What is the easiest way to require the user to enter a hard-coded password
after clicking a button on the switchboard before a form will open, or close
if the password is incorrect after say the 2nd time of entering it wrong? I
would prefer this to be pretty simple if possible. Thanks. Matt
Hi Matt,
Here is a past post of mine on this issue which should help.
Any kind of "Developer-implemented" security/password
schemes are really not all that secure. Implementing full-
blown Access User Level Security is really the *best* way
to go if you want to have some security built into your
application. It is a difficult and challenging task to implement
the first couple of times, so it is best to thoroughly read up
on the subject before beginning and practice on "dummy"
databases. If you would like some links on the subject, post
back and I'll provide a few for you.
OK, having said the above, I also believe that there are times
and places when ULS is way too much overkill. If the data
is not ultra-sensitive and/or you have really low-tech users, a
*simple* security system can be more than sufficient. I have
done this before many times in the past.
So what you are looking for is to integrate something with the
built-in Switchboard Manager, correct? Here is a past post of
mine on this subject (modified just a bit) which should do exactly
what you are looking for. As long as you the developer fully
understand the limitations of this setup, then you may proceed.
Make a backup of your database BEFORE beginning!
1. Create a new small password form with the following properties:
-Scroll Bars No
-Record Selectors No
-Navigation Buttons No
-Dividing Lines No
-Auto Center Yes
-Pop Up Yes
-Modal Yes
-Border Style Thin
-Control Box No
-Min Max Buttons None
-Close Button No
-Shortcut Menu No
Name the form frmPassword.
Add a text box on this form called txtPassword with an Input Mask
of "Password" (without the quotations).
Add a label called lblPassword and have the caption say
something like "Please Enter Administrator Password."
Position just above the text box.
Add a command button called cmdCloseForm that simply
closes the form; nothing else in that code. Like so:
'Code Start
Private Sub cmdCloseForm_Click()
On Error GoTo ErrorPoint
DoCmd.Close acForm, "frmPassword"
ExitPoint:
Exit Sub
ErrorPoint:
' Unexpected Error
MsgBox "The following error has occurred:" _
& vbNewLine & "Error Number: " & Err.Number _
& vbNewLine & "Error Description: " & Err.Description _
, vbExclamation, "Unexpected Error"
Resume ExitPoint
End Sub
' Code End
Add another command button called cmdShowAdminArea with
a caption of "OK" or something similar and enter the following code
into the Click event for this button:
'Code Start
Private Sub cmdShowAdminArea_Click()
On Error GoTo ErrorPoint
If Me.txtPassword <> "password" Then
' Substitute with your own password between the quotes
MsgBox "Incorrect Password", vbExclamation, "Access Denied"
DoCmd.Close acForm, "frmPassword"
Else
Forms!Switchboard.Filter = "[ItemNumber] = 0 And [SwitchboardID] = 2"
Forms!Switchboard.Refresh
DoCmd.Close acForm, "frmPassword"
End If
ExitPoint:
Exit Sub
ErrorPoint:
' Unexpected Error
MsgBox "The following error has occurred:" _
& vbNewLine & "Error Number: " & Err.Number _
& vbNewLine & "Error Description: " & Err.Description _
, vbExclamation, "Unexpected Error"
Resume ExitPoint
End Sub
' Code End
This assumes that the Admin Switchboard area you want to
protect is number "2" in the Switchboard Items TABLE. Make
sure to change that number to whatever matches your table
value. This also assumes that the NAME of your switchboard
form is actually just "Switchboard." Change the code if
you have changed the name. Dress up the message box with
whatever formatting and/or messages you desire.
Use the Switchboard Manager Wizard to create the entry to
go to this Admin area. Instead of using the option that
opens up a Switchboard, make it open the frmPassword
instead. Like this:
Edit Switchboard Item:
Text: Go To Admin Area
Command: Open Form In Add Mode
Form: frmPassword
Now when the person clicks on the Switchboard option that
says "Go To Admin Area" the Password form opens up on top.
Unless they enter the correct password, the Switchboard
will not change to show the Admin menu. It would also be a
good idea to hide the Database Window from the users.
Hope that gets you going,
