Image viewer controllable by Access via OLE Automation?

[John Fryatt]

Hi,

Before I go on, let me just say I'm fairly new at this so excuse me if I
say the wrong thing or use the wrong term.

Anyway, what I am trying to do is to set up something where I can have a
database of images and associated details. I want to run the system on a
machine with a dual-head video adapter and have the Access window,
showing a form, on one screen and an image viewer program on the other
(the 'other' will actually be a digital projector). I don't want the
images to be embedded objects in the database, but separate jpg files. I
will record the file name in the database and pass it to the image
viewer to open.

I've got some way using Irfanview but there are problems.
- Irfanview doesn't support OLE so I have to run it using Shell, which
is ok except that the screen 'jumps' and you see the underlying desktop
each time a new image is loaded. What actually happens is that Irfanview
is restarted with a new image. I just want to tell the exisitng instance
to load a new file.
- Irfanview keeps the focus, which isn't the plan as a) someone can
inadvertantly change image, and b) I need to have the user key some dtat
in and it needs them to mouse click on the access form, which isn't very
slick.

Any ideas? Microsoft Photo eEditor supports OLE, but I've only been
able to use it in a embedded way.

ANy advice? Maybe I'm coming at it all wrong, in which case I'd
appreciate being 'put right'.

Thanks, John

[David Schofield]

On Sat, 09 Jul 2005 17:42:49 GMT, John Fryatt <jr**@ntlworld.com>
wrote:

Hi,

Before I go on, let me just say I'm fairly new at this so excuse me if I
say the wrong thing or use the wrong term.

Anyway, what I am trying to do is to set up something where I can have a
database of images and associated details. I want to run the system on a
machine with a dual-head video adapter and have the Access window,
showing a form, on one screen and an image viewer program on the other
(the 'other' will actually be a digital projector). I don't want the
images to be embedded objects in the database, but separate jpg files. I
will record the file name in the database and pass it to the image
viewer to open.

I've got some way using Irfanview but there are problems.
- Irfanview doesn't support OLE so I have to run it using Shell, which
is ok except that the screen 'jumps' and you see the underlying desktop
each time a new image is loaded. What actually happens is that Irfanview
is restarted with a new image. I just want to tell the exisitng instance
to load a new file.
- Irfanview keeps the focus, which isn't the plan as a) someone can
inadvertantly change image, and b) I need to have the user key some dtat
in and it needs them to mouse click on the access form, which isn't very
slick.

Any ideas? Microsoft Photo eEditor supports OLE, but I've only been
able to use it in a embedded way.

ANy advice? Maybe I'm coming at it all wrong, in which case I'd
appreciate being 'put right'.

Thanks, John

Hi
You could diplay the picture on a pop-up form actually part of the
Access application.The pop-up form has its own window and can be
placed on your second screen.

If you don't like the Access image control you can find some others
free at Stephen Lebans web site.
David

[John Fryatt]

David Schofield wrote:

On Sat, 09 Jul 2005 17:42:49 GMT, John Fryatt <jr**@ntlworld.com>
wrote:

Hi,

Before I go on, let me just say I'm fairly new at this so excuse me if I
say the wrong thing or use the wrong term.

Anyway, what I am trying to do is to set up something where I can have a
database of images and associated details. I want to run the system on a
machine with a dual-head video adapter and have the Access window,
showing a form, on one screen and an image viewer program on the other
(the 'other' will actually be a digital projector). I don't want the
images to be embedded objects in the database, but separate jpg files. I
will record the file name in the database and pass it to the image
viewer to open.

I've got some way using Irfanview but there are problems.
- Irfanview doesn't support OLE so I have to run it using Shell, which
is ok except that the screen 'jumps' and you see the underlying desktop
each time a new image is loaded. What actually happens is that Irfanview
is restarted with a new image. I just want to tell the exisitng instance
to load a new file.
- Irfanview keeps the focus, which isn't the plan as a) someone can
inadvertantly change image, and b) I need to have the user key some dtat
in and it needs them to mouse click on the access form, which isn't very
slick.

Any ideas? Microsoft Photo eEditor supports OLE, but I've only been
able to use it in a embedded way.

ANy advice? Maybe I'm coming at it all wrong, in which case I'd
appreciate being 'put right'.

Thanks, John

Hi
You could diplay the picture on a pop-up form actually part of the
Access application.The pop-up form has its own window and can be
placed on your second screen.

If you don't like the Access image control you can find some others
free at Stephen Lebans web site.
David

Hi David,

That's excellent. Didn't think of that approach for some reason - trying
to be too complicated. :-(

Thanks, John