Modules: VB Switchboard Utility

INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND THE SWITCHBOARD UTILITY ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE USER ASSUMES THE ENTIRE RISK OF RUNNING THIS SOFTWARE.

Ó Dev Ashish  & Terry Kreft (1998-2002), All Rights Reserved

  Switchboard.zip ver 2.00.0007 (size: 54,964 bytes including source code)

AppNotes

In order to run the Switchboard utility,  you must have either VB6 installed on your pc or have the runtime files. Please note that version 1.0 of this utility was a VB 5 build whereas version 2 is provided only as a VB 6 build.

Setup

Since the Switchboard was written in Visual Basic 6 (SP2), you will need to either have the runtime libraries or VB6 itself installed on your machine. The runtime files can be downloaded from this link.

Changes from version 1.0:

1. The utility only uses one form now.
2. Support for MDE/MDA along with All files have been added to the GetOpenFileName dialog.
3. Although the GetOpenFileName dialog does not allow for command line options, the command line can be set to include Workgroup file information.  To include workgroup options, include the complete path to MSAccess.exe along with other options in the FileName textbox. For example (the command is all in one line).
   "C:\program files\Microsoft Office\Office\MSAccess.exe" /wrkgrp "C:\Winnt\System32\system.mdw" "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\VB98\Biblio.mdb"
   The Switchboard will try to locate the strings "MSAccess.exe" and "wrkgrp" in the command line, and if present, will use Shell instead of ShellExecute.
4. Deletion of specific entries now work correctly.
5. The database description is concatenated in the listbox display along with the complete file name.
6. Source code is now included.

    When you run the Switchboard  utility for the first time on any pc, it will try to locate the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\mdbShell

    If the key was not found, you will be asked to confirm if you want to create the required keys.  Answering "No" will terminate the utility.

    Switchboard  utility of one main form with a listbox which contains all mdb paths and a hidden section which can only be envoked by the following keystroke on the main form:

    Control-Shift-A    and then 1 (not the one on the KeyPad).

     This key sequence will enable the "Modify" button on the form, which if clicked, will cause the main form to expand into a section which allows you to edit Switchboard options.

Adding an Antry

To Add an entry to the switchboard, first enable the "Modify" region of the form by keying in the aforementioned keystroke, and then click the button with the ellipses next to the FileName and select a new file or database.

Edit the description as needed, and if the database requires command line options, edit the filename to include the complete path.  For example,

"C:\program files\Microsoft Office\Office\MSAccess.exe" /wrkgrp "C:\Winnt\System32\system.mdw" "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\VB98\Biblio.mdb"

in one line.

Click Save to add this entry to the list.

Deleting an Entry

To delete an existing entry, first enable the "Modify" region of the form by keying in the aforementioned keystroke, and then select the entry you wish to delete in the listbox.

The "Add/Modify Database" textboxes will become populated with the Filename and Description you selected.

Click Delete and confirm the deletion.

Modifying an Entry

To modifying an existing entry, first enable the "Modify" region of the form by keying in the aforementioned keystroke, and then select the entry you wish to modify in the listbox.

The "Add/Modify Database" textboxes will become populated with the Filename and Description you selected. Make the changes as you require and click "Save".

Uninstallation

To uninstall the application, first enable the "Modify" region of the form by keying in the aforementioned keystroke, and then click on the "Uninstall" button.

Please note that all registry entries will get erased if you confirm the uninstallation process.  Therefore at next startup, you will get prompted to let Switchboard create default registry keys.