ACC: Microsoft Access Is Visible When Started Through Automation

RESOLUTION

1. Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database Northwind.mdb.
2. Create a module and type the following lines in the Declarations section:

   Option Explicit
   
   Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "User32" _
         (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
   					

3. Type the following procedure:

         Sub StartAccessHidden()
         Dim sw As Long
         Dim appAccess As Object
         On Error Resume Next
   
         ' Start an instance of Microsoft Access.
         Set appAccess = CreateObject("Access.Application")
   
         ' Hide the instance of Microsoft Access.
         sw = ShowWindow(appAccess.hWndAccessApp, False)
         If Err.Number = 0 Then
            MsgBox "The instance of Microsoft Access was started " & _
                   "and hidden successfully.  Click OK to view the " & _
                   "instance."
   
            ' Unhide the instance of Microsoft Access.
            appAccess.Visible = True
            appAccess.UserControl = True
         Else
            Err.Clear
            MsgBox "The instance of Microsoft Access was not " & _
                   "started successfully."
         End If
         End Sub
   					

4. To test this procedure, type the following line in the Debug window, and then press ENTER:

   StartAccessHidden
   						

   Note that an instance of Microsoft Access is started and is immediately hidden. After you click OK in the message box, the instance of Microsoft Access becomes visible. To close the second instance of Microsoft Access, click Exit on the Microsoft Access File menu.