Hi Robert,

We added code to a form that we know will be open (our Main Menu) that
has code in the Unload event.  When you cancel the Unload event of that
form, the database will not close.

Using this behavior, you could set a flag in a table or hidden control
that indicates whether the user is attempting to leave the database in
an approved way.  If that flag isn't set, you can tell the user why they
can't exit that way.

A couple of extra notes:

We have found that canceling the unload event to prevent the database
from closing may clear all your Globals.  But you really shouldn't use
Globals to store persistent values anyway.

There are ways to hide/disable the command buttons at the top of your
window.  We don't use them, as that makes your app non-Windows standard.

Perhaps you should allow your users to use the X to exit, but use the
Unload code above to do any prompting or cleanup.  That way they have a
standard Windows interface.

Here is one from Steve Schapel

On the Load event of the form, set the Tag property to
something, for
example...
 Me.Tag = "NoClose"

On the Unload event of the form, then something like...
 If Me.Tag = "NoClose" Then
    Cancel = True
    MsgBox "Use the 'Exit' button on the form"
 End If

And on the Click event of the button you want them to use...
 Me.Tag = ""
 DoCmd.close

Jim