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How do I hide the database application background shell so only my forms are displayed
Access 2010
If like me you are used to developing many applications in Access and have been used to ticking a box on the startup options in Access 2003, you've probably been pulling your hair out trying to do this simple task in Access 2010.
Firstly I must point out this is not a solution per sae, it is a work round in a specific environment.
MS seem to have made a step backwards with regard to application development in Access 2010 and removed this simple start up option tick box!
So ensure you understand this statement before trying to implement this 'fudge'.
So if your application requires non-modal forms, you CANNOT hide the Access application DB shell!
OK, so with that in mind, and ensuring ALL your forms are 'modal' simply add the following to the main module (Global Code)
This declares a function for use from the windows API "user32" library.
Then in your main form of the application add the following to the 'form_open' form event handler procedure
That's it!
It's worth noting you can unhide the DB window with
[color #ff0000]IMPORTANT NOTICE[/color]
Ensure your application has a way of exiting, otherwise you will end up with running background processes of your Access DB!
The easiest way is to put
on the 'form_close' event handler of the main application form ensuring that the close button is available on the form!
I then hide/show the main form with
as appropriate so the main form is only ever closed when the user needs to exit the application.
Of course feel free to use it any way you wish.
Hope this is of use and helps you avoid the wasted hours I spent working all this out!
enjoy 1DMF![[2thumbsup]](/data/assets/smilies/2thumbsup.gif "[2thumbsup] [2thumbsup]")
Firstly I must point out this is not a solution per sae, it is a work round in a specific environment.
MS seem to have made a step backwards with regard to application development in Access 2010 and removed this simple start up option tick box!
So ensure you understand this statement before trying to implement this 'fudge'.
So if your application requires non-modal forms, you CANNOT hide the Access application DB shell!
OK, so with that in mind, and ensuring ALL your forms are 'modal' simply add the following to the main module (Global Code)
Code:
Declare Function apiShowWindow Lib "user32" Alias "ShowWindow" (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As LongThis declares a function for use from the windows API "user32" library.
Then in your main form of the application add the following to the 'form_open' form event handler procedure
Code:
Dim lWin As Long
lWin = apiShowWindow(Application.hWndAccessApp, 0)That's it!
It's worth noting you can unhide the DB window with
Code:
lWin = apiShowWindow(Application.hWndAccessApp, [b][color #ff0000]1[/color][/b])[color #ff0000]IMPORTANT NOTICE[/color]
Ensure your application has a way of exiting, otherwise you will end up with running background processes of your Access DB!
The easiest way is to put
Code:
Application.Quiton the 'form_close' event handler of the main application form ensuring that the close button is available on the form!
I then hide/show the main form with
Code:
me.visible = True/FalseOf course feel free to use it any way you wish.
Hope this is of use and helps you avoid the wasted hours I spent working all this out!
enjoy 1DMF