ribbon or qat at runtime

[Robin]

I'm trying to replace the custom menu that migrated over from my Access 2002
when converted to 2007. I remember a few months ago having to import the old
menus. But after reading and proceeding with the new ribbon and quick access
toolbar I'd like to scrap the old menus and use either the qat or a cusomized
ribbon.

I've created the USysRibbons table with the three specified fields and
entered a couple of XML examples into the table. The problem with this
approach is that when I get to the part where I need to close Access and
reopen it to select the Ribbon Name from the Access Options/Current
Database/Ribbon and Toolbar Options there are no ribbon names or custom menu
names to be found.

Since all of the articles glaze over this as though all the items created in
the USysRibbons Table there is never any mention as to what I may have done
that is stopping the drop down list from being populated. I assume it has
something to do with the Custom Menu's in the Add-in's tab at runtime but I
can't find where to access any setting for either the Custom menus or the
Ribbons.

I've read one thread when googling where someone else experienced the same
problem but no response was shown. As always I'm sure I'm missing something
but can't find what it is.

I think the ribbon and qat will be very cool to use once I can get to them.
( although the ribbon is Waaaay to Tall for runtime apps. )

Thank you for any insight.
Robin

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

Hum, it should work.


try my sample here:

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

(grab the Access 2007, hidden interface example)

In the above I have a sample "ribbon" menu bar (this one is for a report).

If you open up a form, or in this case report...you see the dropdown does
show the list of ribbons....

Not sure why your is not working...but, give the above a try it might jog
your memory, or you might see something that is different....

 

[Robin]

Yes, I know it is unusual. I have already tried one of your other items.
ribbontest2, as a test and it also shows the ribbon names in the drop down
list. As well as the Hidden interface example.

I am guessing that since I cannot find anywhere to "remove" the old custom
menu items I will just have to go through each form and report to be sure to
remove any reference. I cannot find the Add-In tab that keeps getting
refered to for these old items.

So perhaps an answer to this next question will eliminate any further
searching.

If I hide the ribbon and add items like cut, copy, paste, undo, redo, find,
etc. to the qat how do I get the qat with these items to appear in my forms
and reports at runtime? Or am I better off creating a couple ribbons, one
for forms and one for reports. Or another more efficent way.

I have already provided for printing and pdf capabilities for the reports
with command buttons and code. So for forms I'd simply need a close button
for the print preview, but the other features on the ribbon may be useful.

But the forms still need the laundry list of items to help the users perform
their tasks effieciently.

Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Robin

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

Yes, I know it is unusual. I have already tried one of your other items.
ribbontest2, as a test and it also shows the ribbon names in the drop down
list. As well as the Hidden interface example.

My example works. Most people are not having a problem to make the ribbons
appear. So, you have to sit down and find out what your problem is here.
We can't have a discussion about using custom ribbons if you can not get
your custom ribbons to work, really end of story.

I am guessing that since I cannot find anywhere to "remove" the old custom
menu items

You can remove the menu bars from the command line prompt, or so called
debug window (just hit ctrl-g )

You can then type:
commandbars("NameOfCommandBar").Delete

However the issue of the custom menus from a previous version has absolutely
no relationship, or no bearing on the current problem of you simply not
being able to get your custom ribbons working.

If I hide the ribbon and add items like cut, copy, paste, undo, redo,
find,
etc. to the qat how do I get the qat with these items to appear in my
forms
and reports at runtime?

You get these things to appear by specifying the ribbon name like in my
example.
So you make this work by getting your ribbions to work.

Or am I better off creating a couple ribbons, one
for forms and one for reports. Or another more efficent way.

Yes think the above is a great idea, you can make one ribbon and specify
for all of your reports (try and importing my ribbon into your application
see if it works).
So, yes, I think that's a great idea to build a ribbon with the featrues you
need on it.

But the forms still need the laundry list of items to help the users
perform
their tasks effieciently.

Yes, I thought the idea here was to build a ribbon for forms. The same
goes for my example for a ribbion.

So for all reports you can likey build one ribbon for all forms. And, for
most if not all reports, you can build a ribbion like in my example.

Perhaps for some forms you might consider moving some of the buttons from
the form up into the ribbion. This can offer remove a lot of clutter and
clean up your forms real nice, but the downside is that means you'll be
building a specific customer than for that one form. (note that the customer
ribbion can continue to call/use the code in your form. So, I do recommend
if you move some buttons from your form into the ribbion, I recommend that
you leave the VBA code in the actual form that those original buttons on the
former using).

Any suggestions?

As mentioned the idea here is to simply get your custom ribbions working,
you really can't move forward at all here can tell you're able to get some
of your customer bins to work.

Perhaps you try the following instructions here:

Customizing the Office Fluent User Interface in Access 2007
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb187398.aspx

 

[Robin]

The commonality to all of my problems is that your examples work and mine are
often challenged. Using the example that you provided I was able to remove
the old commandbars and create the ribbons, actually I went with limited
items on the qat for the time being. I had not thought of putting the
functionality for the forms command buttons up into the ribbon. I'm out of
time for that at the moment but that certainly would be beneficial
considering the layout of most of my forms.

Thank you very much,
Robin

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

The commonality to all of my problems is that your examples work and mine
are
often challenged. Using the example that you provided I was able to
remove
the old commandbars and create the ribbons, actually I went with limited
items on the qat for the time being. I had not thought of putting the
functionality for the forms command buttons up into the ribbon. I'm out
of
time for that at the moment but that certainly would be beneficial
considering the layout of most of my forms.

Thank you very much,
Robin

You are very welcome.

Great to see you progressing!

My apologies for some of the disjoined sentences...I had bumped the send key
by accident (and was using voice dictation).

Do feel free to ask some more questions.

The ribbon stuff is quite new for all of us and we all learning how to get
the hang of this new thing..including me!!