Access 2007 Special Effect Text Box Won't show Sunken with Windows XP

[bobdydd]

Hi All

I am just getting to grips with Access 2007 and one of the quirks I
have found is that when I design using Windows in XP Windows-Classic
colors and set the text boxes on forms' special effect property to
"sunken" They appear as sunken in the correct manner.

However, when I change to the Windows XP color scheme the forms text
boxes appear flat even though the special effect property has not
changed.

Any ideas or is it a new quirk we have to live with. I haven't tried
it with Vista yet. That should be interesting

Thanks Bob

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

I am quite sure this is the same for access 2003.

If you look at the following screen shots, one is with themes turned on, and
the other screens are with themes turned off.

While you loose the sunken effect, with themes turned off, I think the
software looks 10 years old.

With themes on..everything looks far more modern. Make close attention to
how the sunken boxes disappear with themes turned on. So, while I loose the
sunken boxes..the software looks far more up to date and modern...

Here are the following screen shots (access 2003).

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Atheme/index.htm

 

[Wayne]

I agree with what Albert says about the modernised interface, but I
find the annoyances with themed controls seem to outweigh the
benefits. You'll find that triple state check boxes don't show the
third state with themed controls turned on, unless you have stumbled
on the fact that you have to set the "Borderstyle" property to
something other than "Solid". Allen Browne documents this on his
website.

Another unknown is whether the user is actually using the Windows XP
style theme, without which you obviously won't see themed controls. I
was under the impression that I was one of the very few that use the
Windows Classic theme, but I've since found that there are many
others. If you've designed for themed controls and the user doesn't
have the XP theme switched on, I've found that some things don't look
just right unless you've painstaking gone over everything with a fine
tooth comb to make sure all is well both with and without themed
controls.

And added to all this, I've found that the user is almost always far
more interested in functionality than anything else. If the interface
is tidy and intuitive and everything works as it should, they always
seem to love it, themed controls or not.

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

You'll find that triple state check boxes don't show the

third state with themed controls turned on, unless you have stumbled
on the fact that you have to set the "Borderstyle" property to
something other than "Solid". Allen Browne documents this on his
website.

The above is about the issue I can think of, and I never use triple state
check boxes anyway...

And added to all this, I've found that the user is almost always far
more interested in functionality than anything else. If the interface
is tidy and intuitive and everything works as it should, they always
seem to love it, themed controls or not.

I have to agree. Keeping things clean is likely the "best" approach.

However, I do sell a number of "commercial" packages written in ms-access.
Having a "modern" look and feel does help make a good first impression.

It is more a of "user" impression thing. It is simply that users see ONLY
the look" part. So, while it not a functionally issue, it certainly is a
issue of first impressions, and somthing not to be igrnoed....

 

[Wayne]

It is more a of "user" impression thing. It is simply that users see ONLY
the look" part. So, while it not a functionally issue, it certainly is a
issue of first impressions, and somthing not to be igrnoed....

I totally agree that the application looks a lot better with themed
controls. I just think MS could have done a better job of the whole
themed controls thing.

I also have another couple of issues with them that I didn't mention
before that have put me off using them. In an option group that uses
buttons, it isn't as obvious when using themed controls which option
button is depressed. The Windows Classic them makes it much more
obvious. This isn't a major issue but the next one is in my opinion.

After a command button that displays an icon has been clicked, instead
of showing a blue tinge around the edge of the button as it should,
there is a greenish orange tinge displayed around the edge of the
button. It looks terrible and seems to be a bug because command
buttons that don't have icons on them display as they should after
being clicked, with a blue tinge around the edge. I've also noticed
that this problem doesn't exist under Windows Vista. I'm seeing this
on both my desktop and notebook computers, so I don't think that it is
machine specific. I've posted about this here before, but didn't get
any answers. I'd like to hear if anyone else is seeing this.

It would also be interesting to know what percentage of developers use
themed controls.

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

It would also be interesting to know what percentage of developers use
themed controls.

yes...that is a intersting qeustion.

If you said that I am in the minoary, or smaller group who is strongly
behind themes, I would tip my hat, and gladly accept that postion!!! A
number of regular and very good ms-access developers (many even MVP's) tend
to want a good clean screens, and don't really care much for themes.

For me, it is very welcome fresh look...

2007 actually looks really nice, even when you use windows classic look, and
you can *still* choose a blue, or silver color scheme that looks quite nice
without window themes turned on...