Way to display just a form, and not from within the access application?

[Bee*]

Hello. I have a database that is used to record the log in and log off times of staff at the office. The functionality of it I have down to the T.

However, is there a way to just have the main form display by itself, rather than from within the access application? I have the form to open on startup and have also disabled the Display Database Window and Display Status Bar options.

This would almost be perfect if I could get it just to show the form. Can it be done in this version of access? (2003)

Thanks!

 

[vbaInet]

There is a way but it's not stable nor does it work correctly.

If you want a stand alone application then you should be looking to other development platforms, e.g. Visual Studio.

 

[missinglinq]

I've had this in my code archives for ages and, sadly, I'm not sure who/where this code originated.

Firstly, you have to have all forms as Popup = Yes, Modal = Yes and it is vital that you have competent error handling in place!

Copy the following code into a new module
Code:

Option Compare Database

Option Explicit

Global Const SW_HIDE = 0
Global Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
Global Const SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2
Global Const SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3

Private Declare Function apiShowWindow Lib "user32" _
Alias "ShowWindow" (ByVal hWnd As Long, _
ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long

Function fSetAccessWindow(nCmdShow As Long)

Dim loX As Long
Dim loForm As Form
On Error Resume Next
Set loForm = Screen.ActiveForm

If err <> 0 Then
loX = apiShowWindow(hWndAccessApp, nCmdShow)
err.Clear
End If

If nCmdShow = SW_SHOWMINIMIZED And loForm.Modal = True Then
MsgBox "Cannot minimize Access with " _
& (loForm.Caption + " ") _
& "form on screen"
ElseIf nCmdShow = SW_HIDE And loForm.PopUp <> True Then
MsgBox "Cannot hide Access with " _
& (loForm.Caption + " ") _
 
& "form on screen"
Else
loX = apiShowWindow(hWndAccessApp, nCmdShow)
End If
fSetAccessWindow = (loX <> 0)
End Function

You can set up your Form to Load when the app Opens and in the Form_Load event call the function using

Call fSetAccessWindow(0)

Having said that, I have to emphasize what vbaInet said: this and all other hacks I've seen to accomplish this task are unreliable in most major apps. If this app is strictly a single Form database for people to Sing On/Sign Off Shift with, it might work fine for you. I'd create a separate app, linking to the Table, to do any manipulating/reporting you need to do with the data.

Linq ;0)>

 

[Bee*]

Thanks for the code Linq! Unfortunately I have buttons on the form that the users use to lock their workstations with and the buttons aren't responsive at all. I think this could be a lost cause right now :-(

Your help is appreciated nonetheless!

 

[missinglinq]

In the end the only reliable way of really doing this is as vbaInet suggested, using another language.