Why use a switchboard

[Bill Neilsen]

There seems to be a substantial number of people using a switchboard in their
databases and I have never bothered. I simply use a form with buttons for
access to forms.
Can anyone tell me the advantages of using switchboards? Am I missing out on
an unknow functionality? Does it improve any operations?

 

[fredg]

There seems to be a substantial number of people using a switchboard in their
databases and I have never bothered. I simply use a form with buttons for
access to forms.
Can anyone tell me the advantages of using switchboards? Am I missing out on
an unknow functionality? Does it improve any operations?

Sounds as though the form you are using *IS* a switchboard.

As a matter of fact (well, my personal opinion anyway) you are much
better off doing just what you have done, created your own form to be
used as a switchboard. You control what it looks like, the number of
controls on the form, it's method of opening forms and reports, etc.,
plus it's maintenance is easier.

It doesn't have to be the switchboard created by the built-in
inefficient Switchboard Manager.

 

[Bill Neilsen]

Thanks Fredge,
I appreciate the answer, I'll keep going as I am.

 

[Tom van Stiphout]

On Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:38:02 -0700, Bill Neilsen

The advantage is that anyone who can click a few buttons can create
it.
There is no problem with creating your own form or (better) ribbon.

-Tom.
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

There seems to be a substantial number of people using a switchboard in
their
databases and I have never bothered. I simply use a form with buttons for
access to forms.
Can anyone tell me the advantages of using switchboards? Am I missing out
on
an unknow functionality? Does it improve any operations?

I think perhaps the only additional functionality get from a switchboard, is
that you can add more and more deeper menus. And, you can add more reports
and "sub menus". and, you can do this by not having to add a button on the
form, and also you do NOT have to create a new form for each sub menu that
you make. And, you don't have to write any code for each new report or form
you add to the switchboard.

So it is a little bit less work to create "sub" menus that go several deep
with the switchboard. I also think it's very handy for those that don't
have a lot of design experience, because it comes up with a consistent
layout as you add more and more buttons.

So switchboards are kind of handy but to be truly honest after while I think
just about everybody outgrows them after a while.

If you look at the following screen shots of mind, I can well note that
adding additional reports is easy, and don't have to add a new button or
write any code for each new report I add to the form. (the reason for this
is because I simply put the list of reports in every sport description text
into a table and use the list box wizard to fill it).


http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/ridesrpt/ridesrpt.html