How to have an Access GUI interface hidden during an application run-time? I want a user to be able to see only selected forms and windows and not realize that Access application is running.

Hi,

   It sounds like you want VB.Net to make your Access interface. It is not much different than using Access VBA.

HTH


mmcdonal

You will need to write an SDI application to do that.

Access’ programming interface does not allow that. The data from the tables in an MDB can be accessed by an SDI app, but you cannot write an SDI app with just Access as your environment.

You could “fake it” by having a series of Access apps that all use just one form, maximized in the parent window, but sheesh!, what a nightmare [u]that</u> would be to write and maintain!

You could do what I do... have the Access (host window) re-size itself upon startup and then center itself on the user's screen. All of the forms (including switchboard) open as pop-ups over top of the "reduced" host window. User's never see it. They only see the forms.

Here's the code I use to re-size and position the "host" window.


Function SizeAccess(cX As Long, cy As Long, _
  cHeight As Long, cWidth As Long)
         Dim h As Long
         'Get handle to Microsoft Access.
         h = Application.hWndAccessApp
         'Position Microsoft Access.
         SetWindowPos h, HWND_TOP, cX, cy, cWidth, _
         cHeight, SWP_NOZORDER
End Function


Rick

I tried the solution posted by Rick but came unstuck with the following:
        SetWindowPos h, HWND_TOP, cX, cy, cWidth, _
         cHeight, SWP_NOZORDER

SetWindowPos is undefined as its HWNF_TOP and SWP_NOZORDER?

Thanks

Paul

Sorry... I forgot to include very important step. In the Autoexec macro of your db, you'll want to add the following FUNCTION NAME reference: SizeAccess (450,355,25,160)

This should put the minimized "shell" window" right dead center of your screen so that forms open over top of it. You can play around with the numbers to get it where you want it.

Give it a try and let me know how you make out.

Rick

And you'll need the following declarations:

Declare Sub SetWindowPos Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd&, _
                           ByVal hWndInsertAfter&, _
                           ByVal x&, ByVal Y&, ByVal cX&, _
                           ByVal cy&, ByVal wFlags&)
Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" _
   (ByVal lpClassName As Any, ByVal lpWindowName As Any) As Long
'Moves MS Access window to top of Z-order.
Global Const HWND_TOP = 0
Global Const SWP_NOZORDER = &H4 'Ignores the hWndInsertAfter.


Rick