Developers App Helper – Part 1: Shortcuts & App Properties
The start of a new series: small but extremely useful helpers that make your Access applications more professional, convenient and flexible. Part 1 is about desktop/Start-menu shortcuts, trusted locations and changing app properties dynamically.
Today I am starting a new series of articles for the DEV Functions. In each part I introduce small but extremely useful helpers that make your databases more professional, convenient and flexible – the Developers App Helper.
What is behind it?
In my projects, a series of functions has emerged around the topic of application & database. They are small, effective and can be easily integrated into existing VBA solutions.
The functions in Part 1
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
AppCreateDesktopShortcut | Creates a shortcut to the current database on the desktop – with its own icon, command-line arguments or description text. |
AppCreateStartMenuShortcut | Same as above, but in the Start menu. |
AppDeleteStartMenuShortcut | Deletes an existing Start-menu shortcut. |
AppAddTrustedLocation | Adds a trusted storage location to the Access registry (optionally with a description). |
AppSetProperty | Creates or changes an Access database property (DAO). |
AppDeleteProperty | Deletes an existing database property. |
Why are these functions so handy?
A shortcut on the desktop or in the Start menu makes your application look like a “real” app – immediately accessible, professional and user-friendly.
With AppSetProperty you can even change important properties of your application dynamically:
AppTitle→ customizes the window title, e.g. “Test Environment”, “Production System” or “Demo Version”.AppIcon→ gives your application its own icon – instantly looks more professional.ByPass→ controls whether the Shift key bypasses the security functions at startup. Ideal for differentiating developer and end-user access.
Why change properties at runtime?
A few use cases where dynamic app properties make sense:
- Multi-tenancy: different customers or departments use the same application? Change title and icon at runtime so everyone immediately knows their environment.
- Test vs. production: when starting from a test database, it should be immediately clear that it is not the production environment.
- Context-dependent: a different title or a special icon for certain roles (e.g. admins).
- Project phases: during a rollout, set the right expectation with “Beta” or “Pilot version”.
In short: you give your database a flexible face – appropriate to the situation.
Just give it a try
Using the included testing form, you can try out the functions directly, get to know the effects step by step and adopt them for your own application. You’ll find the detailed description directly in the code, well documented as usual.
Download
Part 1 of the Developers App Helper series for MS Access: create shortcuts on the desktop and in the Start menu, set trusted locations and change app properties (AppTitle, AppIcon, ByPass) at runtime.
