# Access Q: Switchboard and Workbench
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-q-switchboard-and-workbench/389139
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 23, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-q-switchboard-and-workbench/389139 "2007-01-23T19:46:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-q-switchboard-and-workbench/389139/1 "2007-01-23T19:46:43Z")
I’m trying to incorporate a program called workbench which manages multiple access databases. In it, I have a form called Timer, which checks for a special file to send a message or to shut down the database. It works great on all the DBs without a switchboard. I don’t know too much about access, just enough to get by, so if any Pros know a way I can set up multiple forms to run at start up (the form “timer” has to be started automatically or it defeats the purpose)
Do I need to set some options to allow the switchboard AND another form to be loaded at the start of the database, do I need to change something in the Switchboard to add the Timer form to automatically start, or do I need to create a module and hardcode something in?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. (I am currently googling, but finding nothing)
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### Author:  [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-q-switchboard-and-workbench/389139/2 "2007-01-23T20:04:53Z")
The way I get a form to open when the database starts up is to create a macro called “Autoexec” and use the “Open Form” action. This macro will then run when the application starts - as far as I can see, there is no limit to the number of actions that could be run by this macro…
Not sophisticated, but it works?
Grim
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### Author:  [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-q-switchboard-and-workbench/389139/3 "2007-01-23T20:12:51Z")
[QUOTE=grimpixie]
The way I get a form to open when the database starts up is to create a macro called “Autoexec” and use the “Open Form” action. This macro will then run when the application starts - as far as I can see, there is no limit to the number of actions that could be run by this macro…
Not sophisticated, but it works?
Grim
[/QUOTE]
I just tried this and it works wonderfully! Seems some of the other databases already had this function (or when I was building the form, it automatically created it), and somehow the Master Form of the switchboard stopped it from happening.
Oh and you are a genius and a gentleman (or gentlewoman?), thanks!
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### Author:  [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2007, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-q-switchboard-and-workbench/389139/4 "2007-01-24T09:20:24Z")
[QUOTE=Epimetheus]
Oh and you are a genius and a gentleman (or gentlewoman?), thanks!
[/QUOTE]
No worries…
Grim
(gentleman for sure, but hardly a genius)