Hiding Design View from users

[dileshw]

Hi,
I am making a database amd i dont want users seeing the stuff thats happening in the background. So i would like to hide everything so that ONLY I can see it. Doing some reading online (and asking friends) I learnt of a few things i can do:

1- right now i have hidden the design view using tools->startup (and unchecking all boxes). But if someone knows a bit of access they can get into the design view by using SHIFT+open. I read online that you can disable the SHIFT-overide. Sadly the code i found for the same didnt work. Can someone tell me how I can do this?

2- Create an application out of the DB so that its not modifuable (structure-wise). I have not seen this done, and its pure hear-say.

Can someone help me out on this please. Thanks!

[NeoPa]

Both use the Tools menu.

1. Startup...
   This enables you to control use of Access Special Keys (of which Shift at startup is one).
2. Database Utilities...
   This gives an option to create MDE file. This works up to version 2003. I expect something similar is available in later releases.

[munkee]

@dileshw

I use the following code which I found a few months ago now (I honestly can't remember where I found it but thank you to the writer) to stop users getting access via holding down SHIFT as the database loads:

Place the following in a module:

Option Compare Database
Option Explicit
 
Public Function SetProperties(strPropName As String, _
varPropType As Variant, varPropValue As Variant) As Integer
 
    On Error GoTo Err_SetProperties
 
    Dim db As DAO.Database, prp As DAO.Property
 
    Set db = CurrentDb
    db.Properties(strPropName) = varPropValue
    SetProperties = True
    Set db = Nothing
 
Exit_SetProperties:
    Exit Function
 
Err_SetProperties:
    If Err = 3270 Then    'Property not found
        Set prp = db.CreateProperty(strPropName, varPropType, varPropValue)
        db.Properties.Append prp
        Resume Next
    Else
        SetProperties = False
        MsgBox "SetProperties", Err.Number, Err.Description
        Resume Exit_SetProperties
    End If
End Function

Create a form which loads on startup or use an existing form which you have that loads on startup, for me this is usually the user login form on my custom system.

Place a button on the form with the following code behind it:

Private Sub btnbypass_Click()
 On Error GoTo Err_bDisableBypassKey_Click
    'This ensures the user is the programmer needing to disable the Bypass Key
    Dim strInput As String
    Dim strMsg As String
    Beep
    strMsg = "Do you want to enable the Bypass Key?" & vbCrLf & vbLf & _
             "Please key the programmer's password to enable the Bypass Key."
    strInput = InputBox(Prompt:=strMsg, Title:="Disable Bypass Key Password")
    If strInput = "PASSWORDHERE" Then
        SetProperties "AllowBypassKey", dbBoolean, True
        Beep
        MsgBox "The Bypass Key has been enabled." & vbCrLf & vbLf & _
               "The Shift key will allow the users to bypass the startup options the next time the database is opened.", _
               vbInformation, "Set Startup Properties"
    Else
        Beep
        SetProperties "AllowBypassKey", dbBoolean, False
        MsgBox "Incorrect ''AllowBypassKey'' Password!" & vbCrLf & vbLf & _
               "The Bypass Key was disabled." & vbCrLf & vbLf & _
               "The Shift key will NOT allow the users to bypass the startup options the next time the database is opened.", _
               vbCritical, "Invalid Password"
        Exit Sub
    End If
Exit_bDisableBypassKey_Click:
    Exit Sub
Err_bDisableBypassKey_Click:
    MsgBox "bDisableBypassKey_Click", Err.Number, Err.Description
    Resume Exit_bDisableBypassKey_Click
End Sub

Where I have use the bold/italics type in a password. This will be used to enable/disable the shift key if you wish to be able to use it during your testing.

Now go back to your form and set the button to transparent. This way when the form loads only you will know where it is. When you click the area it will load up a dialog for you to enter the password you created above. This will then disable the shift key.

The shift key will remain disabled for the file until you put the password back in to enable it.

Any questions let me know.

[patjones]

If you are using Access 2007, go to the Database Tools tab and note the "Make ACCDE" option. This will produce a locked copy of the database for you, although you might still need to follow the advice of others here in order to disable the SHIFT button on start-up.

Pat

[dileshw]

I tried the acode above..But i get a runtime-error (3270)...
aparentlythe bug is in this this line.

    db.Properties(strPropName) = varPropValue
 

[patjones]

I tried the code out and it works fine for me. Maybe you could try creating the property before using it. First do this:

Set prp = db.CreateProperty(strPropName, varPropType, varPropValue)
db.Properties.Append prp

Then do this:

Set db = CurrentDb
db.Properties(strPropName) = varPropValue
SetProperties = True
Set db = Nothing

If that fails, perhaps you can post the code as you have it just in case you made an error in pasting it into your VBA module

Pat

[patrick khattar]

Hi Pat

Is there any way to set the strInput Input Mask of the msg box to be password??

[patjones]

Hi Patrick,

If you are referring to setting the input mask for an input box to be a password mask, yes it appears to be possible. I found one way to do this on another forum, which you can see here. This process involves some Windows system calls and might be more trouble than it's worth.

The simpler route would be for you to create a small modal form with a text box, and set the text box input mask to "Password". It will add very little code to your project and probably be just as quick as implementing the input box solution.

Pat