Menu Bar Replacement
Hi Experts Team,
Over the past years I've created MS Access apps (mde) with user navigation using drop down menus created from macros. As of Access 2013 these menus now appear in the "Add Ins" section and the navigation is cumbersome.
I'm rewriting these apps slowly but I continue to search for the best alternative user navigation replacement.
I've tried the Navigation form in 2010 but that still means the users must flip back and forth between forms rather than navigate directly to the desired task.
If you've developed an Access 2007-2013 app and are proud of the menu/user interface, I would really appreciate it if you would share the concept with me.
Thanks in advance!
Bill
Over the past years I've created MS Access apps (mde) with user navigation using drop down menus created from macros. As of Access 2013 these menus now appear in the "Add Ins" section and the navigation is cumbersome.
I'm rewriting these apps slowly but I continue to search for the best alternative user navigation replacement.
I've tried the Navigation form in 2010 but that still means the users must flip back and forth between forms rather than navigate directly to the desired task.
If you've developed an Access 2007-2013 app and are proud of the menu/user interface, I would really appreciate it if you would share the concept with me.
Thanks in advance!
Bill
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Hi LSM,
I've experimented with the ribbon but I can't seem to wrap my arms around the navigation issue. When the user is in, say, the customer form and they want to flip to the invoices form (or any number of other places) how do I put that on the ribbon when the ribbon is already full of the various tool bar items like filter and print, etc.
Seems like the user needs to navigate back to the main form where the ribbon menus can reside. Am I off on that or am I not understanding something here?
Hi sinfocomar,
I took a look at the http://www.aadconsulting.com/ribbon_swbd.html That has got me thinking that maybe the ribbon is indeed the way to go - will look into it more.
Bill
I've experimented with the ribbon but I can't seem to wrap my arms around the navigation issue. When the user is in, say, the customer form and they want to flip to the invoices form (or any number of other places) how do I put that on the ribbon when the ribbon is already full of the various tool bar items like filter and print, etc.
Seems like the user needs to navigate back to the main form where the ribbon menus can reside. Am I off on that or am I not understanding something here?
Hi sinfocomar,
I took a look at the http://www.aadconsulting.com/ribbon_swbd.html That has got me thinking that maybe the ribbon is indeed the way to go - will look into it more.
Bill
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Seems like the user needs to navigate back to the main form where the ribbon menus can reside. Am I off on that or am I not understanding something here?You can setup different Ribbons for individual forms, and you can set them to "merge" with the main ribbon (i.e. display both the main ribbon items and the "sub ribbon" items) or you an set them to only show those "sub ribbon" items. You can also setup different "pages" (i.e. the main tabs of the ribbon) such that you could show the "sub ribbon" in front and the main ribbon behind, and the user could get to those "main" ribbons by selecting the tab - sort of like in Access where you have the 'Home', 'Create', ' External Data' etc tabs.
ASKER
Hi LSM,
Can you point me to an example of these 2 techniques so I can get a better understanding:
1. "merge" with the main ribbon (i.e. display both the main ribbon items and the "sub ribbon" items)
2. show the "sub ribbon" in front and the main ribbon behind, and the user could get to those "main" ribbons by selecting the tab
Thanks!
Bill
Can you point me to an example of these 2 techniques so I can get a better understanding:
1. "merge" with the main ribbon (i.e. display both the main ribbon items and the "sub ribbon" items)
2. show the "sub ribbon" in front and the main ribbon behind, and the user could get to those "main" ribbons by selecting the tab
Thanks!
Bill
ASKER
Hi MX & LSM,
I spent the past few days on the ribbon and I got the 2007 & 2010 versions of Gunther's ribbon creator. I'll keep digging and I've got some basic examples of form/report toolbars working pretty well.
The navigation is still confusing but maybe with an example or two I can get past that...
Thanks again,
Bill
I spent the past few days on the ribbon and I got the 2007 & 2010 versions of Gunther's ribbon creator. I'll keep digging and I've got some basic examples of form/report toolbars working pretty well.
The navigation is still confusing but maybe with an example or two I can get past that...
Thanks again,
Bill
Did you check out the samples on his site. Approx 30. I downloaded all of them, and have check each out - so they are in the 'back of me head' so to speak.
You can find the samples Here
Kind of a goldmine of Ribbon samples.
mx
You can find the samples Here
Kind of a goldmine of Ribbon samples.
mx
OH ... you will want this also
XML Notepad 2007
Free ... and is pretty darn cool for a Microsoft Tool.
Work in A2010 of course ... I use it in conjunction with Ribbon Creator.
mx
XML Notepad 2007
Free ... and is pretty darn cool for a Microsoft Tool.
Work in A2010 of course ... I use it in conjunction with Ribbon Creator.
mx
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Hi MX,
Thanks for the suggestions!
I did download all 30+ files this past weekend but it will take a while for me to digest the various options and how they work together. Each is demo is so independent. Also got the MS XML tool a few years back for some SQL stuff and you're right - it's pretty cool.
Bill
Thanks for the suggestions!
I did download all 30+ files this past weekend but it will take a while for me to digest the various options and how they work together. Each is demo is so independent. Also got the MS XML tool a few years back for some SQL stuff and you're right - it's pretty cool.
Bill
ASKER
Thanks to each of you. Bill
http://www.aadconsulting.com/