Access Startup Options

Microsoft Access was developed as a component of the Office suite to be a tool for users who need to work with a database. All of the development features and options are enabled when it's installed and this complexity can be daunting to users who only need a few features of the database. Set the startup options to reduce the confusion so that the users can settle down and concentrate on the features you've developed for them.

Open this configuration dialog by selecting the Startup... option from the Tools menu:

The settings in this dialog fall into two categories:

• some control the appearance of the database
• others control its behaviour and security.

Appearance of the Access database on screen

• Application Title - the caption that will appear in the title bar in place of the standard "Microsoft Access".
• Application Icon - The icon that will appear on the title bar of the main window and as a shortcut to the database on the desktop.
• Access XP introduced an extra option Use as Form and Report Icon which will use the icon named above on forms and reports throughout the database as well.
• Display Form - The form that will appear when the database is loaded. Use this in conjunction with Display Database Window so that the user goes straight to the form that they need and never see the main Access Database Window.

Behaviour

These check boxes allow you to show or hide different parts of the Access interface from the regular users:

• Allow Full Menus - clearing this box leaves a simplified menu structure without the development entries such as Tools. It's usually best to clear this tick box to keep the user away from the more powerful features of the Access development environment.
• Allow Default Shortcut Menus - allows the user to right-click on a form or report and use the short-cut menu. The options on this menu such as Export can be useful or dangerous in different circustances depending on the needs and abilities of the users.
• Display Database Window - clear this tick box so that the user goes straight into your startup form when the database opens. Note that the user will still be able to reach the Database Window by selecting Unhide from the Window menu.
• Display Status Bar - clear this unless you are deliberately using the Status Bar for messages to the user. The messages that Access displays here (such as Form View) are worthless to the majority of users and only cause confusion.
• Allow Built-in Toolbars - some toolbars include Design View or New Form buttons. Clear this tick box to hide such features if the users will never need to add or edit the forms.
• Allow Toolbar/Menu Changes - always clear this tick box. If this option is enabled then users will be able to bypass your security by adding back in all the features you've just hidden from them.
• Allow Viewing Code After Error - clear this tick box. You do not want the user to ever see a VBA code window. Your error handler should hide this complexity.
• Use Access Special Keys - clear this tick box so that the user cannot press keys like F11 to open the Database Window.

Summary

The options in the screen shot above will leave the user with a database which lets them do very little except use the forms which you've designed. Any Access developer will know how to get around these restrictions but these options form a good basis for distribution to casual users.