View Full Version : Why can't I permanently hide the navigation pane?


gblack
10-06-2009, 12:09 PM
I have split my database.

On the front end I have gone in (using the windows Icon>>Access options>>>current database) and taken out the ribbons and the navigation pane and then converted it to an accde.

I thought that this was supposed to lock down any design changes, but I have found that you can simply go back in through the windows Icon and reset the navigation pane to show again.

I do not want my users being able to double click on any tables and work from the table itself. How can I permanently lock down the navigation pane in my front end, so that the users will never be able to access it?

Is there some code I need to do this programmatically, or am I missing somthing in the set-up?

Thanks,
Gary

speakers_86
10-06-2009, 01:49 PM
Uncheck the option to allow full menus. Also, do not allow access special keys.

gblack
10-06-2009, 02:27 PM
That doesn't prevent anyone from using the windows icon to rechecking it all... why does Access allow this?

Is there anyway to prevent it programmatically?

boblarson
10-06-2009, 02:35 PM
That doesn't prevent anyone from using the windows icon to rechecking it all... why does Access allow this?

Is there anyway to prevent it programmatically?

What windows icon are you talking about? I'm not picturing it.

gblack
10-06-2009, 06:46 PM
I called it the windows Icon because I didn't know what to call it... It's on the very top left corner of the application when you open access... looks like four colored squares of different sizes (big Red, Big yellow, little green smaller blue.

click it, go to access options, then current database and you can hide ribbons, disallow the use of special keys and hid the navigation pane...

But then anyone can go into the same thing and undo all the stuff you just hid. I thought the accde would preven this, but it doesn't.

How do I make these setting permanent?

gblack
10-06-2009, 06:57 PM
Sorry Bob,

Actually I just realized... its not the windows icon that is the issue.

Even when you get rid of the ribbons (as previously stated), access still keeps the "home" ribbon. If you right click on the home ribbon in the .accde file, you can choose "customize access toolbar" and then choose "current database" and then any user can undo all the things you set to hide. It prompts you to restart the application, but when they do... it works.

How do I get rid of "home"? I don't need it there, as my forms should have everything the user needs.

-Gary

boblarson
10-06-2009, 07:00 PM
How do I get rid of "home"? I don't need it there, as my forms should have everything the user needs.

-Gary
See if renaming your file to accdr works for you.

gblack
10-06-2009, 07:08 PM
Yes... that works, the problem is that the user can just change it back to accde and then we still have the same issue.

boblarson
10-06-2009, 07:22 PM
Well that is for the Home tab but everything else they can't get to if you set the

Allow Full Menus checkbox - unchecked
Allow Default Shortcut Menus - unchecked
And USE ACCESS SPECIAL KEYS - unchecked

Then, when they open the database they cannot get to the Access Options. Especially if you look here on the site for the DisableBypassKey code to turn the shift key off.

gblack
10-06-2009, 07:40 PM
I'm not sure I follow Bob.

Yes, you are coorrect in that they cannot get to "Access Options", but they can get to the same "current dabase" choice that "Access Options" offers like so:

Change .accdr back to .accde, then right click the "home" tab and choose "Customize Quick Access toolbar"

Then choose "Current Database".

Check the Navigation Pane so it no longer is hidden...

Close the application, then open the file back up and voila: I now have direct access to ALL the linked tables without any need to use the actual application (i.e. forms).

Am I being obtuse? I probably am... I usually am... but what is preventing this from happening in your scenario?

Shift key aside, this looks like a big hole to me. Is there any way to stop this?

-G

speakers_86
10-07-2009, 08:49 AM
Under database tools, click make .mde. This finalizes database (no more changes allowed, not even from you).

You could also hide the ribbon completely if that suits your needs. If there is a 'main' form that is always there, make it pop up and maximize on open. When that form is closed, docmd.quit. There is also a function here on this site that will min or max the entire access database with that main form. So if a user minimizes that form, then the database window is also minimized.

boblarson
10-07-2009, 09:06 AM
Under database tools, click make .mde. This finalizes database (no more changes allowed, not even from you).
That's not quite accurate. If you open an MDE (just try it), you can modify tables (add, delete, modify) and queries and if you have access to the shift key, you can also go modify startup properties, etc.

But,


Change .accdr back to .accde, then right click the "home" tab and choose "Customize Quick Access toolbar"

I think you have missed the boat here. If you have unchecked the ALLOW DEFAULT SHORTCUT MENUS, you can't right click. Nothing will come up.

gblack
10-07-2009, 09:47 AM
I'm sorry Bob, I have tried doing what you are asking about 10 times now... thinking that I must not be doing something correctly, but I think you maybe mistaken here.

If I go in and choose Access Options

uncheck "ALLOW DEFAULT SHORTCUT MENUS" along with the access special keys, the extra ribbon, and the navigation pane...Then I close and save as an accde...

Changing the file to accdr works fine (meaning I cannot right click on anything, as "home" is not there). However, I can simply change the accdr back to accde.

At this point I can still go in and right click home and choose "Customize Quick Access toolbar" then choose "Current Database". The right click works just fine to pull this up, unchecking "ALLOW DEFAULT SHORTCUT MENUS" doesn't seem to do anything to prevent this from my tests.

From here I can check the navigation pane.

I have made numerous ACCDE files now and I have always been able to go back in and right click "home" to get the navigation pane to work again... and in doing, allow direct access to the linked tables.

I do not mean any insult by this and I am not insinuating that you haven't tried doing what you are asking me to do, by asking... but I am wondering if you have tried this recently?

Thanks for your attention,
Gary

boblarson
10-07-2009, 09:50 AM
but I am wondering if you have tried this recently?

I did it yesterday at home (I don't have 2007 here).

I'll look again in about 7 hours when I get home, but you seem to be the first in a long line of people we've given these instructions to, for whom it doesn't seem to work. Can't explain that one.

boblarson
10-07-2009, 09:51 AM
Perhaps if you would either upload a copy or email it to me I can test on that exact file.

gblack
10-07-2009, 11:06 AM
Here it is. I hope it uploaded correctly.

Thanks Bob!
-G

boblarson
10-07-2009, 11:07 AM
Here it is. I hope it uploaded correctly.

Thanks Bob!
-G

I'll check it out when I get home (and can get to my Access 2007) and let you know.

boblarson
10-07-2009, 06:35 PM
Okay, here's your database back (along with a new module and first line in the AutoExec macro). You need to make sure that users have the trusted location set otherwise the database will hang with things open for them to access (nothing you can do to get around that except just make sure that the trusted location has been set).

This code that was provided by Brent Spaulding (via a thread on Utter Access) is what took care of the Ribbon AND the QAT.

gblack
10-08-2009, 09:18 AM
Thanks so much Bob!

Sorry, I got pulled away from the forum for a bit... I have downloaded the file and I will test this out as soon as I can.

Again, thanks for your help!!!
-Gary

gblack
10-08-2009, 12:28 PM
Bob, this exactly what I was looking for!

Thanks so much...again!
-Gary

boblarson
10-08-2009, 12:31 PM
Glad we could get it sorted for you. :)

FraserC
07-08-2010, 02:35 PM
thanks for this guys - just what I needed!~ :cool:

boblarson
07-08-2010, 02:37 PM
I am experiencing the same problem. Has anyone got a solution for this yet?

Cheers
Fraser

Yes, the solution was in post #18 (http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=893828&postcount=18) which I gave the solution as a sample file.

FraserC
07-08-2010, 02:37 PM
Yes, the solution was in post #18 (http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=893828&postcount=18) which I gave the solution as a sample file.

sorry bob - hadn't made it page 2 before I posted. You replied before I even managed to edit my post! Cheers :)

boblarson
07-08-2010, 02:38 PM
sorry bob - hadn't made it page 2 before I posted. You replied before I even managed to edit my post! Cheers :)

We aim for quick service :D

FraserC
07-08-2010, 02:39 PM
haha, awesome :)

FraserC
07-08-2010, 02:54 PM
Hi Bob (and others).

I seem to have a slightly different problem. I'm developing an app that will be distributed as an ACCDE. I've written code to disable the bypass key, but can't seem to prevent users from just pressing F11 to reveal the navigation pane. I tried putting the following in the load event of my splash screen, but it made no difference:

DoCmd.LockNavigationPane (True)

Then, based on Bob's fix above, I also pasted in the following code just beneath.

DoCmd.ShowToolbar "Ribbon", acToolbarNo

However, users can still press F11 to show the navigation pane. Also, I have a custom built ribbon, which was not visible after this code was run.

Can anyone please tell me how to permanently hide the navigation pane while still allowing ribbons?

Thanks for any help - much appreciated.

Cheers
Fraser

boblarson
07-08-2010, 03:03 PM
For the F11 key you uncheck the USE ACCESS SPECIAL KEYS under the CURRENT DATABASE options in Access Options.

boblarson
07-08-2010, 03:04 PM
And as for the ribbons, I'm not 100% sure about that, because I think disabling the QAT is the issue and that hangs around if you have any ribbons.

FraserC
07-08-2010, 03:08 PM
thanks Bob. Unchecking special access keys did the trick, but users can still reset it by going back into the access options.

Will keep searching - thanks again.

boblarson
07-08-2010, 03:09 PM
thanks Bob. Unchecking special access keys did the trick, but users can still reset it by going back into the access options.

Will keep searching - thanks again.

The Disable Bypass Key should keep them out of Access Options.

FraserC
07-08-2010, 03:13 PM
oddly enough, it doesn't!

boblarson
07-08-2010, 03:18 PM
oddly enough, it doesn't!

Well, if you make it into an ACCDE then it will.

FraserC
07-08-2010, 03:22 PM
nope, its still there! Just reading a thread elsewhere, which talks about disabling commands underneath the office button. Will post once I find the answer!

CraigDolphin
07-08-2010, 03:27 PM
I have barely touched Access 2007 but this source ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb258192(office.12).aspx ) seems to indicate that you can't disable the ribbon entirely, at least, it seems like maybe you have to replace it with a customized ribbon instead? (so I wonder if you can create a blank ribbon for use instead?)

Maybe I'm wrong about this but since it's a micro$oft article, I thought I'd throw it into the mix.

FraserC
07-08-2010, 03:31 PM
This got me pretty close, but didn't disable "access options". So close!~!

boblarson
07-08-2010, 03:31 PM
I have barely touched Access 2007 but this source ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb258192(office.12).aspx ) seems to indicate that you can't disable the ribbon entirely, at least, it seems like maybe you have to replace it with a customized ribbon instead? (so I wonder if you can create a blank ribbon for use instead?)

Maybe I'm wrong about this but since it's a micro$oft article, I thought I'd throw it into the mix.

You can disable the Ribbon entirely (my attachment shows you can), but the problem is that the OP NEEDS the Ribbon. The reason my attachment got rid of the ribbon is to also get rid of the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) which is there as long as a Ribbon is there.

FraserC
07-08-2010, 03:34 PM
This got me pretty close, but didn't disable "access options". So close!~!

oops. forgot to add the link:

http://www.utteraccess.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t1933390.html

(apologies for posting a thread from another forum) :D

boblarson
07-08-2010, 03:35 PM
This got me pretty close, but didn't disable "access options". So close!~!

Sorry, I was wrong - it is the checkbox ALLOW DEFAULT MENUS that needs to be unchecked to keep the Access Options from being available.

FraserC
07-08-2010, 03:39 PM
YUSSS!

That did it - thanks so much Bob. What a legend!!

gblack
07-09-2010, 05:08 AM
Fraser and Bob, thanks for keeping up on this... I kind of just gave up on locking folks out entirely, because I didn't want to keep pestering Bob about it:) But I am glad you guys are tenacious!

I will implement this on my DB as soon as I can get to it...

Thanks again!
Gary