Is there some way to shut down Access automatically?

[jerry.ranch]

I have a simple database that is used to track experiemnts in a
research lab.
I make it compact and backup each night, but when users leave it open,
that fails.
Is there a way to set the mdb so that if there is no user input for
say 30 minutes, it shuts itself down?

Do I write an on timer procedure that resets a counter when the main
switchboard opens and then resets the timer to 0 each time the
keyboard is used to input information. After 30 minutes of inactivity
it loops to end program?

Thanks
Jerry

[Wayne Morgan]

You will find some information on this here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/210297/en-us

One thing the article doesn't mention is how to handle a partially completed
record entry if the user left it that way. I would recommend aborting the
entry, since a partial entry would not be correct data. You would have to
let the users know that you are doing this so that they will know to not
expect what they partially completed to still be there the next day when
they come in. Also, you may want to check the time of day in addition to the
idle time if this is only causing you a problem at night and only shut down
the database if it has been idle and it is after quitting time. If the file
hasn't been idle, then you may have someone working late. In this case,
you'll just have to ask them when they'll be done or ask them to close the
file because you need to do some work.

--
Wayne Morgan
MS Access MVP
<je*********@pi oneer.com> wrote in message
news:64******** *************** *********@4ax.c om...

I have a simple database that is used to track experiemnts in a
research lab.
I make it compact and backup each night, but when users leave it open,
that fails.
Is there a way to set the mdb so that if there is no user input for
say 30 minutes, it shuts itself down?

Do I write an on timer procedure that resets a counter when the main
switchboard opens and then resets the timer to 0 each time the
keyboard is used to input information. After 30 minutes of inactivity
it loops to end program?

Thanks
Jerry

[jerry.ranch]

You will find some information on this here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/210297/en-us

Great article and suggestion Wayne.
I got it to work fine in a test database

Would you check time and alter execution branching with a Case or an
If syntax? I could see either working fine since its a simple thing
to see if

now() (formatted for time) > 1900 but < 0600, then execute the
shutdown

Jerry

[Wayne Morgan]

The choice between an If...Then...Els e and a Select Case would be which ever
is easier for you to type and easier to read and follow later if you need to
make changes. If you're going to wind up with a bunch of
If...Then...Els eIf...Then, etc, then I'd usually go for the Select Case.

--
Wayne Morgan
MS Access MVP
<je*********@pi oneer.com> wrote in message
news:it******** *************** *********@4ax.c om...

You will find some information on this here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/210297/en-us

Great article and suggestion Wayne.
I got it to work fine in a test database

Would you check time and alter execution branching with a Case or an
If syntax? I could see either working fine since its a simple thing
to see if

now() (formatted for time) > 1900 but < 0600, then execute the
shutdown

Jerry