Launch switchboard without Access screen behind it

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Guest

Is there a way to launch just the switchboard screen (and then navigate using
the the switchboard and/or controls on forms) without having the Access
screen as a background?
 
I have done that but I was wondering if there is a way to set it to open/run
without the grey Access screen in the background.
 
It is possibly using the code and technique illustrated here:

http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0019.htm

However, I advise against this unless the circumstances permit.

Before you go down this road I *strongly* advise you read my comments and warnings about this setup
here:

http://www.utteraccess.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=83&Number=1164841&fpart=1

Read through all the comments and you'll see my warnings and suggestions for better techniques.

--
Jeff Conrad
Access Junkie - MVP
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/articles.html

in message:
 
After reading what you suggested I would like to test doing this. My db is
just one I'm playing with and practicing because I like Access and the db is
quite simple, plus I'm doing backups so if something went wrong it shouldn't
be that much of a problem.

I was trying to impliment it and I see the code below the instructions but I
don't understand this part:
.....call the fSetAccessWindow function with SW_HIDE as the argument.

My Access skills are nothing to brag about...
 
Ok, as long as you understand the limitations.

Here are some instructions I have posted in the past:
1. Create a back-up copy of your database file. Don't skip t­his step!!
2. Go to this web site:

http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0019.htm

Copy all that code to a new standard module.
Standard Module, *not* a form module!

3. Compile the code, save the module and name it modHideAcce­ssWindow.
4. Open your main form (the one that you want the users to s­ee) and go to Design View.
5. Set these Form's Properties:

Auto Center- Yes
Pop-Up - Yes
Modal - Yes

6. Open the code behind the form and copy this code into the­ Form's Open event:

Private Sub Form_Open(Cancel As Integer)

Me.Visible = True
fSetAccessWindow (SW_HIDE)

End Sub

7. You MUST put an exit command button on this form that clo­ses all of Access. Something with a
line like:

DoCmd.Quit

...in the button's Click event.

8. Compile the code, close and save the form.
9. Close the database and then re-open. It *should* now comp­letely hide the Access window and only
show the data entry form.
--
Jeff Conrad
Access Junkie - MVP
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/articles.html

in message:
 
Thank you. It worked but wouldn't let me launch other forms with the form
that was visible. But that got me thinking about another attractive option
(and maybe you'll agree it's better - if it's possible).
Could it be set up so that the Access screen was not hidden but just
minimized, and therefore not behind the forms I would be working with?
Would that let me use the switchboard to launch other forms and reports?
 
Jeff,
I forgot to say that I tried to minimize Access the instructions but
substituted the (SW_SHOWMINIMIZED) for the (SW_HIDE) arguement but it gave me
the error:
Cannot minimize Access with Main Switchboard form on screen
 
in message:

Hi,

Comments in-line...
Thank you. It worked but wouldn't let me launch other forms with the form
that was visible.
Click to expand...

Bingo! This is what I was talking about when I listed the downsides of using this approach. It
becomes an absolute nightmare because every form has to be Pop-Up and Modal and it gets very
confusing to control everything.
But that got me thinking about another attractive option
(and maybe you'll agree it's better - if it's possible).
Could it be set up so that the Access screen was not hidden but just
minimized, and therefore not behind the forms I would be working with?
Click to expand...

I don't believe it is possible. You cannot have Access minimized and still expect to see a form on
the screen (at least not that I'm aware). The same is true for like Word and Excel. Can you have a
Word doc or an Excel sheet on the screen while the application shell itself is minimized? Nope.
Would that let me use the switchboard to launch other forms and reports?
Click to expand...

Nope, not going to happen. And remember I did point out in that UA thread that you simply *cannot*
preview reports on the screen using this approach.

Your best bet is to set limited startup options and build custom menu bars and toolbars. This will
make your application look like a Windows application instead of an Access database.
 
You most certainly can, and should hide all of the ms-access interface. The
options to complete hide and keep people out of the ms-access interface can
easily be done using the tools->start-up options. Using those options allows
you to complete hide the ms-access interface (tool bars, database window
etc). Also, using these options means you
do not have to bother setting up security.

Try downloading and running the 3rd example at my following web site that
shows a hidden ms-access interface, and NO CODE is required to do
this....but just some settings in the start-up.

Check out:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/msaccess/DownLoad.htm

After you try the application, you can exit, and then re-load the
application, but hold down the shift key to by-pass the start-up options. If
want, you can even disable the shift key by pass. I have a sample mdb file
that will let you "set" the shift key bypass on any application you want.
You can get this at:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/msaccess/msaccess.html

The above will allow you to create commercial like looking applications, and
all of the ms-access stuff will be hidden...

Try the above....
 
Jeff,
Since you helped me so much I thought I'd let you know what I've found.
As you said forms must be popup and modal to use with the Access screen
hidden, but since my db is relatively simple (2 forms and 3 reports, so far)
it is worth the extra trouble to set the settings for the result I get. It
looks very clean and nice with just the db form/report windows and without
the Access screen behind.
Also, I found that the reports work fine as long as I set them popup and
modal also. To print them I just use Ctrl-P. One slight but acceptable
downside is that I cannot use my mouse scroll wheel to scrool up and down on
the reports. No big deal.
Another thing I found is that when I press Show Desktop of course the forms
and reports disappear but can be brought back easily by just hitting the
shortcut for the db and they come back just the way they were before they
disappeared.
Thanks again for all your help.
 

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