There are two ways to maximise a window. one is macro the other is to use Visual Basic. I do not know if you know VB, so I will show you how to do it in macros.
1) create a macro, and save as "mac_Maximize". right click and go into design view
2) in the macros window looks like a table with three columns. under the action field heading, click on the top cell and you will find a drop down arrow on the right of the cell, click on this and choose "Maximise". save again
3) in each form that you want to open maximised, go into design view, and open the properties box and, there should be a drop down menu (the contents of this combo box changes as you click on object in your form). click on this and choose "form"
4) click on "Events" tab. then find "OnLoad"
5) Click on field in next to "OnLoad", the drop down arrow appears, click on this and choose "Maximise".
6) close the properties box, save and test. then rock and roll.
as for the switchboard, I find it messy. what I do is create a form called Control panel. then I add all the buttons that I choose including a quit button.
the close application in the wizard when creating a command button does not save what ever the user was doing, therefore not practical.
It has been a while since I have even seen the switchboard thing, but I do know that it uses Visual basic and puts in it's own code (if you make a mistake and there is an error, you are up s#!t creek because you have to sift though all the code) this is different if you write your own code, you know where you stand, because you wrote it yourself.
To make a button that Quits the the entire database, you can make another macro, this time call it:
"mac_Quit_Database"
1) Right click on the macro icon as before and choose Design View.
2) same as before but choose the action "Quit". My advise is to leave the default on the "options" at the bottom of the screen at "SaveAll"
3) make your button if you have not already done so using the toolbox toobar.
4) right click on this button and choose the "properties..."
5) choose the event tab and go down to "OnClick" and in the text box next to this, choose "mac_Quit_Database" on the drop down list. and your done.
Good Luck,
Scott