Enhanced MsgBox and Forms with Olaf Nöhring and André Minhorst

Two innovative tools stole the show at July's Access Europe User Group meeting, offering elegant solutions to common Access development challenges.

In this dual-presentation session, Olaf Nöhring introduced an enhanced message box that brings modern features and flexibility to Access applications, while André Minhorst demonstrated two powerful tools for calendar management and file system integration. Both presenters shared practical implementations that expand Access's native capabilities while maintaining seamless integration with existing applications.

Whether you're looking to upgrade your application's user interface with more professional message boxes, implement robust calendar functionality, or integrate Windows Explorer capabilities directly into your forms, this presentation delivers valuable insights and ready-to-use solutions.

Enhanced Message Box by Olaf Nöhring

Key Features

Rich text support with fonts, colors, and Unicode characters
Customizable buttons with hover effects
Copy and save message functionality
Auto-close and button delay options
Modal or non-modal operation

Implementation Details

Based on Renaud Bompuis's original enhanced message box
Works with Access 2010 and later (32/64-bit)
No additional references required
Free for private and commercial use
Includes design wizard for easy implementation

Customization Options

Custom button text and colors (RGB or hex)
Button delay timing
Auto-close functionality
Default button selection
Unicode character support

AMV Calendar by André Minhorst

Core Features

Multiple calendar views (day, week, month)
Overlay and split view options
Drag-and-drop appointment management
Category support with custom colors
Time zone handling

Integration Capabilities

SQL Server compatible
Full source code access
Easy integration with existing applications
Synchronization between multiple instances
Import/export with Outlook (ICS files)

AMV Explorer

Key Functions

Windows Explorer integration within Access forms
Automatic folder creation and management
Drag-and-drop file operations
Full context menu support
File system event monitoring

Implementation Features

Simple integration process
Customizable security settings
Event watching capabilities
Full source code access
Compatible with standard Windows operations

Conclusion

Both presenters demonstrated powerful tools that extend Access's native capabilities in meaningful ways. Olaf's enhanced message box offers a modern replacement for the standard MsgBox, while André's calendar and explorer tools provide professional-grade solutions for common business requirements. These tools showcase how Access can be enhanced to deliver more sophisticated user experiences while maintaining ease of implementation.

Recording

The full recording is available on YouTube:

Join Live!

Want to get even more out of these presentations? Join the live Access User Group events! The next upcoming events are listed on the AUG Event Calendar.

Attending live gives you the opportunity to:

Interact directly with presenters during Q&A sessions
Network with other Access developers
Share your own experiences and challenges
Get immediate answers to your specific questions
Participate in group discussions

With multiple user groups across different time zones (and languages!), you're sure to find a meeting time that works for your schedule.