Float a control over unused tab area?

[theartiststillknownasgarvin]

I have a form with a standard (to Access 2003) tab control that is quite wide
(8.2").

There are only three tabs, each with short descriptions, leaving me with at
least 5" of gray space where other tabs would appear, if there were any.

I'd like to be able to use this screen space for status messages, etc.

The z-order stacking seems to have no effect, and the tab control therefore
always obscures any control that I could use. (front/back has no effect)

 

[Jeff Boyce]

It sounds like you're trying to find a place to put status messages. Have
you ruled out the Status Bar, then?

--
Regards

Jeff Boyce
www.InformationFutures.net

Microsoft Office/Access MVP


Microsoft IT Academy Program Mentor
http://microsoftitacademy.com/

 

[theartiststillknownasgarvin]

I am trying to utilize a big, blank space in prime real-estate on the form,
approx. 0.2 x 5"

The nature of the application dictates large forms, and that is not enough,
hence the tabbing on a 8.2 x 5.6 control.

It's dead space right were the user's eyeballs are focusing on (because they
are up there using the header to get there.

My experience with the status bar is that it is on the bottom, out of the
way, and nobody, but nobody, ever bothers to look at it. And if I enabled it,
then I would lose 0.2" of form real-estate, gaining nothing in the process.

 

[Peter Hibbs]

The only way I know of to do this is to create another form and set
it's size to the width and height you need for the label control. Add
a label (or whatever other controls you need) to the form.
Set the following form properties :-
Scroll Bars = Neither.
Record Selectors = No.
Navigation Buttons = No.
Dividing Lines = No.
Border Style = None.

Add this form to the main form with the Tab control as if it were a
Subform and position it just above the Tab control.

Click on and set the Subform properties :-
Enabled = No.
Border Style = Transaparent.

It looks messy in Design mode but when you run the program it looks
fine.

HTH

Peter Hibbs.

 

[theartiststillknownasgarvin]

Thanks, been messing with controls, never thought to position a sub-form.

As for messy, I've been programming in Access since version 1.? from about
1995.

Messy in Design mode is a way of life <g>