R
Ricter
Like an Easter egg, surprise popup, Flash, etc.? I just can't let this db of
mine "be", yet.
mine "be", yet.
A
Allen Browne
Did you add a splash screen at startup:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-53.html
If you want an animated gif:
http://www.lebans.com/animatedgifplayer.htm
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-53.html
If you want an animated gif:
http://www.lebans.com/animatedgifplayer.htm
B
BruceM
I saw the situation when doing tech support (user support, really) where
somebody was struggling with the product about which I was taking the call,
and was incensed by a message box that read "Congratulations! You have
produced an unknown error." The message was used during development, and
wasn't even intended to be part of the finished product, but it resurfaced
somehow. That wasn't a fun call.
Unless you can be pretty certain that everybody using it will be amused,
impressed, or pleased by the same things you find amusing, impressive, or
pleasing I would stay away from irrelevant extras, particularly in a work
environment where the user may be struggling with the database, deadlines,
or other pressure.
somebody was struggling with the product about which I was taking the call,
and was incensed by a message box that read "Congratulations! You have
produced an unknown error." The message was used during development, and
wasn't even intended to be part of the finished product, but it resurfaced
somehow. That wasn't a fun call.
Unless you can be pretty certain that everybody using it will be amused,
impressed, or pleased by the same things you find amusing, impressive, or
pleasing I would stay away from irrelevant extras, particularly in a work
environment where the user may be struggling with the database, deadlines,
or other pressure.
F
Fred Boer
Hello:
I my small library application, there is a process to display a randomly
chosen "Thought of the Day" on the main screen each time the online
catalogue is opened. These were "learned" quotes at first, (eg He is wise
who knows the sources of knowledge - where it is written and where it is to
be found. A.A. Hodge). I quickly tired of these however and started loading
up the "Thought of the Day" table with silly jokes, puns, etc.... (eg
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too
dark to read anyway. Groucho Marx" ..... or....... "Q: Why didn't the
skeleton cross the road? A: He didn't have the guts!"
Not sure if it applies here, but at least I got to tell two jokes!
Cheers!
Fred Boer
I my small library application, there is a process to display a randomly
chosen "Thought of the Day" on the main screen each time the online
catalogue is opened. These were "learned" quotes at first, (eg He is wise
who knows the sources of knowledge - where it is written and where it is to
be found. A.A. Hodge). I quickly tired of these however and started loading
up the "Thought of the Day" table with silly jokes, puns, etc.... (eg
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too
dark to read anyway. Groucho Marx" ..... or....... "Q: Why didn't the
skeleton cross the road? A: He didn't have the guts!"
Not sure if it applies here, but at least I got to tell two jokes!
Cheers!
Fred Boer
J
Jerry Whittle
When I first starting using Access it was just to support my job. Therefore I
wrote some rather, let's say, "creative" error messages. After using the
database for quite a while I seldom made those errors and didn't often see
the error messages.
At a conference I met a guy doing basically the same job and gave him a copy
of my database. A couple of days after the conference I got a phone call from
the guy and he was laughing madly. Seems he made an a mistake or two entering
data.....
wrote some rather, let's say, "creative" error messages. After using the
database for quite a while I seldom made those errors and didn't often see
the error messages.
At a conference I met a guy doing basically the same job and gave him a copy
of my database. A couple of days after the conference I got a phone call from
the guy and he was laughing madly. Seems he made an a mistake or two entering
data.....
D
Dirk Goldgar
Ricter said:
You can use some of Stephen Lebans' UI wizardry to add a little pizazz.
Poke around at www.lebans.com for ideas. I like this one:
http://www.lebans.com/changemdibackground.htm
ChangeMDIBackGround.zip is a database containing a
function to allow you to specify a color or Bitmap Image
for the background of the main Access MDI window.
B
BruceM
Looks like I'm the only stick-in-the-mud here. All I can say is that having
to listen to abuse from an important customer (hanging up was not among my
options, due to the politics of the situation) for something that had
nothing to do with me has left me wary.
to listen to abuse from an important customer (hanging up was not among my
options, due to the politics of the situation) for something that had
nothing to do with me has left me wary.
J
John Vinson
Years ago, I was working for a big company, implementing an IBM
INQUIRE (heirarchical, proprietary, non-SQL) database. I put in
several irreverent and facetious messages (though I don't remember the
details) in the custom-built HELP files.
I never got one single call about them. Either those who saw them got
a chuckle and moved on, or - more likely - nobody ever used the Help.
John W. Vinson[MVP]
J
Jeff Conrad
A few things:
1. On the main screen I display a list of names of people who have their birthday on that day. I
also display a list of names for upcoming birthdays. People *usually* like to be recognized when it
is their birthday. Also, sometimes a manager may want to surprise a person and give them their
birthday off. If they have some warning, they can plan for it.
2. A well hidden administration form requires the user to enter a password to unlock the controls.
Even if a regular user happens to find this form (highly unlikely) they will need to enter a
password. If they enter an incorrect password the command button literally disintegrates on the form
and crumbles to a heap of pixels. I then pop up a message saying an e-mail has been generated and
sent to the manager. This usually deters people from trying that again. Strange, I've never received
any calls on that...<g>
3. Certain Star Wars sounds/clips are played doing certain activities. Who doesn't like to hear some
encouraging words from Yoda or some Star Wars music while working? Get an error message? How about
the sound of a blaster for that one? Open the About form and you hear Luke say, "What a piece of
junk!"
**Please Note**
I only recommend adding these types of elements for projects that are in-house, for just you, or for
clients that you know really won't mind this stuff. You could make yourself look unprofessional
otherwise.
--
Jeff Conrad
Access Junkie - MVP
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html
Access 2007 Info: http://www.AccessJunkie.com
in message:
1. On the main screen I display a list of names of people who have their birthday on that day. I
also display a list of names for upcoming birthdays. People *usually* like to be recognized when it
is their birthday. Also, sometimes a manager may want to surprise a person and give them their
birthday off. If they have some warning, they can plan for it.
2. A well hidden administration form requires the user to enter a password to unlock the controls.
Even if a regular user happens to find this form (highly unlikely) they will need to enter a
password. If they enter an incorrect password the command button literally disintegrates on the form
and crumbles to a heap of pixels. I then pop up a message saying an e-mail has been generated and
sent to the manager. This usually deters people from trying that again. Strange, I've never received
any calls on that...<g>
3. Certain Star Wars sounds/clips are played doing certain activities. Who doesn't like to hear some
encouraging words from Yoda or some Star Wars music while working? Get an error message? How about
the sound of a blaster for that one? Open the About form and you hear Luke say, "What a piece of
junk!"
**Please Note**
I only recommend adding these types of elements for projects that are in-house, for just you, or for
clients that you know really won't mind this stuff. You could make yourself look unprofessional
otherwise.
--
Jeff Conrad
Access Junkie - MVP
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html
Access 2007 Info: http://www.AccessJunkie.com
in message:
A
Arvin Meyer [MVP]
I've use creative variable declaration:
Dim wit As Variant
I've used sound files in error messages like:
"Ah-ah-ah, you didn't say the magic word" from Jurrasic Park or
"No-No-No, not the wed one. Don't ever push the wed one" from Bugs Bunny or:
"Go ahead make my day" from Dirty Harry. I've also done some funny error
messages.
After all, if we can't have some fun, we need to find another line of work.
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access
Dim wit As Variant
I've used sound files in error messages like:
"Ah-ah-ah, you didn't say the magic word" from Jurrasic Park or
"No-No-No, not the wed one. Don't ever push the wed one" from Bugs Bunny or:
"Go ahead make my day" from Dirty Harry. I've also done some funny error
messages.
After all, if we can't have some fun, we need to find another line of work.
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access
A
Albert D. Kallal
If you look at the following screen shots, you see a "picture". It is
actually much like a web-shots type screen. Each time the application is
launched, the users see a different picture (and, in fact can add their own
pictures - you see clients put in Christmas pictures, birthday pictures
etc......this is fun, and it gives a clients a real sense of "ownership" of
the software). The clients enjoy this feature a lot.
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Articles/UseAbility/UserFriendly.htm
Also, if you scroll to the very last picture, you can also see people who
have upcoming birthdays (these appear right below that cute picture I spoke
of above that changes. Again this is a fun/nice feature. (any upcoming
birthdays in the next two weeks is shown).
actually much like a web-shots type screen. Each time the application is
launched, the users see a different picture (and, in fact can add their own
pictures - you see clients put in Christmas pictures, birthday pictures
etc......this is fun, and it gives a clients a real sense of "ownership" of
the software). The clients enjoy this feature a lot.
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Articles/UseAbility/UserFriendly.htm
Also, if you scroll to the very last picture, you can also see people who
have upcoming birthdays (these appear right below that cute picture I spoke
of above that changes. Again this is a fun/nice feature. (any upcoming
birthdays in the next two weeks is shown).
F
Fred Boer
If anyone ever doubted that Access people are the party animals of the
Office world....
Fred
P.S. Jeff, I busted a gut over this one. I want to steal it!!!
Office world....
Fred
P.S. Jeff, I busted a gut over this one. I want to steal it!!!
D
dbahooker
if you dipshits gave a shit about 'looking unprofessional' you would
stop using MDB.
it isn't reliable enough for a single record and a single user.
Access Data Projects are the single most important product to ever come
out of redmond.. they're beautiful
-Aaron
stop using MDB.
it isn't reliable enough for a single record and a single user.
Access Data Projects are the single most important product to ever come
out of redmond.. they're beautiful
-Aaron
B
Brendan Reynolds
Granny made me do it!
The reaction proved to be a little disappointing - hardly anyone around here
remembers the movie! :-(
On a practical note, my advice to anyone who is considering including
something like that in an app is to be sure to include an option to turn it
off.
The reaction proved to be a little disappointing - hardly anyone around here
remembers the movie! :-(
On a practical note, my advice to anyone who is considering including
something like that in an app is to be sure to include an option to turn it
off.
J
Jeff Conrad
in message:
Well some of us don't get out much...
;-)
I'll send you the WAV file.
Well some of us don't get out much...
;-)
I'll send you the WAV file.
J
J Hovis
On one database I inherited admin of, the main screen had a dark, boring
background. I added a screen for Fridays, it would be replaced with a bright
"It's Friday!" screen with balloons, streamers, etc.
On another DB, if a user clicked anywhere but a button, a pop-up window with
a quote from Douglas Adams: "When attempting to make something foolproof, one
always fails to anticipate the complete fool"
background. I added a screen for Fridays, it would be replaced with a bright
"It's Friday!" screen with balloons, streamers, etc.
On another DB, if a user clicked anywhere but a button, a pop-up window with
a quote from Douglas Adams: "When attempting to make something foolproof, one
always fails to anticipate the complete fool"
R
Ricter
LOL, ouch!
J Hovis said:
A
Arvin Meyer [MVP]
Brendan Reynolds said:Granny made me do it!
The reaction proved to be a little disappointing - hardly anyone around
here remembers the movie! :-(
2001: A Space Odessey
10 years ago, my machine was set to boot with "Good evening Dave"
P
(PeteCresswell)
Per Ricter:
I don't because if/when the wrong person in the customer org sees it, I'd expect
them to say something like "I'm paying that moron X dollars per hour to do stuff
like *this*?!!"
I don't because if/when the wrong person in the customer org sees it, I'd expect
them to say something like "I'm paying that moron X dollars per hour to do stuff
like *this*?!!"
D
David F Cox
(PeteCresswell) said:
The last time I heard that from a customer was a long time ago. They
complained because they saw one of my crew with a rocket ship rising up the
screen on his first morning on contract. I enquired from the miscreant, and
was told "Its not mine, I hacked their system, it was on their chief
programmers files and I wondered what it did." That got translated as "He
was testing the systems response time."