Switchboards and Form Organization

[janetlyn]

I have a completed database (are they ever complete?) and now am trying to to some "touch-up" work. I have read many threads, faq's, websites trying to decide how best to do this and everytime I run into a problem. I feel like I am going in circles. I am an extremely organized person, love to follow step-by-step directions, but can't seem to find any. So, here are some of the obstacles I am hitting and maybe someone can suggest what to do please. By, the way, this is Access 2000. Has a minimum of 15 tables, queries, and reports each.

I am using the switchboard. From the main menu, the switchboard goes two deep. In other words, from the main menu, depending on the selection, you may have to go through two more menu's until you finally get to the form you want. This is working really well except for one problem. When someone is at the 2 deep level, I would like them to be able to have the option to select a command button which will take them immediately back to the main switchboard (default page) without having to go through the previous menu. I found code allowing me to open the switchboard form, but it only opens to the last menu page that had the focus.

Because of the above problem, I decided I would take the advice of many of the threads and just make forms that would replace my switchboard. Took me forever, but I finally found some code (thank you randysmid) that showed me how to open forms. But then there are so many little pieces of code you need to know that I don't.

Could someone please suggest which way would be best (not necessarily easiest) way to organize my database? Stick with the Switchboard or go to Forms? If I stay with switchboard how do I get it to go to main menu from anywhere? If go to forms, is there some website that has simple code for those easy everyday tasks, such as, open forms, make objects visible, open forms in add mode versus edit mode, and how to get it to focus on the first tab in a new record?

Sorry this was so long, but I figure the more detail the better. I appreciate any help or advice I can get. I am getting dizzy trying to figure this dilemma out. Thanks in advance, Janet Lyn

 

[AccessAce]

When I use a switchboard, the last item on the switch board is always a backup to the previous switchboard. If you create a button, off to the side or in a corner of the form somewhere, that when clicked, will
Call Form_Open

This will cause the form to immediately jump directly to the Main Switchboard.

 

[janetlyn]

Is this "button" you are referring to a command button? And the only VBA code I need to put in is:

CallForm_Open

Sorry, but I am pretty code illiterate. So then actually this button would then be on every switch board page automatically, just like the title is? Thanks, JL

 

[AccessAce]

Yes. That button would appear on every switch board, just like the title, and that little line is the only code you need.

 

[janetlyn]

Thanks for your help AccessAce. That did not work, but you gave me an idea that I know will work. Thanks again. Janet Lyn

 

[AccessAce]

Sorry there should be a space in there

Call Form_Open

 

[janetlyn]

I think the biggest reason it did not work is not because I did not put a space in there (I did), but rather, I wasn't exactly sure where to put the code. I tried typing the "Call...." in the OnClick event of the command button, but it did not like that. And, just to make you feel good, my "Oh so sure" fix did not work either. I believe instead of a switchboard, I will just use some forms and do some visible/invisible based on their choice. Thanks though for your help. JL

 

[trenny]

I am, myself, just learning about switchboards (I read your thread here in hopes of finding a fix to my problem) and may have the easy answer.
Go to Tools>Add ins>SwitchboardManager and choose the switchboard that you want to have a button that will return to the main switchboard. Click Edit. Click new. Name the button (e.g. Return to Main Switchboard). Choose Command Go to switchboard and then choose your main switchboard.

 

[janetlyn]

Thanks trenny, but I did switch to all forms and am glad I did. Everything is much more organized and more user-friendly. Using forms I was able to make a label and then just hyperlink the label to the form of the button's choice. It made everything so easier. I liked being able to have the buttons (be they label or command) be the color I wanted. See the following threads for more form options, instead of using switchboards:

702-537223 - Button Colour on Form
702-574506 - Visible Fields (hyperlinks)

Good luck trenny, and thanks for the help. Janet Lyn