Fixed menu advice please...

[j_cocker]

I am looking to create an application. I want it to have a menu (i.e. a few buttons) on the left of the screen with the rest of the screen providing the space for the various forms, depending on the menu choises made.

My problem is that I want the menu to always remain visible - something similar to frames in HTML - with the only pop ups being the various warning/information messages that I will create.

Ideally I would like to have a menu-ing system with hierarchy (tree-like), but am happy to leave without it as long as the menu remains fixed and only the form change.

The appearance that I am looking for is something along the lines of this example:

http://www.accesstogo.org.uk/DisplayPicture.html?s=images/Membership.JPG

I would rather not spend too much time on it, so would appreciate any pointers to something that I can easily modify/adopt to my needs. Oh, and preferably without ActiveX...

Many thanks in advance.

PS: forgot to mention that I saw some very nice examples on this forum, but none seemed to offer the "fixed" feature that I am after.

 

[pbaldy]

One way I've seen that type of thing done is with a main form and a large subform control. Your buttons are on the main form, with the subform control to the right. The buttons would change the source of the subform control to a different form, as appropriate to the selection.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

the quickest way is a menu bar along the top, rather than down the left- since its all built into access

 

[j_cocker]

the quickest way is a menu bar along the top, rather than down the left- since its all built into access

Sorry, I am new to this Access stuff...

Do you mean tabs?

 

[DCrake]

As long as you can definitively say that there is a limit to the menu buttons down the vertical pane of the form I would detract from using that method.

Someone at sometime will ask for an extra button, and as you may suspect it will throw out all the design aspects in place. Before you know it there will be buttons all over the place, making it look busier and busier. As suggested go for the normal drop down menus, allows for more future proofing.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

Sorry, I am new to this Access stuff...

Do you mean tabs?

no, I meant the menu bar/ribbon that comes at the top of access can be modified to provide whatever commands you want. Quite easy in A2003 - but somewhat harder in A2007, I understand

 

[j_cocker]

no, I meant the menu bar/ribbon that comes at the top of access can be modified to provide whatever commands you want. Quite easy in A2003 - but somewhat harder in A2007, I understand

Thanks for that.

I hate the 2007 menus with a passion! Can't see myself ever inflicting a similar experience on a user of my application... I also have a license for 2003 which in my opinion looks better, so I may try that.