[RESOLVED] Showing Hidden Controls at Runtime

Hi,

I have a number of controls, checkboxes, textboxes etc that are hidden (visible = false) from the user and only available by me when when in IDE mode, I use these controls when debugging the program etc.

When I have compiled the software, it would be helpful to press a certain key sequence \ combination on the keyboard that will then make the hidden controls appear should I wish to check the setting and data etc. The user will not know the sequence.

Then I can use the key sequence combination etc to hide the controls again?

If this is possible what would be the best method \ route to take?

Thanks in advance

Daz.....

Set the form's KeyPreview to True then add code similar to this.

Code:

---


Private Sub Form_KeyUp(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
    Static bShow As Boolean
   
    If KeyCode = vbKeyE Then
        If Shift = 1 Then
            bShow = Not bShow
            cntlX.Visible = bShow
        End If
    End If
End Sub

---

Change cntlX to your control name
It will toggle when you hit Shift + E, you can change the key to whatever you like.

P.S. this could be called an Easter Egg

Hi,

Thanks for the code.

I was playing with the code and trying to check for three keys pressed, but could not get it to work, works on 2 OK. I have also tried it in Select case for 3 keys.

Is three not possible or more sensitive to pick up in the code?

Select Case KeyCode
Case vbKeyU
If KeyCode = vbKeyK Then
If Shift = 1 Then
sMsg = MsgBox("OK To Show Hidden Controls Here")
Else
sMsg = MsgBox("Controls Are Hidden")
End If
End If
Case Else
sMsg = MsgBox("Controls Are Hidden")
End Select

Daz........

look at this then

Code:

---


    If KeyCode = vbKeyE Then
'        If Shift = 1 Then
'            bShow = Not bShow
'            cntlX.Visible = bShow
'        End If
        Select Case Shift
            Case 0 'no keys pressed
                Stop
            Case vbShiftMask
                Stop
            Case vbCtrlMask
                Stop
            Case vbAltMask
                Stop
            Case vbShiftMask Or vbCtrlMask 'shift and Ctrl are both pressed
                Stop
            Case vbCtrlMask Or vbAltMask ' Ctrl and Alt are pressed
                Stop
            Case vbAltMask Or vbShiftMask 'Alt and Shift are pressed
                Stop
            Case vbShiftMask Or vbCtrlMask Or vbAltMask 'all 3 are down
                Stop
        End Select
    End If

---

BTW, Don't leave those Stops in there, they'll just help you while you figure it out

3 keys? Depends on which 3 keys
Your keycode is only going to have one key at a time. Therefore, if you want to press, say: A B C and test if all three are down, there are a couple of ways
1. Use APIs to get the state of the keyboard

2. Use some booleans, i.e., bKeyA, bKeyB, bKeyC
.. now in the KeyDown event, when A is pressed, set bKeyA=True, etc
.. in the KeyUp event, when A is released, set bKeyA=False.
.. In your KeyDown, when bKeyA=True And bKeyB=True And bKeyC=True then all 3 are pressed.

3. If one or more of the keys is the shift, alt, or control, then use the Shift variable by comparing it to the shift mask.

Code:

---

If Shift And vbShiftMask Then ' shift is down
If Shift And vbCtrlMask Then ' ctrl is down'
If Shift And vbAltMask Then ' Alt is down

---

The simplest thing to do would be to add sub to the app called, for example, MySecretTestingSub and in that sub have

List1.Visible = True
Combo1.Visible = True
etc.

Then when you want to debug just type MySecretTestingSub in the Immediate window.

Hi,

Thanks for the responses.

I already use 'MartinLiss' suggestion and that works OK, I just set a flag boolean 'bDebugView = True' or False to view the controls whilst in the IDE.

But I was after something that could do the same with with but in compiled EXE version. Something that a user would not stumble upon by pressing random keys etc. Hence the number of keys that need to be pressed.

I will have a play with the suggestions posted.

Thanks again

Daz.......

For each of the controls you are using, put the word: Admin
in its Tag property. Then, use this to toggle their visibility at runtime

Code:

---

Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
If (Shift And vbCtrlMask) = vbCtrlMask _
    And (Shift And vbShiftMask) = vbShiftMask And KeyCode = vbKeyP Then
    Dim ctrl As Control
      For Each ctrl In Me.Controls
        If ctrl.Tag = "Admin" Then
            If ctrl.Visible = False Then
              ctrl.Visible = True
            Else
              ctrl.Visible = False
            End If
        End If
      Next
End If
End Sub

---

Of course, you don't need to use vbKeyP, but this is a three key combination consisting of Ctrl+Shift+P

If you have a visible textbox on the form, here's an idea:

Code:

---


Private Sub TextBox1_Change()
    If TextBox1.Text = "MySecretTestingSub" Then
        MySecretTestingSub
    End If
End Sub

---

A user isn't likely to stumble onto that one :)
It could be done with most controls that accept text input from the user.

here's another way to do Hacks code:

Code:

---

    Dim ctrl As Control
      For Each ctrl In Me.Controls
        If ctrl.Tag = "Admin" Then
            ctrl.Visible = Not ctrl.Visible
        End If
      Next

---

You could also verify the current user name with a call to this UserName function in your Form_Load and only show the controls if UserName was your name.

Code:

---

Option Explicit
Private Declare Function GetUserName Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "GetUserNameA" (ByVal lpBuffer As String, nSize As Long) As Long
Public Function UserName() As String
Dim strBuffer As String * 512
Dim x As Long
UserName = ""
x = GetUserName(strBuffer, Len(strBuffer) - 1)
If x > 0 Then
  x = InStr(strBuffer, vbNullChar)
  If x > 0 Then UserName = Left$(strBuffer, x - 1)
End If
End Function

---

I do like this way better - kudos longwolf

Code:

---

Dim ctrl As Control
      For Each ctrl In Me.Controls
        If ctrl.Tag = "Admin" Then
            ctrl.Visible = Not ctrl.Visible
        End If
      Next

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hack

- kudos longwolf

---

Thx :D
It's a handy way to to do anything that 'toggles'
I use it a lot to enable/disable menu items.

Hi,

Lots of things to have a look at here, thanks for the responses I will let you know how i get on.

Thanks

Daz......

Hi,

Thanks for eveyones responses.

I eventually used a mixture of 'Hacks', 'Longfwolfs' and some of my own idea's.

It toggles the hidden controls to be visible if the right key sequence is entered, then using the sequence again, hides the controls again.

Code below if anyone else needs something similar.

Thanks agin.

Daz.....

vb Code:

'==========
Option Explicit
Public dDebug as Boolean
 
Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
    Select Case bDebug
    Case True   'If already in debug mode then close debug mode
        If (Shift And vbCtrlMask) = vbCtrlMask And (Shift And vbShiftMask) = vbShiftMask And (KeyCode = vbKeyP) Then
            Call DebugMode(False)
        End If
    Case False    'If not in debug mode then open in debug mode
        If (Shift And vbCtrlMask) = vbCtrlMask And (Shift And vbShiftMask) = vbShiftMask And (KeyCode = vbKeyP) Then
            Call DebugMode(True)
        End If
    End Select
End Sub
 
'=====
 
Private Sub DebugMode(bValue As Boolean)
Select Case bValue
    Case False
        bDebug = False
        With frmXXX
            .Width = 10650 'Reduces Form Size Back To Users View
            .Height = 7060  'Reduces Form Size Back To Users View
        End With
    Case True
        bDebug = True
        With frmXXX
                .Width = 14820 'Enlarges Form Size Back To Debug View
                .Height = 7680  'Enlarges Form Size Back To Debug View
        End With
    End Select
 
With frmXXX
Dim Ctrl As Control
    For Each Ctrl In .Controls
        If Ctrl.Tag = "Debug" Then
            Ctrl.Visible = bDebug
        End If
    Next
End With
End Sub