Popup/Modal Problems

[AndyL]

Hi All
I am experiencing problems in the behaviour of some forms in a database
when using popup and modal features. The reason for me using popup and
modals is to 'hide' from the user that the application they are running
is access (done by deposting the database in Start>programs menu with a
custom icon) and trick them they are running professional software!
Specifically the problem I have is that some forms in my database set
with popup and modal when opened display a single row of data. When I
switch off popup the form opens normally displaying multiple rows but I
need popup as the database is run minimised from start up (so as not to
display the full Access window)

Hope I have described the problem well enough.

Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved.....

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

First, the issue of hiding the ms-access interface, and that of model forms
is very much a separate issue.

You SHOULD NOT be using forms as popup unless you need them to be a popup
form.....

A popup form is designed to STAY ON TOP, but NOT have to have the focus.
(great for a information box...much like the paper clip in office...you can
have it
display things..but the user can work in a different form).

A model form is designed to open on top of existing forms, and you as a
general rule must close that form to return back to the previous form (of
course any popup form at this point will STILL remain on top).

So, if you throw in ONE popup form...then you will find it stays on top of
everything else..a.and then you have to start setting other forms as popup..
This is really a dog chasing it tail..and you effectively "mess" up your
appcation if you use popup forms.

A fairly large number of my forms are model, but they certainly are not
dialog..and they are not popup......

I explain the difference here:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Dialog/Index.html

As for hiding the interface? Take a look at the screen shots here:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Articles/UseAbility/UserFriendly.htm

Again, all of the access screens in the above do NOT use popup forms.....

You should NOT be using popup forms.

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\

 

[AndyL]

First, the issue of hiding the ms-access interface, and that of model forms
is very much a separate issue.

You SHOULD NOT be using forms as popup unless you need them to be a popup
form.....

A popup form is designed to STAY ON TOP, but NOT have to have the focus.
(great for a information box...much like the paper clip in office...you can
have it
display things..but the user can work in a different form).

A model form is designed to open on top of existing forms, and you as a
general rule must close that form to return back to the previous form (of
course any popup form at this point will STILL remain on top).

So, if you throw in ONE popup form...then you will find it stays on top of
everything else..a.and then you have to start setting other forms as popup..
This is really a dog chasing it tail..and you effectively "mess" up your
appcation if you use popup forms.

A fairly large number of my forms are model, but they certainly are not
dialog..and they are not popup......

I explain the difference here:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Dialog/Index.html

As for hiding the interface? Take a look at the screen shots here:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Articles/UseAbility/UserFriendly.htm

Again, all of the access screens in the above do NOT use popup forms.....

You should NOT be using popup forms.

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\

Hi Albert,
Thanks very much for the information.
In the meantime I found a workround to the problem by explicitly
defining the size of the window on load of form - (DoCmd.MoveSize , ,
14170, 10000). This works well for me as I only have one form open at a
time.

Thanks again
Andy