Open Access in Different Display Resolution

[Clint Marshall]

Is there any way to open Access, or a specific database, in a different
display resolution (say 800x600) than the normal resolution for a given PC?
I like to do my developing and other work in a smaller resolution
(1024x768), but my users all run 800x600. I'd rather not have to manually
change the display properties every time I go to work on an Access form for
distribution, so I'm looking for a slick way to get into the lower
resolution every time I run Access, or at least the specific databases.

Thanks!

 

[Graham R Seach]

Clint,

Firstly, no, there is no intrinsic way to change the user's screen
resolution in Access.

Secondly, the point of developing good (friendly) software (if we exclude
game developers who break all the rules) is to build a system that works on
the user's existing system, without forcing a change on them. 800x600 is the
minimum standard now, so it is always best to design your software to meet
that standard. If you want to cater for different screen resolutions, there
are many resizers available, which will (to varying degrees of success)
resize your forms/controls as needed.

As a basic rule of thumb, users can get very irate if you start mucking
about with their preferences.

Regards,
Graham R Seach
Microsoft Access MVP
Sydney, Australia

 

[Clint Marshall]

Thank you, Graham!
I wasn't clear in my question. It is MY preferences that I'm trying to
muck about with so that I can continue to run my life in 1024x768 but do my
Access developing in 800x600.
I do develop in 800x600, but don't want to spend my life stuck in that
resolution.
How do other developers deal with this issue? Or do they all live in
800x600?
Thanks!

-Clint Marshall

 

[Alex White MCDBA MCSE]

Hi Clint,

I have a simple way I have solved the problem, I run at 1400x1050 all the
time and develop several applications that run at 800x600 ect, I have
created a bitmap in paint with the resolution of 800x600 and then coloured
it say blue, I then changed the size of the picture to 1024x768 and coloured
the new border green, I then changed the size of the picture to 1400x1050
and coloured the new border black etc. I then use the bitmap as my
background, I can then line up my different projects top left and can work
in them at the correct size, the other benefit is you can have your code
windows the other side of the screen.

Hope it helps.

 

[Rick Brandt]

Thank you, Graham!
I wasn't clear in my question. It is MY preferences that I'm
trying to muck about with so that I can continue to run my life in
1024x768 but do my Access developing in 800x600.
I do develop in 800x600, but don't want to spend my life stuck in
that resolution.
How do other developers deal with this issue? Or do they all live
in 800x600?
Thanks!

I just worked out a long time ago how big I can make a form and still see
all of it when running the app maximized in an 800 by 600 environment and
never build any forms that exceed those dimensions.

 

[Graham R Seach]

Clint,

As Rick suggests, experience teaches you how large you can make a form to
fit 800x600. I develop on several machines, some of which are 1024x768,
while others are on 1280x1024 and 1152x864.

My advice - trial-and-error.

Regards,
Graham R Seach
Microsoft Access MVP
Sydney, Australia
---------------------------

 

[Guest]

You might be able to do it using a vbs script. If you can set the script to
change your display properties, then add a line to launch your database at
the end of the script. I have one that shuts down my system for me at a
predetermined time.

Keep in mind to make it easy, have a script you can run that will turn the
display resolution back to your original. You'll have to run this script
after closing the database - if you put it as a close event on the database,
you'll end up distributing it to users who don't have the .vbs (but of course
you probably know that already).