Database for pop up reminders

[Stockwell43]

Hello,

I was wondering if someone could point in the right directionfor this project.

My manager wants to be able to enter certain task in a database and assign
reminders to her managers that will pop up sort of like Outlook calendar
reminders.
There are several Audits that need to be completed throughout the year. each
manager is responsible for one or more of those audits. My manager wants to
input those Audits into a database and when the time comes to complete them,
she wants a reminder to pop up to the manager(s) responsible for completing
them but not to give them the option of deleting the reminder so even though
they can close it, it will continue to pop up (let's say daily) until my
manager clicks complete, then the reminder to that manager(s) will stop. Does
this make sense?


I think this should be relatively easy as I only got the gist today but need
to meet with her for more details. I just wanted to go into the meeting with
some knowledge and different possibilities through research so I can give
some feedback and be a little prepared.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and if there is a template already out
there I can download and modify, that would be even better.

Thanks All!!!!!!

 

[Klatuu]

Yes. When you want the popups to show will determine how you do it.
Assuming you want it to happen when the manager first opens the Access
application, then I would suggest you do the check for reminders in the Open
event of your startup form so the open can be canceled if the user has to
deal with the popups.

Here are some things to consider and suggestions on how to deal with them:

You only want the popups for certain users and you want each reminder to be
user specific.

You will need to determine who is logged on. Here is a link to a routine
that will return the network user name of the person logged on:

http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0008.htm

You will need to include the data, time, complete, user, and text of the
reminder so you can look for pending reminders for the user.

To check for reminders, you could create a recordset that would contain the
reminders that need to popup for the user. If the recordset has no records,
no reminders to display If there are records, then cancel the open of the
startup form and present a reminder form to the user. Once the user is done
with the reminders, open your main form (can't be the same as the startup
form, otherwise you would be in an endless loop of reminders, so if your
startup from is your main form, you need the reminder form to be the startup
form and have it open the main form when it is done.

That is really all there is to it.

 

[Stockwell43]

Hi Klatuu, Thank you for your response.

Now, I understand putting my task in a main form to show on the pop up and I
can set up security where only my manager can check the checkbox to disable
the task (because these are annual, I would rather have it marked completed
and disabled rather than delete and re-enter). I also understand on how to
make the task form pop up when the database opens. However, I need to have
the database automatically open when the user logs in in the morning OR open
on a timer during the course of the day. I say this because these other
managers are not the type to remember to open it daily. How would I go about
making this automation happen? Keep in mind that if one solution is to have
the database open when windows opens might be a hassle as I would have to go
through IT because of restrictions they have on the computers(making it were
I can't do it myself) is like an act of congress. Any information you can
provide would most helpful and appreciated!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[Klatuu]

You can use the Windows Task Scheduler on the manager's computer to open the
database whenever you want it to open.
I have two diffferent applications I do this with. One is on our server
that runs weekly to compact and repair our 500 mdb back ends and one runs
daily to download some files from an ftp site and create some text files.

 

[Stockwell43]

That's like the ticket! I'll give it a shot.

Thanks again Klatuu!!!

 

[Klatuu]

Okay, I'll have a shot, too.
Any 12 old Scotch will do

 

[Stockwell43]

A man after my own heart!
Be sure to have it after I try this, in case I need your help again. )

 

[Klatuu]

Get on it, then.
Lunch is less than 3 hours away and we are going to the Fox and Hound to
celibrate a promotion in our department today.

 

[Stockwell43]

You're killing me over here! )

Ok, go ahead I should ok. Slam one back for me as well; make two!!