I would like my database to open to the designated start form, but without the Access application window showing behind it. Is this possible?
![]() |
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
Application Window (Access 2000)
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Productivity software by function » MS Access and database help » Application Window (Access 2000)
- This topic has 14 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 22 years ago.
AuthorTopicWSPitseleh
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 24, 2003 at 1:51 pm #383845Viewing 1 reply threadAuthorReplies-
WSHansV
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 24, 2003 at 2:16 pm #656031Yes: select Tools/Startup…
Select the form you want to be displayed when the database is opened, and uncheck the “Show Database Window” check box.
You can also set other options in this dialog (for instance whether to show complete menus and toolbars)
To bypass the startup options (for design purposes), keep the Shift key down while opening the database.
-
WSPitseleh
AskWoody Lounger -
WSHansV
AskWoody Lounger -
WScarbonnb
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 24, 2003 at 3:28 pm #656059Actually you can hide the Access Window. It involves API calls.
Have a look at at http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0019.htm%5B/url%5D
-
-
-
WSDrew
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 24, 2003 at 4:19 pm #656071Put this code inside of a module:
Option Compare Database
Option Explicit
Private Declare Function IsWindowVisible Lib “user32” (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
Dim dwReturn As Long
Const SW_HIDE = 0
Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
Const SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2
Const SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib “user32” (ByVal hwnd As Long, _
ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
Public Function AccessWindow(Optional Procedure As String) As Boolean
Select Case Procedure
Case “Hide”
dwReturn = ShowWindow(Application.hWndAccessApp, SW_HIDE)
Case “Show”
dwReturn = ShowWindow(Application.hWndAccessApp, SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED)
Case “Minimize”
dwReturn = ShowWindow(Application.hWndAccessApp, SW_SHOWMINIMIZED)
Case “Switch”
If IsWindowVisible(hWndAccessApp) = 1 Then
dwReturn = ShowWindow(Application.hWndAccessApp, SW_HIDE)
Else
dwReturn = ShowWindow(Application.hWndAccessApp, SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED)
End If
End Select
AccessWindow = IsWindowVisible(hWndAccessApp)
End FunctionTo use this code, you have 5 options:
AccessWindow “Hide” ‘This will hide the Access Window
AccessWindow “Show” ‘This will show the Access Window
AccessWindow “MInimize” ‘This will minimize the Access Window
AccessWindow “Switch” This will switch the Access Window from visible to hidden or from hidden to visible.
Finally, you can check the ‘status’ of the window by just retrieving the value AccessWindow returns (so If AccessWindow Then ‘will fire if the Access window is visible)One word of caution. You must have at least one visible form on the desktop when you hide the Access window. However, if you don’t, there is still hope. I am attaching a little VB .exe I wrote, which will unhide all instances of Access that it finds on your machine. (Very handy when developing with an app that hides the Access Window).
-
WSpatt
AskWoody Lounger -
WSDrew
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 24, 2003 at 10:23 pm #656272Actually, the code on The Access Web is actually the first code I ever used. It took me a while to figure how to even use it, but once I did, there was no looking back, I was on the VBA track!
What I personally needed the code for at that time, was the people I was writing a database for were extremely computer illiterate. The more stuff on the screen, the more confused they were. So by hiding the Access Window, I was able to give them just the forms, with nothing else on the desktop.
It also adds a little more ‘ad hoc’ security, since you are effectively preventing a user from doing anything in Access other then what you have put into the forms you display. If the Shift Bypass option is disabled, it is even more effective.
The only real quirk with hiding that window, is if you need to preview a report. There is no way to do that when the Access Window is hidden.
-
WSpatt
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 24, 2003 at 10:28 pm #656280>>So by hiding the Access Window, I was able to give them just the forms, with nothing else on the desktop.<<
What I found when I did the "hide" was that the Access instance disappeared and left no form on the screen at all. What I did was to open a form that opened another form from a button and the second open form had the "hide" in it's OnOpen event. As I said it hid the entire instance.
Strange, from what you have described.
Pat
-
-
Viewing 1 reply thread -

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
Long Time Member
by
jackpet
51 minutes ago -
Woody Leonhard (1951–2025)
by
Will Fastie
24 minutes ago -
What I learned from Woody Leonhard
by
B. Livingston
1 hour, 20 minutes ago -
Windows Settings today
by
Simon Bisson
8 hours, 52 minutes ago -
Mail Merge magic in Microsoft Word
by
Peter Deegan
8 hours, 53 minutes ago -
Businesses in the crosshairs
by
Susan Bradley
30 minutes ago -
Double-row taskbar?
by
CWBillow
2 hours, 9 minutes ago -
Upgrading non-supported HW to Win 11
by
RetiredGeek
1 hour, 37 minutes ago -
Audio locks up after 15 minutes
by
WSArthurR
21 hours, 16 minutes ago -
Copilot app uninstalled
by
Susan Bradley
3 seconds ago -
Strongbox Password Manager Sold to Applause Group – Cost Escalation Imminent
by
Paul T
1 day, 18 hours ago -
SharePoint
by
CBFPD-Chief115
16 hours, 55 minutes ago -
Google replacing Google Assistant with Gemini AI assistant
by
Alex5723
1 day, 21 hours ago -
You can no longer stop Alexa from sending voice recordings to Amazon
by
Alex5723
1 day, 21 hours ago -
Meeting Woody in person
by
Susan Bradley
2 days, 8 hours ago -
Bear with me – getting some options regarding membership
by
Susan Bradley
2 days, 12 hours ago -
Difficulty installing Microsoft Office Home and Business 2024
by
Kathy Stevens
1 day, 17 hours ago -
HOT NEWS: privacy focused VPN released
by
Microfix
2 days, 19 hours ago -
‘ClickFix’ Phishing Scam Impersonates Booking.com to Target Hospitality
by
Alex5723
3 days, 7 hours ago -
OpenAI urges U.S. to allow AI models to train on copyrighted material
by
Alex5723
1 day, 4 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22631.5116 (23H2) released to Release Preview
by
joep517
3 days, 18 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 27813 released to Canary
by
joep517
3 days, 18 hours ago -
Windows 10 Build 19045.5674 (22H2) to Release Preview Channel
by
joep517
3 days, 18 hours ago -
PartWork™ for Windows
by
bbearren
2 days, 13 hours ago -
Toll road scams are back: What to do if you get a text saying you owe money
by
Alex5723
2 days, 8 hours ago -
Windows update download issue…
by
CAS
23 hours, 17 minutes ago -
WUMgr & KB5053602 Update/Install fail
by
dataman1701
2 days, 19 hours ago -
Finding Microsoft Office 2021 product key
by
Kathy Stevens
4 hours, 11 minutes ago -
Over-the-Top solves it!
by
RetiredGeek
4 days, 12 hours ago -
To Susan – Woody Leonhard, the “Lionhearted”
by
Myst
3 days, 1 hour ago
Recent blog posts
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2025 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.