Adding Switchboard items

[FOE2272]

Is it possible to have more than 8 items on a switchboard? If so, How?

[JKing]

I don't see why not unless access switchboard manager restricts that. Switchboards are generally just a blank form with its scrollbars, dividing lines, record selectors and navigators turned off.

I suggest opening the switch board form in design view and adding another command button from the toolbox. Then just code the click event to open whatever form you'd like. Alternatively you can create a function that will open forms and call that function through the expression builder for each button.

[FOE2272]

Tried that, They only allow 8 buttons. Unless, there is a way to get around it.

[FOE2272]

Also, I have added buttons to the left side of the switchboard so they will appear on all switchboards. They work fine.

Example: "Close Database" and "Go To Main Switchboard"

[JKing]

Is there an error message that comes up when you try to add another button?

[JKing]

It seems to me that you're using the switchboard manager. I believe Microsoft has added the restraint of 8 switchboard options through it's manager because anymore isn't very user friendly and using a large number of buttons in form designs is generally bad practice.

However if you feel you truly want to have more than you can still edit the form by selecting forms from the database window. From there click on the switchboard form and click the design button. From there all you need to do is click the command button option from the toolbox and then size and place the button where ever you want on the switchboard.

Though, I do personally reccommend not using more than 8 as it does get cluttered. Perhaps you could consider breaking things down into groups and branching so the main switchboard does not have so many options.

[ADezii]

Is it possible to have more than 8 items on a switchboard? If so, How?

You most certainly can and it involves the direct manipulation of the Switchboard Items Table, changing the value of a Constant that determines the Maximum Number of Buttons allowed, changes to 1 Sub and 1 Function Routine, assigning the Click() Event of newly added buttons to a Function and passing it the right Argument, etc. I know this because I use this technique periodically. It works great if each Switchboard contains a large number of Options, but if there are only 2 or 3 Options on an individual Switchboard, it looks totally out of place.

NOTE: You cannot accomplish this within the Switchboard Manager itself.

[FOE2272]

JKing,

I am already at 17 different switchboards and the Objects I am trying to add are for further possibilities of the same form used in Object 1-8.

Example: "Change Order #1", "Change Order #2", ... "Change Order #8", "Change Order #9", "Change Order #10".

Each Change Order has references to all of the preceeding ones.

[FOE2272]

You most certainly can and it involves the direct manipulation of the Switchboard Items Table, changing the value of a Constant that determines the Maximum Number of Buttons allowed, changes to 1 Sub and 1 Function Routine, assigning the Click() Event of newly added buttons to a Function and passing it the right Argument, etc. I know this because I use this technique periodically. It works great if each Switchboard contains a large number of Options, but if there are only 2 or 3 Options on an individual Switchboard, it looks totally out of place.

NOTE: You cannot accomplish this within the Switchboard Manager itself.

OK, Can you assist me, further?

[NeoPa]

If you say what difficulty you're having with what's already been posted then I'm sure ADezii will clarify further. It's hard to answer such an open-ended question.

[ADezii]

OK, Can you assist me, further?

Let me outline the steps exactly and I'll get back to you.

[ADezii]

OK, Can you assist me, further?

Follow these Instruction exactly. I'll assume you will be adding 3 New Buttons to the Switchboard. This is done only to simplify the explanation, adjust this figure if necessary:

1. Your basic Switchboard Form should have a Default of 8 Command Buttons. Create 3 new Command Buttons and corresponding Labels to bring your total count to 11.
2. Change the Names of the newly added Command Buttons to Option9, Option10, and Option11, in sequence.
3. Change the Names of the newly added Labels to OptionLabel9, OptionLabel10, and OptionLabel11, in sequence also.
4. In the OnClick() Event of the newly added Command Buttons in the Properties Window, assign this Event to the HandleButtonClick() Function in sequence, namely: =HandleButtonClick(9), =HandleButtonClick(10), and =HandleButtonClick(11).
5. In the OnClick() Event of the newly added Labels in the Properties Window, assign this Event to the HandleButtonClick() Function in sequence also, namely: =HandleButtonClick(9), =HandleButtonClick(10), and =HandleButtonClick(11).
6. Within the FillOptions Sub-Routine contained in theSwitchboard's Code Module, modify the following line to read Const conNumButtons = 11.
7. In the Switchboard Items Table add 3 New Records if you are already maxed out at 8.
   1. [SwitchboardID] - This is a unique number assigned to each Switchboard.
   2. [ItemNumber] - The numeric position of an item on a given Switchboard. To refer to the Switchboard itself, set the [ItemNumber] to 0.
   3. [ItemText] - Title of a Specific Menu Option.
   4. [Command] - A Constant value ranging from 1 to 8 representing the possible Commands that can be executed on a Switchboard. These Commands are listed below as well as their Constant values:
      1. Const conCmdGotoSwitchboard = 1
      2. Const conCmdOpenFormAdd = 2
      3. Const conCmdOpenFormBrowse = 3
      4. Const conCmdOpenReport = 4
      5. Const conCmdCustomize Switchboard = 5
      6. Const conCmdExitApplication = 6
      7. Const conCmdRunMacro = 7
      8. Const conCmdRunCode = 8
      9. A Command value of 0 is assigned to the Switchboard itself.
   5. [Argument] - An additional value supplementing the [Command] Field.
      1. For a [Command] value of 0 (the Switchboard itself), the [Argument] Field is Null unless it is the Main Switchboard, then it is "Default".
      2. For a [Command] value of 1 (Go To Switchboard), the [Argument] Field is the [SwitchboardID] of the Switchboard to go to.
      3. For a [Command] value of 2 (Open Form/Add), the [Argument] Field is the Form name to add Records to.
      4. For a [Command] value of 3 (Form Browse), the [Argument] Field is the name of the Form to Browse.
      5. For a [Command] value of 4 (Open Report), the [Argument] Field is the Report Name.
      6. For a [Command] value of 5 and 6 (Customize Switchboard & Close Application), the [Argument] Field is Null.
      7. For a [Command] value of 7 (Run Macro), the [Argument] Field is the Name of the Macro to run.
      8. For a [Command] value of 8 (Run Code), the [Argument] Field is the Name of the Public Function to execute.

HINT: - Take a close look at the Switchboard Items Table, the OnClick() Event property for existing Buttons, the FillOptions() Sub-Routine, and HandleButtonClick() Function before you attemp anything. Also, attempt this on a Backup not the Original. Good luck and hang in there!