disable print function

  • Thread starter Thread starter 111
  • Start date Start date
1

111

Is there a way i can disable the print function on CERTAIN forms? I have some
forms with critical data on them that i don't want the user to be able to go
FILE - PRINT on. Other forms (reports) need to be printable - i just want to
remove that ability on certain forms.
 
Why bother? The user can just press the standard Windows key combination
that copies the current window (or whole screen) to the clipboard - then
paste it into a graphics program or MS Word, & print it from there.

HTH,
TC
 
Hi,

From your descriptions, I understood that you want to disable the print
function to protect some of your secret informations on the forms. Have I
understood you? If there is anything I misunderstood, please feel free to
let me know.

However, I don't think you could make it unless you open your access file
full-screen. First of all, you should make your own tool bar, in which
Print is not included. There are wizards to help you do this. Then set
these tool bars to the Toolbar and Menu property of the your forms or
reports.
Detail information for this could be found at Access Help, titled with
"Create a toolbar"

Secondly, you have to make AutoKeys to entrap the sensitive input. Form
detailed information for AutoKeys could be found at:
ACC: How to Make the AutoKeys Macro Form-Specific
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;130856

Assign an action or set of actions to a key
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/off2000/htm
l/acrefAutokeysKeyCombinationsS.asp

AutoKeys key combinations
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/off2000/htm
l/acrefAutokeysKeyCombinationsS.asp

However, I don't think we could prevent user from printing it at all if he
could see the data.

Hope this helps and if you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate
to let me know. We are here to be of assistance!

Sincerely yours,

Michael Cheng
Microsoft Online Support
***********************************************************
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.
Please reply to newsgroups only, many thanks.
 
Hi - thanks for your feedback - so if i understand you if i create a continuous
form listing all of my customers sensitive data - any user can print this and
there is no way to disable the FILE PRINT ability? - creating my own toolbar is
fine but it doesn't allow me to remove the print function from the file menu.

I find it hard to believe that noone else needs to protect their data from
being printed? how do people protect their data?
Tks
 
111 said:
Hi - thanks for your feedback - so if i understand you if i create a continuous
form listing all of my customers sensitive data - any user can print this and
there is no way to disable the FILE PRINT ability? - creating my own toolbar is
fine but it doesn't allow me to remove the print function from the file
Click to expand...
menu.

Yes...creating your own custom menu bar will remove the file->print ability.

what you do is make your own custom menu bar..and specify that menu bar in
the tools->start-up. (of course, in your menu bar..the file->print option
will be removed).

So...yes..you can most certainly remote the file-Print option from the menu
bar....by simply using your own custom menu bar in place of the ms-access
one. In fact, this is good user interface idea...as most users are
overwhelmed by the large number of options and choices that ms-access gives.
So, you get a nice user friendly application as a result.

However, the above will certainly allow you to disable the printing options
in ms-access...you now still have to deal with the print-key button on the
keyboard. This button copies the whole screen to the clipboard..and has
NOTHING to do with ms-access. If you whack print-screen, and then fire up
word and go edit->paste..you will see that I mean. In fact, this copy screen
is how we make all our documentation for the applications. So, for example,
the following article has some nice screen shots of ms-access..and also
shows some nice custom menus in use. (take a look..it will give you some
nice ideas about using a custom menu in place of the built-in ones).

http://www.attcanada.net/~kallal.msn/Articles/UseAbility/UserFriendly.htm

So...I suppose you could hope that users don't know about print screen
(obviously..you did not!).

You can find some software on the net that does disable the functions of
windows, but we are talking about something outside of ms-access. If you
broke my print screen key...I would call support..and ask them why my
computer does not work anymore. So, you need something that will modify the
way windows works...

Also, note what happens if I re-size the screen, and then on the right side
of my screen I am running word?..Now, if I hit print-screen, then the WHOLE
screen is copped...the left side will be your ms-access application..and the
right side will be word. In other words..ASSUMING you did have code to
disable the print screen..what happens if your application is still
displayed on the screen..but DOES NOT have the focus? In other words..the
keys being pressed are going to another application? If keys are going to
another application..then your code can't disable the print screen..can it?

However, there is a solution posted here that disables the print screen
button..but all you would have to do is make sure that the application does
not have the focus..and is displayed for print screen to work.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Programming_Languages/Visual_Bas
ic/Q_20655962.html

Also..remember screen capture programs like snagit are VERY popular..and
people often download programs like snagit since they don't even know about
the windows built in print screen button. How will you disable programs like
snag-it?

Heck...even paint shop pro has a screen capture ability built in..and it
does not even use the print screen. So, even a lot of paint programs have
the ability to capture the screen...and once again you can't prevent it.

Of course..what happens if someone with a photo-graphic memory looks at your
screen?

It is basically my comptuer...and whatever I view on it I should be able to
print. If the users are allowed to see the data..then they kind of can print
it. Perhaps you need to prevent some users from ever seeing the data in the
first place?
 
Thanks i really appreciate the tips.

menu.

Yes...creating your own custom menu bar will remove the file->print ability.

what you do is make your own custom menu bar..and specify that menu bar in
the tools->start-up. (of course, in your menu bar..the file->print option
will be removed).

So...yes..you can most certainly remote the file-Print option from the menu
bar....by simply using your own custom menu bar in place of the ms-access
one. In fact, this is good user interface idea...as most users are
overwhelmed by the large number of options and choices that ms-access gives.
So, you get a nice user friendly application as a result.

However, the above will certainly allow you to disable the printing options
in ms-access...you now still have to deal with the print-key button on the
keyboard. This button copies the whole screen to the clipboard..and has
NOTHING to do with ms-access. If you whack print-screen, and then fire up
word and go edit->paste..you will see that I mean. In fact, this copy screen
is how we make all our documentation for the applications. So, for example,
the following article has some nice screen shots of ms-access..and also
shows some nice custom menus in use. (take a look..it will give you some
nice ideas about using a custom menu in place of the built-in ones).

http://www.attcanada.net/~kallal.msn/Articles/UseAbility/UserFriendly.htm

So...I suppose you could hope that users don't know about print screen
(obviously..you did not!).

You can find some software on the net that does disable the functions of
windows, but we are talking about something outside of ms-access. If you
broke my print screen key...I would call support..and ask them why my
computer does not work anymore. So, you need something that will modify the
way windows works...

Also, note what happens if I re-size the screen, and then on the right side
of my screen I am running word?..Now, if I hit print-screen, then the WHOLE
screen is copped...the left side will be your ms-access application..and the
right side will be word. In other words..ASSUMING you did have code to
disable the print screen..what happens if your application is still
displayed on the screen..but DOES NOT have the focus? In other words..the
keys being pressed are going to another application? If keys are going to
another application..then your code can't disable the print screen..can it?

However, there is a solution posted here that disables the print screen
button..but all you would have to do is make sure that the application does
not have the focus..and is displayed for print screen to work.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Programming_Languages/Visual_Bas
ic/Q_20655962.html

Also..remember screen capture programs like snagit are VERY popular..and
people often download programs like snagit since they don't even know about
the windows built in print screen button. How will you disable programs like
snag-it?

Heck...even paint shop pro has a screen capture ability built in..and it
does not even use the print screen. So, even a lot of paint programs have
the ability to capture the screen...and once again you can't prevent it.

Of course..what happens if someone with a photo-graphic memory looks at your
screen?

It is basically my comptuer...and whatever I view on it I should be able to
print. If the users are allowed to see the data..then they kind of can print
it. Perhaps you need to prevent some users from ever seeing the data in the
first place?

--
Albert D. Kallal (MVP)
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.attcanada.net/~kallal.msn
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

I wanted to post a quick note to see if you would like additional
assistance or information regarding this particular issue.

We appreciate your patience and look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely yours,

Michael Cheng
Microsoft Online Support
***********************************************************
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.
Please reply to newsgroups only, many thanks.
 
Hi,

Thanks MVP Albert D. Kallal's Reply

I am so sorry about that there is something wrong with our internal server,
which prevent me from seeing your follow up replies :)

Sincerely yours,

Michael Cheng
Microsoft Online Support
***********************************************************
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.
Please reply to newsgroups only, many thanks.
 
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