ACC: Minimizing Pop-Up and Modal Form Loses Application Focus

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

If you run the Minimize macro action on a form that has both the PopUp and Modal properties set to Yes, the Microsoft Access window will cease to be the active window, and the next application on the Microsoft Windows desktop will become active instead.

CAUSE

When a pop-up form is minimized, Windows tries to activate another pop-up form in the active window. Since the form is also modal, the Microsoft Access main window is disabled and cannot be activated. Windows then makes the next available application's window active.

RESOLUTION

Change the Modal property of the form to No. When the form is minimized, the Microsoft Access window will be activated.

STATUS

This behavior no longer occurs in Microsoft Access version 7.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Open the sample database NWIND.MDB.

2. Open the Forms Switchboard form in Design view.

3. Change the form's Modal property to Yes.

4. Change the form's PopUp property to Yes.

5. Save and close the form.

6. Open the Forms Switchboard Buttons macro in Design view.

7. Add the Minimize macro action as the second command in the Categories macro name, after the OpenForm action.

8. Open the Forms Switchboard form, and click the Categories button. Note that the Categories form is minimized and the next application on the desktop becomes the active window.