Hiding toolbars (A2k)

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I have almost completed an Access project whose functions are selected from a switchboard. All forms have a button to return to the switchboard which has a button to exit Access.
I am trying to prevent user twiddling and I wanted to know:

1. How to hide the default toolbars.
2.Is there a way to place a nonprintable button onto reports to close the reports and return the user to the switchboard?
3.If 2, then can I disable the close icon on report windows?
4.If all, then how would I then make any maintenance adjustments?
5.Am I just being too paranoid?

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In the first place, if you select Tools/Startup…, you can set several options. I would suggest setting the switchboard form as startup form and hiding the database window. You can set whether the standard menu bar, toolbars and context menus are displayed. For maintenance, open the database with the Shift key held down; this will bypass the startup options.

This is OK if you only want to prevent the users from accidentally messing up things. If you want better security, you can convert the database to an .mde database (Tools/Database Utilities). In an .mde database, users can’t open forms and reports in design mode, and all code is hidden. You must keep a copy of the original .mdb. If you need to change anything, modify the .mdb and then create a new .mde database.

For optimum security, set user level security. You can then define several roles: designer, power user, standard user, …
See the excellent overview ACC2000: Microsoft Access Security FAQ Available in Download Center from Microsoft.

Although you can place a command button on a report, it won’t do anything. You can create a custom toolbar with a close button (and other buttons you want the user to be able to use) and set the Toolbar property of your reports to the name of this custom toolbar. It will be displayed automatically instead of the built-in toolber for reports.

Although it is possible to disable/hide the close button in the upper right corner of a report using Windows API calls, I have never been satisfied with the way that works. Besides, the user can always close a report by hitting the Escape key on the keyboard.

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Thanks Hans for your rapid and ever-helpful response. One small point:you didn’t answer Q5!

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Nobody dealing with users can EVER be too paranoid!

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In response to Question 5, if you are referring to user “twiddling” — and your users all act like their name is Alfred E. Neuman — then the answer is NO, you can never be TOO paranoid!!

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