Is there an application builder that can be used to build apps on top of Access?

[Ryno Bower]

Hi,

Does anyone know about a application builder which can be based on ms access?
I need software to build an application with forms, tables etc as in access. The reason is that I wat the application to look professional. Not like in access with the screen in the background. E.g. If i click on the application it must open with a form to log in. And all the other forms must be like on any other program. Not with the access screen on the background. could anybody suggest something?

Thanks

[malcolmk]

You can compile the access app so it runs independant of access or you can switch off all the background stuff from within access code. No need to reinvent the wheel.

[Ryno Bower]

Hi, thanks for replying after so long time. What info do u need from me to help me build that code. That would just be amazing.
Ryno

[malcolmk]

OOps, just taken another look at compliling database to mde and using access runtime module, still allows user to access tables so sorry no good.
Will dig out an old prog of mine with code to disable menus etc and post soon as.

[malcolmk]

Ok have stripped my old app except for relevant code.
First off let me point out a few things.
When the app starts it may ask you if you want to block unsafe expressions, the only way I know to get around this is to go to te tools menu in access and select macros, security. You need to set the option to low which, I guess is ok if you are operating in a closed environment. Or add yourself as a trusted source but I don't know how to do that.
When the app opens menus and the design window are hidden, the code is in the open event of the switchboard form.

Private Sub Form_Open(Cancel As Integer)
' Minimize the database window and initialize the form.
' hide toolbars
On Error Resume Next


DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdWindowHide
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("menu Bar"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Database"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Relationship"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Table Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Table Datasheet"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Query Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Query Datasheet"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Form Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Form View"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Filter/Sort"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Report Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Toolbox"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Formatting(Form/Report)"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Formatting(Datasheet)"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Macro Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Utility1"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Print Preview"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Utility2"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Web"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Source Code Control"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Visual Basic"), acToolbarNo


    ' Move to the switchboard page that is marked as the default.
    Me.Filter = "[ItemNumber] = 0 AND [Argument] = 'Default' "
    Me.FilterOn = True
    
End Sub

Strangely the line

DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdWindowHide

only seems to work when the app is initially opened.

You MUST have a backdoor entry built into your app, personally I comment out the above code until I am sure the app is ready and working.
The backdoor in the attached app is a label on the switchboard with a click event set, this then asks for a password before proceeding (or not) to let you select wether to show or hide the menu bars etc. Instructions are shown in the app attached.
The code to toggle show or hide is as follows.
in the label click event

Private Sub Label25_Click()
Dim msg As String
On Error GoTo wrongpass

msg = InputBox("Enter the security code.")
If msg <> "secadmin" Then
GoTo wrongpass
End If
msg = InputBox("Option Hide / Enable ?")
If msg = "enable" Then
'reinstate toolbars
On Error Resume Next

DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("menu Bar"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Database"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Relationship"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Table Design"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Table Datasheet"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Query Design"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Query Datasheet"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Form Design"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Form View"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Filter/Sort"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Report Design"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Toolbox"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Formatting(Form/Report)"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Formatting(Datasheet)"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Macro Design"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Utility1"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Utility2"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Print Preview"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Web"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Source Code Control"), acToolbarWhereApprop
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Visual Basic"), acToolbarWhereApprop
Exit Sub
End If
If msg = "hide" Then

DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("menu Bar"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Database"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Relationship"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Table Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Table Datasheet"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Query Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Query Datasheet"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Form Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Form View"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Filter/Sort"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Report Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Toolbox"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Formatting(Form/Report)"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Formatting(Datasheet)"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Macro Design"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Utility1"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Print Preview"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Utility2"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Web"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Source Code Control"), acToolbarNo
DoCmd.ShowToolbar ("Visual Basic"), acToolbarNo
Exit Sub
End If
Exit Sub

wrongpass:
'error because no password entered

Exit Sub
End Sub

After entering "enable" to show menu bars, to show the design pane you must goto access menu "window, unhide" and select database window. After you have finished updating, maintaining your app you should again goto access menu "window" and select to hide the design pane then select your backdoor entry point and hide menu strips etc BEFORE handing the app back to the user / operator.