How to create command bars by using Visual Basic code in Access 2000 (209974)

SUMMARY

You can programmatically create toolbars and menu bars, as well as add and remove items from those bars. This article demonstrates how to do this.

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Set References to Use Command Bars

In Microsoft Access 2000, toolbars, shortcut menus, and menu bars are combined into a single CommandBars collection that you can control programmatically by using Visual Basic for Applications. You can modify any Microsoft Access built-in menu bars or toolbars, and you can create and modify custom toolbars, menu bars, and shortcut menus.

In order to program with command bars, you must set a reference to the Microsoft Office 9.0 Object Library. To do so follow these steps:

While in the Visual Basic Editor, on the Tools menu, click References.
In the References dialog box, click to select Microsoft Office 9.0 Object Library.
Click OK.

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. The following examples create command bars programmatically and assign actions to their controls. Example 1 creates a floating toolbar. Example 2 creates a docked menu bar.

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Example 1: Creating a Toolbar

Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

Create a module and type the following procedures:

'****************************************************************
' This procedure creates a new toolbar.
'****************************************************************
Sub AddNewCB()
   Dim CBar As CommandBar, CBarCtl As CommandBarControl
   On Error GoTo AddNewCB_Err

   ' Create a new floating toolbar and make it visible.
   Set CBar = CommandBars.Add(Name:="Sample Toolbar", Position:= _
      msoBarFloating)
   CBar.Visible = True

   ' Create a button with text on the bar and set some properties.
   Set CBarCtl = CBar.Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlButton)
   With CBarCtl
      .Caption = "Button"
      .Style = msoButtonCaption
      .TooltipText = "Display Message Box"
      .OnAction = "=MsgBox(""You pressed a toolbar button!"")"
   End With

   ' Create a button with an image on the bar and set some
   ' properties.
   Set CBarCtl = CBar.Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlButton)
   With CBarCtl
      .FaceId = 1000
      .Caption = "Toggle Button"
      .TooltipText = "Toggle First Button"
      .OnAction = "=ToggleButton()"
   End With

   ' Create a combo box control on the bar and set some properties.
   Set CBarCtl = CBar.Controls.Add(msoControlComboBox)
   With CBarCtl
      .Caption = "Drop Down"
      .Width = 100
      .AddItem "Create Button", 1
      .AddItem "Remove Button", 2
      .DropDownWidth = 100
      .OnAction = "=AddRemoveButton()"
   End With
   Exit Sub
   AddNewCB_Err:
   MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & vbCr & Err.Description
   Exit Sub
End Sub

'****************************************************************
' This procedure is called from a button on the toolbar.
' It toggles the Visible property of another button on the bar.
'****************************************************************
Function ToggleButton()
   Dim CBButton As CommandBarControl
   On Error GoTo ToggleButton_Err
   Set CBButton = CommandBars("Sample Toolbar").Controls(1)
   CBButton.Visible = Not CBButton.Visible
   Exit Function
   ToggleButton_Err:
   MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & vbCr & Err.Description
   Exit Function
End Function

'****************************************************************
'This procedure is called from a combo box on the toolbar
'It adds a button to the bar or removes it
'****************************************************************
Function AddRemoveButton()
   Dim CBar As CommandBar, CBCombo As CommandBarComboBox
   Dim CBNewButton As CommandBarButton
   On Error GoTo AddRemoveButton_Err
   Set CBar = CommandBars("Sample Toolbar")
   Set CBCombo = CBar.Controls(3)
   Select Case CBCombo.ListIndex
      'If Create Button is selected, create a button on the bar
      Case 1
         Set CBNewButton = CBar.Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlButton)
         With CBNewButton
            .Caption = "New Button"
            .Style = msoButtonCaption
            .BeginGroup = True
            .Tag = "New Button"
            .OnAction = "=MsgBox(""This is a new button!"")"
         End With
      ' Find and remove the new button if it exists.
      Case 2
         Set CBNewButton = CBar.FindControl(Tag:="New Button")
         CBNewButton.Delete
   End Select
   Exit Function
   AddRemoveButton_Err:
   ' If the button does not exist.
   If Err.Number = 91 Then
      MsgBox "Cannot remove button that does not exist!"
      Exit Function
   Else
     MsgBox "Error " & Err.Number & vbCr & Err.Description
     Exit Function
   End If
End Function

To test this function, type the following line in the Immediate window, and then press ENTER:
```
AddNewCB
					
```
Switch back to the Access window and you will see a floating toolbar on the screen.
Click the word "Button" on the toolbar and note the message box that appears.
Click the button with the light bulb image and note that "Button" disappears. Click it again and "Button" reappears.
Select Create Button in the combo box and note that a button called New Button is added to the toolbar.
Select Remove Button in the combo box and note that New Button is removed from the toolbar.

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Example 2: Creating a Menu Bar

Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.