Access 97 What takes the place of z-order?

[thendrickson]

I am working on an Access database using VBA which is absolutely the most horrible mess I have ever gotten myself into. (although I will be finished soon)

Now I need to display a check box and label inside a rectangle containing 2 option buttons. I need the check box to operate independently of the option buttons and to be visible at all times.

Z-order does not seem to exist in VBA (At least 97).

Moving the check box outside the rectangle or making any other changes is not an option.

Is it even possible?

 

[TomHW]

If I understand you correctly, you should just be able to create an option group with two buttons. Then you can expand the rectangle that contains the two options and add a check box and label inside the rectangle. The check box will now be in the rectangle but not part of the option group.

Tom

 

[thendrickson]

I am sorry I missed one very important point. The check box must be between the 2 option buttons. Putting it above the first option button was my first design and to me is very logical based on the way this app is used.

I do have a solution which is to get rid of the option group control totally and code to account for it not being present.

I actually did not realize at the time I posted that there was an option group control on the form the way it is designed

My frustration level with this contract has reached a very high level and I guess I was not thinking clearly.

However the micro manager pulling my string (not a programmer but thinks he is) insists that I keep the option group.

7 years as a programmer and I have never dealt with a manager like this.

 

[TomHW]

Well, I'm not sure if you actually solved your problem, but you can always just move the second option button in the option group control down and put the checkbox in between.

If none of this works I would just suggest writing the code yourself. If you emulate the option group's behavior through code, more than likely there won't be any complaints and it's not too difficult to do.

I here you on the management frustration. I've been there quite a few times, but fortunately my managers at the moment have little to no programming experience.

Tom

 

[thendrickson]

Thanks Tom,

If the check box is between the option buttons, it looks good until the user clicks an option button. Then the check box "moves behind" the option group,

I forgot z-order did not exist in access 97

You are correct it is not difficult to emulate the option group through code. I have done that many times in the past when I worked more with Access and this is only 2 buttons. But this manager thinks he knows how to program and is insisting that I not do it the way it should be done. Actually he meddles in every line I write I think.

This app was a real mess when I started and I feel that the managers meddling is the cause. I know there have been a number of developers working on it within the last couple of years. I have been fixing as much as I am allowed to.

I need to get this completed so I do not have troubles getting paid, but I phoned the placement firm that set this up and let them know they need to find another developer.