports.
Automatic Last 10 Searches menu enables you to re-load a previous search,
much like an undo or back function.
Command line switches for network or system administrators to restrict
access to certain features.
Stores history of last 3 opened files.
Web Check for Updates for all Lookup applications
Dragging and dropping a database on the grid will open a database.
Windows 'Open with..' interaction for access databases (simply choose the
lookup.exe file)
SQL Mode allowing partial sql strings (from WHERE...
e.g. [Postcode] like '2*') for complex queries. Search controls act as a
query builder in SQL Mode and the SQL Functions menu provides a range of
common T-SQL functions for power users.
Results count and search time in titlebar for performance monitoring.
Advanced logging for detailed performance analysis generated in CSV for
Excel.
Saved Searches menu for saving favourite searches from multiple databases
and retrieving them easily. Up to 20 saved searches of up to 300 characters
(for long sql strings for searches including multiple parameters or filters)
can be saved.
Powerful Value box allows pull down retrieval of values, manual value
entry or partial entry which will automatically scroll the pull down list to
appropriate values which can be disabled for performance gain. The maximum
number of values to list can also now be controlled for performance.
Clear button to reset multiple filter searches to primary search (not
shown)
Debug feature to view raw search SQL and copy to
clipboard
New Operator menu with more search criteria options
Table/Query selector based on options
Multi User feature allowing individual users of the same computer
(e.g. home computer or terminal server) to have different user settings.
Some new command line functions and a Multi User command line feature
enable security restrictions to be placed on users.
Read only data file option to ignore changes.
Integrated Microsoft Help.
Compatibility with newer access databases *.accdb
(2007/2010)
Configuration of grid colors and performance options.
Grid paging option with configurable page sizes.
New Office Tools menu allows easy integration with
Microsoft Access
The Object Viewer allows you to launch Access forms and
reports.
Compact your Access database from Lookup to improve
performance.
NEWS!! - More on Version 8?
See my
news for more information.
For any Access databases just set the database
options to shared (under Tools>Security in Access) and multiple users can search
simultaneously.
Lookup is very flexible in it's design, capabilities and use
and the following illustrations demonstrate how the Lookup database can be
connected to multiple sources and how Lookup can be configured in multiple ways
for a small business network.
Lookup Database
Design
Lookup Network
Design
Click for full image to
open in a new window
Lookup comes with an Access database.
Importing data into this database enables you to search Items and Customers through
Lookup without users needing to access multiple applications. This gives
staff fast database searching on a large number of machines simultaneously
without slowing down the network, as too many Access users can do with a large
data file. Multiple windows of Lookup can be open simultaneously on each
users machine for different databases or tables.
Each version of Lookup is built to suit changes recommended by
clients or staff.
Modifications can be made to suit your requirements including customisation.
REQUIREMENTS
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7
Microsoft Office (Access/Excel) 2000/2002/2003/2007/2010
PLUGINS
Lookup includes a sample Access
2003 Database.
These plugin databases are pre-configured to provide integration with 3rd party
data sources and include configuration instructions.
The MYOB plugin database allows you to connect MYOB
AccountRight Premier to Lookup using ODBC. This starter database
provides the ability to search for cards, products and invoices, with
additional data tables for experienced Access users to customise this
further to suit your business.
It does not include sensitive payroll and personnel information.
See download page to download Plugins
DOWNLOAD
This is the complete version of Lookup. Without a licence some features
will be disabled and you will be restricted to 5 searches per session.
Lookup 8
This will automatically choose the best mirror to
download from (file information on all mirror sites).
On purchase of a licence you will be given a key code via email which will
enable you to unlock the other features of the program.
Previous version licence owners contact me for a new FREE licence.
Great Value!!
Purchase online with PayPal, Visa or MasterCard
Single Copy Single-Machine
Lookup
Licence
$AU14.95
Volume Buy (2+) Single-Machine
Lookup Licence
$AU9.95ea
Licence Terms and Conditions: Purchasing a single Lookup licence entitles you to use this application on
ONE (1) computer and operating system owned or licenced to the purchasee. The
licence is transferable to any other machine. It does not entitle the purchasee to use the licence on
additional machines or to distribute
the software to any friends, colleagues or associates to use on machines and operating systems not owned or licenced to the purchasee. In the event a licence is discovered that has broken these conditions the purchasee is liable to prosecution
and that licence code will be blocked from all future versions of Lookup. Be
fair guys, it is cheap! Licences can be purchased by individuals and
organisations.
Lookup Browser is a simple browser for quickly and easily
searching the web or an intranet.
It has a simple menu with preset shortcuts and is designed to be quick,
easy to use and for fast searching where a full-featured browser is not
required.
Lookup Browser utilises the functionality of Internet Explorer
and I recommend using it with IE 5.5 or later.
