form sizes and visual appeal

[stuckagain1]

i have an access 2000 database that has many forms. they display in various sizes based on the way they were created. there are maximize and restore commands throughout....but it can be distracting when the screens are resizing while moving between them. i don't necessarily want them all full screen, because it is nice being able to see other screens at the same time in the background.

i'm curious what other people do to make their screens flow nicely and also to fit the same way on everyone's monitors....??

thanks!

 

[VBslammer]

I create a Master form that contains the graphics and color scheme to be used throughout the application. I size it so that is fits well on a system running 800 X 600 (the most common), so I don't need to worry about the higher resolutions. I usually make the border style dialog, so the user can't resize it. Then I base every new form on the Master form. If I can't fit everything I need on the form, I'll drop in a Tab Control and organize things differently.

I do make different sized dialogs for specific purposes, but the data-bound forms are all the same size and look. I think maximized forms in Access are very confusing.

Access really isn't the best MDI host, compared to full-blown VB, because the DoCmd.Maximize and DoCmd.Restore actions can affect more than just the active form, which is why I normally used fixed windows.

Even Web Designers have changed the Website paradigm in recent years to a fixed layout, because it is the only way to ensure that the intended layout is maintained on different systems.

If I needed to write an application with maximized windows, I would use VB.Net or C#.Net.

VBSlammer

Unemployed in Houston, Texas

 

[stuckagain1]

thanks, that's a great idea, especially if i was just creating the database, but now that it is already created, is there an easier way to get the same effect, without recreating all the forms?