This article shows you how to create a procedure that will run if your
Access application does not detect any user input for a specified period of time. It involves creating a hidden form containing code that keeps count of idle time.
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.
Back to the top
How to Create the DetectIdleTime Form
| 1. |
Create a blank form that is not based on any table or query and name it DetectIdleTime.
|
| 2. | Set the following form properties:
OnTimer: [Event Procedure]
TimerInterval: 1000
NOTE: The TimerInterval setting indicates how often (in milliseconds) the application checks for user inactivity. A setting of 1000 equals 1 second.
|
| 3. | Set the OnTimer property to the following event procedure:
Sub Form_Timer()
' IDLEMINUTES determines how much idle time to wait for before
' running the IdleTimeDetected subroutine.
Const IDLEMINUTES = 1
Static PrevControlName As String
Static PrevFormName As String
Static ExpiredTime
Dim ActiveFormName As String
Dim ActiveControlName As String
Dim ExpiredMinutes
On Error Resume Next
' Get the active form and control name.
ActiveFormName = Screen.ActiveForm.Name
If Err Then
ActiveFormName = "No Active Form"
Err = 0
End If
ActiveControlName = Screen.ActiveControl.Name
If Err Then
ActiveControlName = "No Active Control"
Err = 0
End If
' Record the current active names and reset ExpiredTime if:
' 1. They have not been recorded yet (code is running
' for the first time).
' 2. The previous names are different than the current ones
' (the user has done something different during the timer
' interval).
If (PrevControlName = "") Or (PrevFormName = "") _
Or (ActiveFormName <> PrevFormName) _
Or (ActiveControlName <> PrevControlName) Then
PrevControlName = ActiveControlName
PrevFormName = ActiveFormName
ExpiredTime = 0
Else
' ...otherwise the user was idle during the time interval, so
' increment the total expired time.
ExpiredTime = ExpiredTime + Me.TimerInterval
End If
' Does the total expired time exceed the IDLEMINUTES?
ExpiredMinutes = (ExpiredTime / 1000) / 60
If ExpiredMinutes >= IDLEMINUTES Then
' ...if so, then reset the expired time to zero...
ExpiredTime = 0
' ...and call the IdleTimeDetected subroutine.
IdleTimeDetected ExpiredMinutes
End If
End Sub
|
| 4. | Create the following procedure in the Form module:
Sub IdleTimeDetected (ExpiredMinutes)
Dim Msg As String
Msg = "No user activity detected in the last "
Msg = Msg & ExpiredMinutes & " minute(s)!"
MsgBox Msg, 48
End Sub
|
Back to the top
How to Use the DetectIdleTime Form
To hide the DetectIdleTime form when the application opens, create the
following AutoExec macro:
Macro Name Action
----------------------------
AutoExec OpenForm
AutoExec Action Arguments
----------------------------
OpenForm
Form Name: DetectIdleTime
View: Form
Filter Name:
Where Condition:
Data Mode: Edit
Window Mode: Hidden
You can add code to the IdleTimeDetected procedure so that the procedure
runs if there is no user activity for the amount of time specified in the
IDLEMINUTES constant value. For example, you could have Access quit with the following event procedure:
Sub IdleTimeDetected (ExpiredMinutes)
Application.Quit acSaveYes
End Sub
This procedure causes Access to quit the application, saving all objects without displaying a dialog box.
Back to the top
For more information about the Timer event, in the Visual Basic Editor, click
Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the
Help menu, type
Timer event in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click
Search to view the topic.
Back to the top
