Microsoft KB Archive/210297

= HOW TO: Detect User Idle Time or Inactivity in Access 2000 =

Article ID: 210297

Article Last Modified on 10/11/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q210297



This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and to a Microsoft Access project (.adp).

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * How to Create the DetectIdleTime Form
 * How to Use the DetectIdleTime Form

REFERENCES



SUMMARY
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.

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How to Create the DetectIdleTime Form
 Create a blank form that is not based on any table or query and name it DetectIdleTime.  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.   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

  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



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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.

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