Christa L. Brown (National Optical Astronomy Observatories)
National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO) has developed a relational Microsoft Windows desktop database using Microsoft Access and the Microsoft Office programming language, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). The database is used to track data relating to observing proposals from original receipt through the review process, scheduling, observing, and final statistical reporting. The database has automated proposal processing and distribution of information. It also allows NOAO to collect and archive data so as to query and analyze information about our science programs in new ways.
By taking advantage of VBA, NOAO has been able to appropriate the functionality of Microsoft Office into its own custom application and develop a powerful solution in a short period of time. Using Access and VBA has proved to be a powerful, flexible, and easily adaptable development platform from both the database developer's and user's perspective. The database developer can respond quickly to user requests for added features and changing user requirements. Database end-users can quickly and easily examine data and produce output on demand, without programming intervention. VBA allows the database to communicate with other Office applications, such as Word, to produce mail merges for notification letters and other support information distribution to a far-reaching user community. Reports can be saved easily in HTML format for publication to the Web, and Outlook is used to distribute information via e-mail.