ACC: How to Use a Function to Quit Windows

ID: Q103405

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SUMMARY

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

While it is possible to quit Microsoft Windows from within a Microsoft Access program by making use of the Windows application programming interface (API) function ExitWindows(), Microsoft Windows will not shut down cleanly. Open files in Windows-based applications may not be saved, and temporary (.tmp) files may be left on your hard disk.

This article assumes that you are familiar with Visual Basic for Applications and with creating Microsoft Access applications using the programming tools provided with Microsoft Access. For more information about Visual Basic for Applications, please refer to your version of the "Building Applications with Microsoft Access" manual.

NOTE: Visual Basic for Applications is called Access Basic in Microsoft Access versions 1.x and 2.0. For more information about Access Basic, please refer to the "Introduction to Programming" manual in Microsoft Access version 1.x or the "Building Applications" manual in Microsoft Access version 2.0

MORE INFORMATION

The sample function listed below demonstrates another method of shutting down Windows from within Microsoft Access. This method will save open files before shutting down, and will not leave .tmp files on your hard disk.

   Function QuitWindows ()
      SendKeys "%{F4}S~", False
      AppActivate ("Program Manager")
   End Function

In the sample function above, the QuitWindows() function activates the Microsoft Windows Program Manager, and then sends the keystrokes necessary to instruct Program Manager to close Windows. This function works in Windows 3.x, Windows NT, and Windows 95 (even though there is no Program Manager in Windows 95).

REFERENCES

For more information about exiting to MS-DOS, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q89596
   TITLE     : ACC: Using Microsoft Access Macro to Quit Windows

Additional query words: exiting exit

Keywords          : kbprg
Version           : 1.0 1.1 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: November 20, 1998