Identify Access instance-Bring it to forefront (1 Viewer)

[JohnPapa]

I have several instances of Access running on a pc. Is there a way to programmatically identify a specific instance and bring it to the forefront?

I have found

http://www.everythingaccess.com/tutorials.asp?ID=Bring-an-external-application-window-to-the-foreground

but was thinking if there is an easier solution.
The control (bringing to forefront) would be done from another Access db.

Thanks,
John

 

[Rx_]

http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=132129

Just looked at this briefly.
Does this allow one to come to the front based on the Caption?
The example shows Word, just wondering if it could be modified for Access?

 

[JohnPapa]

Thanks Rx_,

In doing some research I came across

http://www.xtremevbtalk.com/showthread.php?t=260348

still I cannot get it to work

John

 

[JHB]

...
still I cannot get it to work

Do you get an error, or does the wanted MS-Access application not come in front?
What code do you've to call the function?

 

[JohnPapa]

Hi JHB,

To provide some info

To call the sw for DentistX I use the following in the icon target

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sagekey Software\StartAccess3_2013.exe"  "X:\Vd5.accde" /runtime

To call the sw for DentistY I use the following in the icon target

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sagekey Software\StartAccess3_2013.exe"  "Y:\Vd5.accde" /runtime

If I use for DentistX

[COLOR=#2a2a2a][FONT=Segoe UI]Application.FollowHyperlink "x:\vd5.mde"[/FONT][/COLOR]

it works, that is when the sw is open and I execute the code, it brings the instance to the foreground, but this requires A2013. I want to use the above command which works with the Runtime to do the same. Hope the explanation helps.
John

 

[JohnPapa]

Have not figured this one out yet but have managed to simplify the requirement.

From within an Access application I want to be able to bring to the foreground a Window which is open and is defined by its hWnd property.

I tried to use

BringWindowToTop (rst!THandle)

essentially using

Private Declare Function BringWindowToTop Lib "user32" (ByVal _          hWnd As Long) As Long

This works if both forms are in the sane db, but not if I try to open a window outside the calling Access db.

I include below the code which I used for calling form2 from form1 in the same db. The hWnd are stored in Table1.

 Private Sub CallWindowInSameDb_Click()
Dim rst As ADODB.Recordset
Set rst = New ADODB.Recordset
rst.Open "Table1", CurrentProject.Connection, adOpenKeyset, adLockPessimistic
rst.MoveFirst
BringWindowToTop (rst!THandle)
End Sub

Does anyone know why it does not work outside the Access Db, or are there any other suggestions on how to handle this?

Thanks,
John

 

[vbaInet]

You want something simpler?

VBA.AppActivate "Title of your access db"

... that is the title you set in the "Application Title" property.

 

[JohnPapa]

Thanks vbaInet,

I used on Load of form

Private Sub Form_Load()
CurrentDb.Properties!AppTitle = "1"
End Sub

where "1" is the serial number of the specific Access db and tried to use from a different Access db

VBA.AppActivate "1"

It tells me "Run-time error '5': Invalid procedure call or argument"

John

 

[vbaInet]

Set the application title manually. Go to Access Options.

 

[JohnPapa]

Thanks VbaInet,

I tried it in A2013 and it works, although I cannot invoke a minimized Db.

So essentially I can set programmatically the Title to the Serial number of the specific Access db (each has a unique Serial number) and call it from my so called switchboard Access using

VBA.AppActivate "Serial number"

Any ideas on how to invoke a minimized Access DB?

 

[vbaInet]

Ok, since you have a reference to your db, make the db maximized and then call AppActivate. Some aircode:

dim objApp as access.application

set objApp = getobject(, "Path to db")

objApp.docmd.maximize

vba.appactivate objapp.currentdb.properties!apptitle

 

[vbaInet]

Or specifically
DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdAppMaximize

 

[JohnPapa]

I am doing something wrong. The following opens a new instance of the db and goes to a specific form

Dim objApp As Object
strDB = "C:\ASwitch\Database1.accdb"
Set objApp = GetObject(strDB, "Access.Application")
DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdAppMaximize
 objApp.DoCmd.OpenForm "Form1"
'objApp.DoCmd.Maximize
 'VBA.AppActivate "1"

It is not maximized and I do not use

VBA.AppActivate "1"

it is commented out

Any help welcome.

 

[vbaInet]

You need to use the reference to the app in order to maximize it, as shown in my initial post:

objApp.DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdAppMaximize

 

[JohnPapa]

The following appears to work

Dim objApp As Object
strDB = "C:\ASwitch\Database1.accdb"
Set objApp = GetObject(strDB)
objApp.DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdAppMaximize
VBA.AppActivate "1"

Many thanks for your help which was invaluable.

I will try it out in the next few days and will mark as answer.

John

 

[vbaInet]

Good job!

 

[JohnPapa]

Only with your help. Thanks again

 

[vbaInet]

You're welcome JohnPapa!

 

[JohnPapa]

As promised I did some testing and came up with this

Dim strDB As String
strDB = "V:\Vd5.accdb"
 Dim objApp As Object
Set objApp = GetObject(strDB)
objApp.DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdAppMaximize
 On Error GoTo ExecuteShell
VBA.AppActivate "3"
Exit Sub
 ExecuteShell:
Dim strDB2 As String
strDB2 = "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sagekey Software\StartAccess3_2013.exe " & strDB & " /runtime"
retVal = Shell(strDB2, vbMaximizedFocus)

It is assumed that the pathname of the db and the Application title are know. We first try to open using VBA.AppActivate, if this fails we open with the Shell command.

 

[JohnPapa]

Can someone indicate how I can mark as answer