Access background interface reappears when Access icon clicked on taskbar

[fnem]

I have an issue with my database. I want to run it in a window as an ap without all of the Access interface. I've been successful in this by setting the forms to popup and modal and using the code below on the startup form. I got the code off another forum and it works really well, that is until you click the Access icon on the Windows taskbar at which point the Access interface becomes unhidden. I have tried attaching the code to other events on the form such as On Activate and On Load etc but can't find a way of stopping the Access interface from reappearing. It is inevitable that users will at some point click the taskbar icon, I did it during testing when I opened another window and then went back to my database. I'd welcome any suggestions on how to overcome this problem.

This is the code I call on the On Open event of my startup form:



Option Explicit

'This function switches the display mode of the Access design database, call function and pass in appropriate constant, code off forum

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

[ranman256]

what about the macro:
DoCmd.SelectObject acTable, , True
DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdWindowHide

[John_G]

I do the same to keep my users out of the Access interface and the ribbon. Try using this code in the On Open event of your startup form:

  DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdWindowHide
  DoCmd.ShowToolbar "ribbon", acToolbarNo
  DoCmd.Restore

I can minimize and restore by clicking the toolbar icon with no problem, and the minimize button on the Access application window also works.

You can stop users from pressing F11 to get to the Access interface by turning special keys off:

File - Options - Current database, then clear the checkbox for "Use Access Special Keys"

[fnem]

Ranman and John, thanks for your suggestions.

I've tried the code you refer to, I found I needed the following line to get the code to run

DoCmd.NavigateTo "acNavigationCategoryObjectType"

The good thing about the original code I posted above is that it completely hides the Access window, whereas the code you posted appears to depopulate it but still there is the rather unsightly, albeit empty Access window in the background behind my form

One other thing I find with your code is that I can still right click on the top of my form and go in to design mode, how do you overcome that?

If I can't find a way of making my original code keep the window hidden even when the taskbar icon is selected then I may use both sets of code in tandem so that at least if it does happen the Access interface will be blank and no harm can be done. It does feel rather like an unhappy compromise though.

[John_G]

One other thing I find with your code is that I can still right click on the top of my form and go in to design mode, how do you overcome that?

Set the Shortcut Menu property of the form to No.

Unfortunately, I can't help with hiding the Access window while showing your application window - I've never had a need to try it.
Maybe the real technical gurus have some ideas for that.