Creating a User Interface for an internal database

[rm.harper]

Hi, Just after a point in the right direction. Im looking to design and create a user interface for my database. Preferably hiding the standard access interface and upon opening the database have a pop up form with buttons to direct users to forms queries and the nice helpful stuff I made the database for.

Ive found various terms for what im looking to do; Custom menu bar (hiding access interface), Launch pad form, switchboard, front end etc... but all I want is the correct term or tutorial so I can have a proper good look into it.

Any sources or help is appreciated as always.

Thanks in advance
R Harper

 

[Old Man Devin]

Things like Front or Front End are the ones I've most commonly seen to refer to database user interfaces, so I would start there. The type of thing you are suggesting is one of the most common forms of front end design, so there will likely be templates or examples you can find through google to get you going!

The term 'swichboard' I've only heard when talking about making the front end have different entry routes (like different users seeing different parts of the database). As for the pop up form idea, what you want to look into is the Access setting that sets a form to automatically open when the database is opened. I think you congifure this through File-Options-Current Database (Access 2010). It needn't be a pop up for this, but you can make pop up forms by just setting the form's 'Pop Up' property to Yes.

 

[rm.harper]

Things like Front or Front End are the ones I've most commonly seen to refer to database user interfaces, so I would start there. The type of thing you are suggesting is one of the most common forms of front end design, so there will likely be templates or examples you can find through google to get you going!

The term 'swichboard' I've only heard when talking about making the front end have different entry routes (like different users seeing different parts of the database). As for the pop up form idea, what you want to look into is the Access setting that sets a form to automatically open when the database is opened. I think you congifure this through File-Options-Current Database (Access 2010). It needn't be a pop up for this, but you can make pop up forms by just setting the form's 'Pop Up' property to Yes.

Thanks, after posting this i made a back up file and just started experimenting. Ive set all my forms to pop up as Ive programmed by access to now hide behind my Main Switchboard (custom form with buttons which set macros automatically depending on the command i set, which helps alot!) Taking the Nav pane and ribbon out of the way once the acces file is opened my main switchboard is the only visible thing and also the only thing in access you can do anything with unless its closed down. Managed to get a nice little interface going without having to get hard into coding and such. Quite pleased with how its gone. Think access if generally and easy thing to use once you get your head around how things work and what you can do with it.

Thanks very much for your help

 

[gemma-the-husky]

Personally, I like the standard MS Switchboard although I use a modified form of the A2003 one, rather than the switchboard supplied in later access versions