Switchboard items

[Sheba]

Hi, I have 14 items to be placed on my switchboard, each of them will open a form but the switchboard manager is telling me that only eight items can go on the switchboard?!

Could someone please advise on how to fix this? Thanks much

[ssanfu]

You will have to create sub pages.

I don't use the Access switchboard. I find it too limiting - it is clunky, limiting, hard to modify and ugly. I think the Navigational form is also limiting.

If you used a standard form, you can build you own "switchboard" with as many options as you want. You can set the colors to whatever you want.



For instance, in the header of my startup form I have a button to exit Access. There is a text box that lists the name of the currently linked BE. If I double click on the text box I can relink to another BE. If I link to the BE on the server, the bg of the text box is red (live data) otherwise the bg of the text box is green (indicating test data).

The details section displays the names of out clients (which are company names). When I select a company name list boxes in the footer become enabled.

In the footer of the startup form are list boxes one of which is for divisions (companies have divisions, divisions have employees). When I select (click on) a division, another list box fills with employees names that are assigned to that division. If I double click on an employee's name, a form opens displaying details about the employee. On that form are several list boxes - one of which displays a few fields about work hours. Double clicking on the list box opens another (editable) form with full details about work hours.

There are labels along the left side of the startup form footer that I configured to look like buttons. I used labels because I can control the font, font size and FG/BG colors (this was developed using A2000 before there was the ability change button BG colors). I use the mouse down and mouse up events to make the bg change color and to make the special properties change from raised to sunken to raised again. It appears to be a button, but is a label.
Clicking the labels (buttons) opens other forms.

I never have a form displayed that does not have data on it, unlike the Access switchboard.

[Missinglinq]

Be aware that this thread is double-posted here:

http://www.utteraccess.com/forum/Swi...l#entry2489001

Linq ;0)>

[Sheba]

Hi Steve. Wow sounds like a lot of real estate work. However, the obvious trade off is that I can get my switchboard to be flexible. I'll start building... many thanks!!

[tonez90]

The other way is place certain switchboard items in a eperate category and only have a few items in each switchboard page. An example could be
Data Entry - opens another screen with some forms
Reporting - Opens the reporting screens
Edit Existing Data - Opens forms in edit mode
Administration - Opens some forms.

Dont forget you can have multiple layers on the swithboard.

Alternatively I like and use my own from forms to act like switchboard. In this way you can add list boxes combo boxes, labels, text boxes etc to help the user along.
The choice is yours. I would suggest you do a bit of a search to see what would best suit you application. There are hundreds of examples out there so good luck.
Tony

[June7]

The switchboard wizard can only create 8 items but the switchboard configuration can be manually modified. Requires becoming familiar with the switchboard table.

I agree with ssanfu. Never liked and never used switchboard or navigation form.

[ssanfu]

Wow sounds like a lot of real estate work.

Once you see how effective it is, you won't ever use a switchboard/navigation form again.

[Sheba]

Many thanks everyone for your response. I doubt I will go near an Access switchboard wizard again.

[Sheba]

Sorry quick question:

how do I clear the "grey" colour from my the unchecked optionGroup boxes (and radio buttons).

i.e. when no selection has been made, they don't have a white blank look but appear to be grey...

[ssanfu]

Did you try setting the default value of the check box control to FALSE?
I think the gray is the unknown value (NULL).

See http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/gra...-t1131715.html

[Sheba]

hey Steve, thanks. I'd previously set the default value(s) to "False" and couldn't figure out what was making some of them look grey and the others white. Setting default to 0 seems to do the trick for this one. Thanks again

[June7]

Why use checkboxes in an option group? Radio buttons might be more appropriate.

[Sheba]

The paper based versions have both radio buttons and check boxes, and that was the format for the forms. Too late to turn back now. Already been to Timbuktu and back with this project and at this stage, I'm doing as I'm told...within reason of course.