Pictures as backgrounds for forms

[Pharma Down]

Can I add a picture as a background for a form, rather than just a colour? I can't see how, but I'm sure I've seen others do it.

NB: I have developed my database in Access 2003, to ensure that it is usuable by all computers networked on my system.

Also, would this dramatically alter the size of the database?

Thanks

Andy

 

[brharrii]

I havent done this personally, but this seems to be a pretty good walk through. Does this give you what you're looking for?

http://www.techonthenet.com/access/forms/bg_picture.php

 

[Pharma Down]

That's ace. Thank you.

 

[boblarson]

Just a suggestion - be careful of doing this. You need to make sure that your forms are "User Friendly" which includes not having it look too busy and a picture can do that. I know, I made the mistake of finding out that there was a picture property for a form back when I first started with Access over 15 years ago. I still have a couple of my databases and I cringe each time I look at them because it looks like crap.

Just a suggestion, but I would avoid pictures as backgrounds on forms unless they complement the form and don't just make it busy.

 

[Pharma Down]

Thank you! It was just for the menus (with few buttons) but I'll be careful!

A

 

[Catalina]

I tried it recently with some nice gradients. It basically looked great but then I ran into an old problem, form flickering when moving the mouse over some controls.

I removed the picture and no more flickering. Using Access 2010.

Catalina

 

[boblarson]

I tried it recently with some nice gradients. It basically looked great but then I ran into an old problem, form flickering when moving the mouse over some controls.

I removed the picture and no more flickering. Using Access 2010.

Catalina

Yep, another of the issues. Also, they bloat the database. Not as much in 2007 or 2010 as previous versions but still adds to the total size.

 

[Pharma Down]

Ah... OK - that might be an issue!

 

[Simon_MT]

Yes, the flickering is a pain. But the the best approach is to use soft gradient images. I have actual pictures so I have the gradient going left to right so that colour is white towards the right. I never embed the images so there is no bloating. Here is an example.

Simon

 

[Pharma Down]

Very groovy

What do you do if you don't embed them?

 

[Simon_MT]

I have a directory within Databases called Livery (I use Images fro something else) and in the Form Property there is:

Picture C:\Databases\Livery\Menu\Background.jpg
Alignment Top Left
Type Linked
Size Mode Stretch

Please note I'm using Access 2007 so I can use most image formats and I know Photoshop.

Simon