NOTE:
If you cannot find the Switchboard
Manager icon under the Database
Tools tab in the Database Tools group,
it means it is still hidden, so you need to add it under the Database Tools tab. Check the next
subheading to see how to customize your tabs and add hidden command icons.
2. Click Edit to
make changes to the Main Switchboard.
Click New to create a
secondary switchboard. This prompts the Create
New dialog box appears. If you create secondary switchboards, make sure
that each switchboard has a command to go back to the Main Switchboard.
3. Type the name of the new switchboard and click OK. Microsoft Access adds the
switchboard to the list in the Switchboard Pages box.
NOTE:
To create additional secondary switchboards, repeat steps 2
through 3 and then click the Close
button.
4. After you create your switchboard, you will have
to add items or menu commands that perform various tasks such as opening forms
and reports in the database. The items that you add to the switchboard appear
as command buttons. To add new items or menu commands to the main switchboard,
highlight it, click the Edit and
then click the New button to add
items to the switchboard. This prompts the Edit
Switchboard Item dialogue box as shown below.
5. Customize the item by entering the name of the button,
selecting the appropriate command, and then selecting the desired outcome of
the command. Click OK when finished. Note that there are several built-in commands for
common tasks.
NOTE:
To add other item or commands to the main switchboard,
repeat steps 4 and 5. Click the Close
button when you have finished adding items. Also note that you can re-arrange
buttons on this screen by using the Move Up and Move Down buttons.
6. Click the Close
button to close the Switchboard Manager dialogue
box.
7. The Switchboard Manager automatically creates a Switchboard
Items table. Display the Switchboard upon Start.
Below is the list of some available switchboard commands and
the actions they perform.
1. Go to Switchboard:
Opens a secondary switchboard.
2. Open Form in Add
Mode: Opens a form in a mode that only allows new records to be added.
3. Open form in Edit
Mode: Opens a form in a mode that allows any record to be added or edited.
4. Open Report:
Opens a report in Print Preview.
5. Design Application:
Opens the Switchboard Manager.
6. Exit Application:
Closes the current database.
7. Run Macro: Runs a
macro.
8. Run Code: Runs a
Visual Basic function.
Note that you can add buttons and embedded macros to start
your database components, and then set the form to appear at startup. I will
show you how to achieve that in the next two sub titles below. For now let me
show you how to customize tabs and add new command in them.
HOW TO CUSTOMIZE MS
ACCESS TABS AND ADD HIDDEN COMMAND ICONS
By default, not all the necessary commands are displayed
under the tabs and Quick Access toolbar. For example, the Switchboard Manager command is not found in the Database Tools group under the Database Tools tab by default. But you
can add it to that tab or any other tab of your choice in MS Access. You can
even create new custom tabs and groups under the tabs and then add your desired
commands in them.
To Customize the
Database Tools Tabs and Add the Switchboard Manager Command in it:
1. Click the File tab
and click Options to prompt the Access Options dialogue box.
2. Click the Customize
Ribbons option from the left section of the dialogue box. Click the Choose commands from: drop down arrow
and select Commands Not in the Ribbon in
the middle section of the dialogue box.
3. Next, from the resulting sub options, select Switchboard Manager. Commands can only
be added to new groups. So you will need to create a new group under any tab
that you want to add a command.
4. To create a group under the Database Tools tab, select the desired tab by clicking it once.
Then click the New Group button.
Access creates a new group under the tab you highlighted with a default name New Group (Custom) as shown below.
5. You can also rename the custom group and choose an icon for
it. To rename the custom group: Highlight the custom group and click the Rename button and choose an icon for
it. Type in a new name for the custom group and click OK to close the Rename dialogue
box. So rename the new group for the switchboard to Database Tools as shown below.
Now
the next step is to add the desired command (Switchboard Manager) under the
newly created custom tab. So with the desired command still selected in the
middle section of the dialogue box, highlight the new custom group in the third
section of the dialogue box and click the Add
>> button. MS Access adds the desired command under the new custom
group as shown below. Click Ok to
close the Access Options dialogue
box.
To make the Switchboard
Automatically Appear whenever the Database is Opened:
1. Click the File
tab and choose Options. This prompts
the Access Options dialogue box.
2. From the Current Database tab on the left,
select Switchboard from the Display Form: drop
down list and click OK to close the dialogue box as shown
below. You can also add a custom Application title and icon to your database to
customize it further and make it look more professional.
3. When you or any other user opens the database, MS Access
will display the switchboard as shown below.
FINISHING TOUCHES TO
THE LOOK OF YOUR SWITCHBOARD
When you have successfully created an active and functional
switchboard, you can now customize it and give some professional touches to the
design. Actually, switchboards are forms and s you can use form design tools to
customize the look.
To
Further Customize your Switchboard:
1. Open the switchboard from the Navigation Pane.
2. Switch over to Design
View.
3. Now format and customize the switchboard to your own taste.
DESIGN TIPS:
Use the features in the Controls
group on the Design tab to add
images, text boxes, draw lines, etc.
The tools available on the Arrange tab are especially helpful for arranging controls to give
them a professional look.
This is the end of chapter 8 of this FREE online MS Access tutorial training series. Congratulation! you have come to the end of this online Microsoft Access Tutorial.
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