Why can't I permanently hide the navigation pane?

[gblack]

I have split my database.

On the front end I have gone in (using the windows Icon>>Access options>>>current database) and taken out the ribbons and the navigation pane and then converted it to an accde.

I thought that this was supposed to lock down any design changes, but I have found that you can simply go back in through the windows Icon and reset the navigation pane to show again.

I do not want my users being able to double click on any tables and work from the table itself. How can I permanently lock down the navigation pane in my front end, so that the users will never be able to access it?

Is there some code I need to do this programmatically, or am I missing somthing in the set-up?

Thanks,
Gary

 

[speakers_86]

Uncheck the option to allow full menus. Also, do not allow access special keys.

 

[gblack]

That doesn't prevent anyone from using the windows icon to rechecking it all... why does Access allow this?

Is there anyway to prevent it programmatically?

 

[boblarson]

That doesn't prevent anyone from using the windows icon to rechecking it all... why does Access allow this?

Is there anyway to prevent it programmatically?

What windows icon are you talking about? I'm not picturing it.

 

[gblack]

I called it the windows Icon because I didn't know what to call it... It's on the very top left corner of the application when you open access... looks like four colored squares of different sizes (big Red, Big yellow, little green smaller blue.

click it, go to access options, then current database and you can hide ribbons, disallow the use of special keys and hid the navigation pane...

But then anyone can go into the same thing and undo all the stuff you just hid. I thought the accde would preven this, but it doesn't.

How do I make these setting permanent?

 

[gblack]

Sorry Bob,

Actually I just realized... its not the windows icon that is the issue.

Even when you get rid of the ribbons (as previously stated), access still keeps the "home" ribbon. If you right click on the home ribbon in the .accde file, you can choose "customize access toolbar" and then choose "current database" and then any user can undo all the things you set to hide. It prompts you to restart the application, but when they do... it works.

How do I get rid of "home"? I don't need it there, as my forms should have everything the user needs.

-Gary

 

[boblarson]

How do I get rid of "home"? I don't need it there, as my forms should have everything the user needs.

-Gary

See if renaming your file to accdr works for you.

 

[gblack]

Yes... that works, the problem is that the user can just change it back to accde and then we still have the same issue.

 

[boblarson]

Well that is for the Home tab but everything else they can't get to if you set the

Allow Full Menus checkbox - unchecked
Allow Default Shortcut Menus - unchecked
And USE ACCESS SPECIAL KEYS - unchecked

Then, when they open the database they cannot get to the Access Options. Especially if you look here on the site for the DisableBypassKey code to turn the shift key off.

 

[gblack]

I'm not sure I follow Bob.

Yes, you are coorrect in that they cannot get to "Access Options", but they can get to the same "current dabase" choice that "Access Options" offers like so:

Change .accdr back to .accde, then right click the "home" tab and choose "Customize Quick Access toolbar"

Then choose "Current Database".

Check the Navigation Pane so it no longer is hidden...

Close the application, then open the file back up and voila: I now have direct access to ALL the linked tables without any need to use the actual application (i.e. forms).

Am I being obtuse? I probably am... I usually am... but what is preventing this from happening in your scenario?

Shift key aside, this looks like a big hole to me. Is there any way to stop this?

-G

 

[speakers_86]

Under database tools, click make .mde. This finalizes database (no more changes allowed, not even from you).

You could also hide the ribbon completely if that suits your needs. If there is a 'main' form that is always there, make it pop up and maximize on open. When that form is closed, docmd.quit. There is also a function here on this site that will min or max the entire access database with that main form. So if a user minimizes that form, then the database window is also minimized.

 

[boblarson]

Under database tools, click make .mde. This finalizes database (no more changes allowed, not even from you).

That's not quite accurate. If you open an MDE (just try it), you can modify tables (add, delete, modify) and queries and if you have access to the shift key, you can also go modify startup properties, etc.

But,

Change .accdr back to .accde, then right click the "home" tab and choose "Customize Quick Access toolbar"

I think you have missed the boat here. If you have unchecked the ALLOW DEFAULT SHORTCUT MENUS, you can't right click. Nothing will come up.

 

[gblack]

I'm sorry Bob, I have tried doing what you are asking about 10 times now... thinking that I must not be doing something correctly, but I think you maybe mistaken here.

If I go in and choose Access Options

uncheck "ALLOW DEFAULT SHORTCUT MENUS" along with the access special keys, the extra ribbon, and the navigation pane...Then I close and save as an accde...

Changing the file to accdr works fine (meaning I cannot right click on anything, as "home" is not there). However, I can simply change the accdr back to accde.

At this point I can still go in and right click home and choose "Customize Quick Access toolbar" then choose "Current Database". The right click works just fine to pull this up, unchecking "ALLOW DEFAULT SHORTCUT MENUS" doesn't seem to do anything to prevent this from my tests.

From here I can check the navigation pane.

I have made numerous ACCDE files now and I have always been able to go back in and right click "home" to get the navigation pane to work again... and in doing, allow direct access to the linked tables.

I do not mean any insult by this and I am not insinuating that you haven't tried doing what you are asking me to do, by asking... but I am wondering if you have tried this recently?

Thanks for your attention,
Gary

 

[boblarson]

but I am wondering if you have tried this recently?

I did it yesterday at home (I don't have 2007 here).

I'll look again in about 7 hours when I get home, but you seem to be the first in a long line of people we've given these instructions to, for whom it doesn't seem to work. Can't explain that one.

 

[boblarson]

Perhaps if you would either upload a copy or email it to me I can test on that exact file.

 

[gblack]

Here it is. I hope it uploaded correctly.

Thanks Bob!
-G

 

[boblarson]

Here it is. I hope it uploaded correctly.

Thanks Bob!
-G

I'll check it out when I get home (and can get to my Access 2007) and let you know.

 

[boblarson]

Okay, here's your database back (along with a new module and first line in the AutoExec macro). You need to make sure that users have the trusted location set otherwise the database will hang with things open for them to access (nothing you can do to get around that except just make sure that the trusted location has been set).

This code that was provided by Brent Spaulding (via a thread on Utter Access) is what took care of the Ribbon AND the QAT.

 

[gblack]

Thanks so much Bob!

Sorry, I got pulled away from the forum for a bit... I have downloaded the file and I will test this out as soon as I can.

Again, thanks for your help!!!
-Gary

 

[gblack]

Bob, this exactly what I was looking for!

Thanks so much...again!
-Gary