Nice looking GUI

[ejmiller2]

Hi all,

I've created a nice access 2002 database, but am now looking at the front end. The GUI that access provides is nice, but not smooth looking. I was wondering as to what options i have when creating my front end to the database. Does access 2003 have some smoother looking GUI options, am i going to have to develop them myself, or are there some third party programs that makes this easy?...just wondering what you'all had to say about this. Thanks,

eric

 

[Quehay]

Personal opinions:

--I hate the typical Access form border and always use "thin" border type. It doesn't have such a typical "Access" look then.

--the Access record nav buttons are fine for savvy users, but not so for others. A nice set of record buttons at bottom of form is nice.

--The Access menu wizard produces "dead giveaway" Access appearance (which reduces prestige in a lot of impressions--fair or not). I prefer to "roll my own" with buttons that use the hyperlink subaddress rather than the bulky code routine that runs with every Access menu open.


--Use non-resizable forms so that users can't slay them, but check the size for the range of potential screen resolutions

--Pick a neutral form color and avoid cheesy, cute, or wizard-produced stuff. There are some truly emetic Access applications out there.


Jeffrey R. Roberts
Insight Data Consulting
Access, SQL Server, & Oracle Development

http://www.InsightDataConsulting.com

 

[psemianonymous]

I'm all about hyperminimalism, in that I don't accentuate anything until after I test the design out. Bland/ugly is better than Flashy/ugly.


Whether or not you deviate from the standard Access app look is a design decision, not necessarily good or bad. I don't make any effort to hide the fact that it's an Access application, because I expect my users to use the Filter, Search, Sort By options when in a form, and use the standard report-printing options when viewing the reports in Print Preview. But there is definitely something to be said for avoiding "switchboard"-style menus.

Also:

-Custom menu bars are great, especially if you have custom menus for certain forms

-Custom toolbars, if applicable

-The stuff under Tools->Startup - those options are pure gold.


Pete
Hyper-minimalist

 

[JeremyNYC]

Make your application usable. That looks really good. Check out this site (

http://digilander.libero.it/chiediloapippo/Engineering/iarchitect/overview.htm)

for a LOT of good thoughts on the matter. But don't bother using Access if you're looking to make your application sexy looking--it will take as mucht ime to build that into it as it took you to build your database.

==
Jeremy Wallace
AlphaBet City Dataworks

http://www.ABCDataworks.com

Access Databases for Non-Profit Organizations

Please post in the appropriate forum with a descriptive subject; code and SQL, if referenced; and expected results. See thread181-473997 for more pointers.