Maximised Switchboard leads to all forms being maximised...

I have designed a database that loads with a main switchboard in Maximised view. This is important, to fit all the relevant information onto the form.

My only problem is that when opening new forms from the switchboard using buttons or hyperlinks they will always appear maximised as well.

I have tried inserting DoCmd.Restore in the new forms which works to a point, but it not only restores the new form it also restores the switchboard (which can be seen behind the new form.)

I have inserted a DoCmd.Maximise into the Switchboard when it gains focus again but the whole process is really messy.

I'm sure there's a blindingly obvious solution to this which is making it all the more frustrating!

re: Maximised Switchboard leads to all forms being maximised...

Suggestions:
1. When you open any other form from the switchboard set the switchboard's visible property false to hide it - then users won't see the non-maximised switchboard in the background. Set its properties to visible and maximise it when you need to show it again.

2. Don't maximise the switchboard, instead size it to the maximum you need for your application, set autocenter off, set the form border to a non-sizable option, and take off the min/max/close buttons.

3. Consider redesigning your form to make it easier on your users. If the switchboard must be maximised because there is no other way to fit everything in your users may be overwhelmed by what is displayed. Could you use tabbed pages on the form instead, for instance?

I am sure there will be other suggestions, but if it were me I'd go for the redesign option...

-Stewart

re: Maximised Switchboard leads to all forms being maximised...

My solution was to set my non maximised forms as dialogs. Not ideal, but perfectly ok for how i want things to run.

The reason i did this was because my main switchboard acts more like a 'HOME' page with various links and commands included in the form header and footer.

The detail section expands with records to fill the screen dependant on selections made by the user and everything that happens within the database from this point is dependant on the records that are displayed on this form.

I didn't want to redesign as I had found that because of the range of screen resolutions that would be using my program by designing the form maximised for 1024x768 i'm happy with the way it appears on all monitors.

Thanks for you time and assistance Stewart. Greatly appreciated.