Handling different screen resolutions

Handling different screen resolutions

OK, you've finished your application, and are deploying it to users' PCs. However, you can't guarantee what screen resolution they will be using on their computer. Whilst it might be the same as yours, it is just as likely going to be different. And there is nothing worse than an application that either looks lost on the screen, or half the form can't be seen.

So what do you do? Well, there are several things that you can do. Firstly, you could design all you forms at multiple resolutions, and in the startup for the database run some code to check the resolution and decide which set of forms to use. You can get some code to check the current screen resolution on the Microsoft Knowledge Base in article Q148395. Alternatively, you could design your application at one screen size and scale it to fit other resolutions (it is best to design at say 800x600, and then scale it to 1024x768). There are several utilities that will allow you to do this:

Form scaling/resizing tool from Access 2000 Developer's Handbook
Peter's Software ShrinkerStretcher
FMS Inc Total Access Components

You should not, under any circumstances, change the resoltion of the user's computer to meet your requirements. They have chosen that resolution for a reason, and they will not be pleased if you make changes to it.

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Last modified at 06/06/2006 14:58:06