Starting an Access form

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I am very new to Access so I appologise if this is a stupid question but it
has stumped me!! I have started a new database and have created a table, I
have then created a form to input data into the table, it all works fine but
the only way I can get to the form is to open Access and click on all the
appropriate places, this seems to be far too complicated for an 'end user'.
So my question is what do i have to do to my form so that one click from an
icon on the desktop goes straight to my form. I realise Access will have to
be running but i do not want the 'end user' to be able to see any of it -
just the input data form.
Thank you, in advance, for your help
 
Right-click on your form icon and choose create shortcut. In the location
box, browse and save it to your desktop.

Now you can double-click the desktop icon and it will open the form.
 
Thank you murfitUK, that has solved some of my problems, certainly it is now
much easier to start up the input data form, BUT it still starts up 'inside'
the main Access page, is it possible to ONLY see the input form with none of
the main Access controls/menus etc visible.

Thanks
 
You can use the form's 'On Load' event and insert this block of code:

Private Sub Form_Load()

'==================================================
'DATE: November 10, 2004
'AUTHOR: Todd L. Shillam
'COMMENTS:
'
'1) Removes all Microsoft Access built-in toolbars.
'==================================================

Dim i As Integer
For i = 1 To CommandBars.Count
CommandBars(i).Enabled = False
Next i

End Sub
'END OF SUBROUTINE

Best regards,

Todd
 
Thanks Todd but this looks far too complicated for me! Surely the basic
requirement of any data base is that the 'end user' can simply enter data
into a form without being able to mess with any of the settings etc, Surely
there must be a simple way of getting JUST the form on screen. When I first
asked the question it seemed such a basic requirement I thought it was a
silly question!! Now I'm just confused!!! Can anybody explain to me how to
do this EASILY or explain why it is not possible!!!?
Thanks Todd for your time and effort but there has to be a better way -
isn't there???
 
Nygel,

What you are asking *IS* complicated! It is not easy. Think about what you are asking: You want to
use an Access form without the Access interface being seen. Well as a comparison, try to open a Word
document without the Word interface showing, or open an Excel sheet without the Excel interface
showing. It is NOT easy. In essence you are fighting one of the basic requirements of the software
GUI.

The best thing to do is to create custom menu bars/toolbars and adjust the settings under Tools |
Startup to make your application look like a custom software application. With custom menu bars and
toolbars you can control exactly what the users will see. Is this easy? Yes for people with no
Access experience, but No for people just starting out with Access and/or people who have not used
those options before. Does this take time to create? Definitely Yes! My point is that what may seem
like a basic requirement to you is in fact something more advanced than you realize and is indeed
quite complex.

I'll offer another suggestion than the ones presented, but again, this is complicated. This will
work best if your users are only going to be interacting with one and only one form.

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.

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.
 
Hi Nygel. There is a way of doing it but I have forgotten most of the
details. I managed to do it with one of my databases about 7 years ago (!)
and I am NOT an expert.

On the Tools menu there is an option called Startup. This allows you to
alter what is displayed on startup. My suggestions: take all the ticks out
and make sure you select your form from the drop down menu "Display
Form/Page". Practice on a copy of your database as you might find
everything disappear and you can't access anything again!

You can over ride these settings by holding down Shift while double-clicking
the shortcut you have already placed on the desktop. You users will be able
to do this too but they probably won't know about it.

There is also something you can do with the AutoExec property - I shall
delve through the help files.
 
hi Jeff. i was playing with this earlier, and found that by maximizing the
form on load, setting Popup and Modal to Yes, BorderStyle to None or Thin,
and setting ControlBox, MinMaxButtons, and Close to No...and then using the
desktop form shortcut suggested by murfitUK, i got a full screen form. i
used a Quit command button to close out. for users that only need one form
(and sidestepping the issue of different screen resolutions among users),
this seems to fit the bill. but it worried me that the only way to close the
db was from that command button - what if it didn't run for some reason? the
alternative would be Windows Task Manager to quit. <cringe> so i didn't post
the suggestion. will you give me your opinion? thx, tina
 
Hi Tina,

Yes, that is another way to conceal the Access interface to the user. I actually thought of that
late last night. However, the suggestion you offered and mine as well do pose potential problems.
Try opening a report with either scenario. Not fun! With Pop-up and Modal forms the reports will
appear behind the forms. So as I mentioned in my other post this method works best if the end users
will use one and only one form. Navigating through different Pop-up/Modal forms and reports presents
a nightmare for the developer to manage. The method I suggested differs slightly in that the user
could still see their desktop, but there would be nothing in the Task Bar to indicate that Access is
running. A computer shut down with the form (and Access) running would no doubt lead to corruption.

I do believe that there is a time and place for this type of thing. A personalized security login
form is one possible situation and another would be a POS situation. Our POS system utilizes forms
that cover the entire screen. Most of the users are completely unaware that Windows is running in
the background.
 
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