Access97 - Exposing Custom Class Modules from library databases
Shamil Salakhetdinov e-mail: shamil@marta.darts.spb.ru All rights reserved. Terms of use.
Written in September, 1998
Originally published on http://www.wji.com/access in September 1998 (www.wji.com/access is down now)

Class Exposer is an MS Access 97's Add-In which exposes (makes visible) custom class modules as well as forms' and reports' class modules to external (referencing) MS Access 97 application databases. It is based on the topic from:  http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/attac-cg/acgsoft.htm

Contents

• Disclaimer
• Contacting Me
• Registering Class Exposer
• Installing Class Exposer
• Using Class Exposer
• Known Problems

DISCLAIMER

Class Exposer Add-In uses undocumented feature of MS Access 97. You can use it on your own risk only - this software is distributed as is without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Nether the author nor any redistributors assumes any liability for any alleged or actual damages arising from the use of this program.

Contacting me

You can contact me using my e-mail address - shamil@marta.darts.spb.ru

Registering Class Exposer

Class Exposer is a freeware Add-In but you can register it to get new versions (if any) using my e-mail address. (In fact I would be very grateful if you find a minute to send me a note that you tried to use Class Exposer and found it useful, nice, quite good, terrible, ugly...)

Installing Class Exposer

1. Copy ClassExposer.mda to temp or any other directory.
2. Start MS Access 97.
3. Open any database (or create new test database and create several custom class modules, forms and reports with at least their HasModule property equal to true).
4. Select Tools -> Add-Ins -> Add-In Manager
5. Click [Add New] and browse your directories to find ClassExposer.mda
6. Click [Open] to install Class Exposer.
7. Now you should see Class Exposer add-in in the list of available add-ins of Add-In Manager
8. Click [Close] to exit Add-In Manager.

Using Class Exposer

1. Select Tools -> Add-Ins -> Class Exposer
2. Class Exposer starts with minimising you database window and preparing the list of forms and reports with class modules and custom class modules
3. Class Exposer presents the lists in its main and the only form.
4. Now you can expose/hide forms, reports and class modules using command buttons.
5. To finish Class Exposer click [Exit]
6. Close current mdb
7. Create another test mdb
8. Click [Modules] and then click [New]
9. Select Tools -> References
10. Click [Browse] and find your test mdb with exposed forms', reports' or custom class modules.
11. Click [Ok] to set reference to your mdb
12. You should now see your mdb in the list of Available References
13. Click [Ok] to close References window
14. Push [F2] or select View -> Object Browser
15. Select your test mdb in Object Browser's combo box
16. You should now see (and use!) all the exposed forms, reports and custom class modules outside of referenced mdb...
17. Click [Ok] to close Object Browser.

Known Problems

None? (Hope you'll find some)

Click to download ClassExposer (cexposer.zip - 39338 bytes)