OnWeb displays only a blank screen and no forms or other windows

Updated 2009-12-30 | Filed under OnWeb | PDF

Problem

I've clicked EQL Synchronize, I click Web View, and then on the 'Run this database in your browser using OnWeb' link. I get a blank screen with none of my database windows or forms. What went wrong?

Solution

EQL OnWeb displays in a browser via the Microsoft Access Runtime binary, which differs from the retail Microsoft Access in a few ways, outlined on this page (Note: the link references Access 2000, but the differences are much the same for more modern versions of the Access Runtime).

The chief difference, for the purpose of this article, is that the object browser window is not available, meaning that the application must contain an initial Form which will allow the user to navigate through the application, and manipulate table data (or perform queries, etc.)

There are two methods Access provides to accomplish this. In your local Access application:

1) Set a 'StartUp' Form

To designate a Form as 'StartUp', follow the instructions below:

For Access 97 - 2003:

  1. Click Tools | StartUp

  2. Under 'Display Form/Page', find and select the Form you wish to pop open on application start-up.

  3. Click OK, and restart the application.

For Access 2007:

  1. Click the Microsoft Office button (in the upper left corner).

  2. Click the 'Access Options' button in the bottom right corner of the menu that appears.

  3. Click the 'Current Database' category on the left side of the Access Options dialog box.

  4. Under 'Application Options' section look for the option called 'Display Form'. Select your desired start-up Form.

  5. Click OK, and restart the application.

You'll note the form pops up in front of the object browser window in your local database. You may close this form and EQL Synchronize, and your OnWeb session will now feature your desired Form on start-up.

2) OR alternatively, create an AutoExec Macro

In your local Access application:

For Access 97 - 2003:

  1. Select 'Macros' from the left-hand menu of the object browser window.

  2. Click 'New' above the listing of Macros currently in the application.

  3. In the Macro Editor window that comes up, select 'OpenForm' as the first action to execute.

  4. In the dialog in the lower left-hand side of the Macro Editor, select your desired start-up Form in the Form Name combobox.

  5. Close the Macro Editor, and, when prompted to Save the new Macro, save it with the name 'AutoExec'.

For Access 2007:

  1. From the menu above your application object browser, select 'Create'.

  2. At the far right of the Create bar, note the 'Macro' button. Click this.

  3. In the window which pops up, select 'OpenForm' as the first action.

  4. In the dialog in the lower left-hand side of the Macro Editor, select your desired start-up Form in the Form Name combobox.

  5. Close the Macro Editor, and, when prompted to Save the new Macro, save it with the name 'AutoExec'.

After closing and reopening your application, you'll note that the form selected in this manner pop up above the Object Browser window. Subsequently pressing EQL Synchronize will cause EQL OnWeb to display this form on start-up.

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