scroll bars on form

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My form is not a data entry form. It is my own version of a switchboard --
not using the switchboard manager. It's just a plain form with buttons on it
for users to navigate the database. My problem is that one user has a very
low resolution on her computer and the form is too big for her screen.
Unlike the expected appearance of scroll bars "as needed", they do not appear
and she cannot navigate to see all the buttons. I would appreciate any
suggesions.
 
Nancy said:
My form is not a data entry form. It is my own version of a
switchboard -- not using the switchboard manager. It's just a plain
form with buttons on it for users to navigate the database. My
problem is that one user has a very low resolution on her computer
and the form is too big for her screen. Unlike the expected
appearance of scroll bars "as needed", they do not appear and she
cannot navigate to see all the buttons. I would appreciate any
suggesions.
Click to expand...

One thing to consider is that you've probably already expended more resources
than it would have taken to just get this user a larger display.

All of my apps have a "minimum standard" of 800 by 600 resolution. I design to
that and don't worry about it. If there is a clerk somewhere still using a 14
inch monitor I tell their boss that they can get a 17 inch for under 100 bucks
(way less than it would cost for me to change the design).
 
I agree with Rick that reworking the form to accomodate a single user (with
old equipment?) is a questionable use of time. In the real world it is
reasonable enough to be dealing with two different resolutions, in which case
there are resizing utilities (although I prefer to avoid the need when
possible by designing to the lower resolution). Here are links to a couple
of the utilities:
http://www.developershandbook.com/
http://www.peterssoftware.com/ss.htm

The first has a free utility, as well as information about purchasing the
developer's handbook. I have used the free utility with pretty good success.
I am not familiar with the one from peterssoftware, which you need to
purchase. With the free utility you need to design to the lowest resolution.
It will expand the form for a higher resolution display, but does not
effectively shrink it to accomodate the lower resolution display.
 
Many thanks! to both of you. And I agree that I have expended too much
energy trying to meet this user's needs but as it happens, she's the head
honcho of the agency -- not the one who enters data but she ...

I will check Bruce's suggestion and hope to resolve it. Also, I know it is
best to design to the lowest resolution but that also presents a problem when
you have many buttons that have to use large font labels. This is one of
those "can't win" situations -- just thought I'd ask to see if someone knew
something about it.
 
It can be difficult getting through to people sometimes. You could say that
you found a utility, but it is going to cost (whatever it costs). You could
try comparing that to the price of a new monitor. Or you could design to the
one person's screen resolution, then tell people that there is nothing you
can do when they complain the form is too small to see. Or maybe add scroll
bars and see how patient she is with scrolling around. Never mind, that
could backfire.
If you go with the free resize utility there will be a bit of a learning
curve for you. You really have no option but to design to the lowest
resolution. The utility will assure that monitors with higher resolution
show the form similarly to the way it appears on the low res monitor.
 
Yes Bruce is right here, the trick is 'the client is always right' well let
them think that, give them the choices and let them decide, one of the
funniest debates I get into is screen colours, so I give everyone the
ability to change them and save the changes into the database so their
personal colours are always there, they feel they have had some control over
what is going on, and little bit of ownership, they embrace the idea like
it's their own. I work on a principle of that I am the developer and they
own the project, see some people think it's all down to the developer, those
projects generally fail due to the client thinking it's all down to me. Let
them decide....
 
Thanks -- good comments and I agree. I especially think it's a good idea for
users to feel a sense of ownership. On the other hand, sometimes I think I
work too hard trying to please.
 
Thanks to all of you -- good comments. I like the idea of the users feeling
ownership. I wish I knew how to do that color thing! Sometimes I think I
work too hard trying to please. I'm not a programmer -- my clients hire me
because I know their organizations very well and usually have a better idea
of what they need than they do. I'm just a long time user of Access and find
now that what I want to do requires a more sophisticated approach. I'm
really tired of the limits of wizards. I appreciate getting help on this
site!
 
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