I don't use Switchboards anymore but from what I remember when you create a Switchboard item to open a form that determines the mode to open that form (add, edit, etc.) Try editting the Switchboard and changing that mode.
Is the frontend file extension .mde? If it is, you need to get your IT department to find the equivalent .mdb file)s) on the computer of the person who went to Russia. This is the only way to change/add forms, reports, etc.