Sample Switchboard/Design/Code

[tdmailbox]

I am in the process of finishing up moderate sized access database
application. I am in the process now of building a switchboard to
house all the forms and reports. I decided the in built in switchboard
manager will not do what I want so I was thinking of just buiding my
own form.

However, I was wondering is there any prebuilt switchboards or
switchboard templates out there?

I found one that I like
http://www.aadconsulting.com/swbds.html
however I am not certain the client will be able to easily register the
required activex controls.

Is there anything out there already built that I can download or buy?
I think my problem is not really programing as I built a killer
application with tons of vb code, I think my problme is more in not
being able to decide how to lay it out. Anyone know of sites that show
the use of good switchboards design or provide a template that I can
buy?

[Larry Linson]

I create my own switchboards, using unbound Forms and CommandButtons. It's
simpler, and (IMNSHO) even easier, than creating one with the Switchboard
Manager. You can use other kinds of controls, if needed to specify criteria
or such, as well as command buttons.

(Again IMNSHO,) I consider the Switchboard Manager a complex solution to a
simple problem, and judging from the number of posts about it, many users do
not find it trivially easy, either.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

<td*******@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11**********************@c13g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...

I am in the process of finishing up moderate sized access database
application. I am in the process now of building a switchboard to
house all the forms and reports. I decided the in built in switchboard
manager will not do what I want so I was thinking of just buiding my
own form.

However, I was wondering is there any prebuilt switchboards or
switchboard templates out there?

I found one that I like
http://www.aadconsulting.com/swbds.html
however I am not certain the client will be able to easily register the
required activex controls.

Is there anything out there already built that I can download or buy?
I think my problem is not really programing as I built a killer
application with tons of vb code, I think my problme is more in not
being able to decide how to lay it out. Anyone know of sites that show
the use of good switchboards design or provide a template that I can
buy?

[Darryl Kerkeslager]

Before you settle on a "dumb" switchboard, consider this: the switchboard,
or Home Form, is the most valuable piece of real estate in your app. It is
the one place where your users will always go - sort of like the Windows
Desktop. So why not make your Home Form a dynamic place to start your app?

Every time users open my app, they see the Home Form - where they see two
listboxes. One is a listbox of their current caseload (parolees), another
of their pending investigations. They are able to do a quick look at their
data - sort of a to-do list, and make small edits through a simple pop-up
form - mark investigations as completed, change the Notes section for an
offender - real basic stuff, but the kind of stuff that they do often, and
don't need to bring up the whole file for. Saves them time; saves server
load.
Darryl Kerkeslager