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Welcome! Dynamic Kanban Board with Drag & Drop

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Welcome to Microsoft Access Developer Level 58. In this course we will build a dynamic Kanban board system in Microsoft Access, transforming a fixed board into a flexible, developer-level project with configurable columns, runtime control layouts, stored coordinates, and drag and drop behavior. We will discuss techniques for moving and resizing controls in VBA, adapting forms at runtime, and designing a more interactive interface. We will also review recommended prerequisites, video navigation, and how to ask questions for each lesson. The course includes storing and managing dynamic layouts, handling mouse events, and providing a polished user experience with real-time feedback.

Navigation

Prev: D58
Next: Lesson 1

Keywords

Access Developer, dynamic Kanban board, VBA drag and drop, Kanban form layout, configurable columns, runtime control positioning, mouse coordinate math, stored control coordinates, resize controls VBA, interactive interface, recordset clone, mouse pointer

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Intro

Transcript

Welcome to Microsoft Access Developer Level 58 brought to you by Access Learning Zone. I am your instructor Richard Rost. Today we are going to build a dynamic Kanban board system in Microsoft Access. We will start with the fixed Kanban board from the TechHelp series that I built and turn it into a real developer-level project with configurable columns, runtime form layouts, stored control coordinates, mouse coordinate math, drag and drop behavior, yes folks, dragging and dropping from one list to another, and even dynamic mouse pointer changes.

By the end of this level, you will have a much better understanding of how to move and resize controls in VBA and how to make access forms adapt themselves at runtime. You will learn how to build a more polished interactive interface instead of just hard coding everything in place.

This is one of those projects where we take something useful and then start thinking like developers. How do we make it flexible, reusable, and easier to maintain?

This video follows Access Developer 57, but of course, I recommend you take my entire course before this. There are lots and lots of techniques from VBA to recordset clones to all kinds of stuff. So if there is a specific topic that you are not familiar with, check the outline and go back and watch those lessons because there are tons of them in this one. As I always say, do not skip levels. My course is designed to be taken one after the other so if you are jumping around, you are going to have to jump around in order to go find what you need.

It is currently June of 2026 so I am using Microsoft 365 which is roughly equivalent to Microsoft Access 2024, but I do recommend the subscription version so you constantly get the latest updates and the new features. I cannot think of anything in this video that will not be compatible going all the way back to at least Access 2007, so pretty much every version will work with today's lessons. I am not one hundred percent certain about the drag and drop stuff but if anybody has a problem with it let me know.

Now before you start level one, I strongly recommend that you watch the two-part Kanban TechHelp series videos and the extended cut before starting with this. These videos build on the basic Kanban board system that we built in the TechHelp videos and even if you are not normally an extended cut member that is fine. This special link on this page will let you watch that video as long as you have purchased Access Developer 58, so use this link here and do not try to use the one on the TechHelp page.

If you have questions now you can post your questions at the bottom of each video page. Every video now opens up on its own page. You can scroll right down and type in questions about lesson one, or if you are on lesson two it opens up on its own page and you can post questions about lesson two right there. The benefit is that every video now has its own discussion thread and you can post source code and we can discuss things that are in the lesson and you do not have to worry about giving away stuff. I do not care if you post your source code on the lesson pages. If you have general access questions not related to this specific class please post them in the forum so that everyone else can benefit from the answers to those.

All right, let us take a closer look at what is covered in each lesson.

In lesson one we are going to build the first part of the dynamic Kanban layout. We will create additional list boxes and labels, store their positions and sizes in a status table, and use VBA to move, resize, show, and hide the controls at runtime. You will have nine total boxes right here on your form, and then based on how many you are going to display in the table, for example, if you have set up to display six, when the form opens up, you are going to get six of them.

In lesson two we will refine that layout system. We will track the number of active boxes, hide and compact unused controls, center the navigation buttons and info panel, and then do safety checks so the form behaves properly when the number of visible columns changes.

In lesson three we will start the drag and drop system. We will use mouse events, X and Y coordinates, and control boundaries on the form to figure out exactly which list box the user dropped a record onto. This is some cool stuff.

In lesson four we will finish the drag and drop behavior. We will move records between the list boxes, require the controls, clean up any runtime glitches, and fix design utility. We will change the mouse pointer while the user is dragging, and everything will look really awesome.

By the end of this level, you will have a working dynamic Kanban board with configurable columns, runtime control positioning, drag and drop between the list boxes, mouse pointer feedback, and a much better feel for how access forms can be controlled through VBA. This is not just a Kanban project. These techniques apply anywhere you need a form that can rearrange itself, respond to user actions, and behave more like a real application interface. I have applied some of the same tricks to a new version 2.0 of the calendar seminar that I have coming out, that dynamically resizes the days of the month. There are all kinds of cool things you can do with this.

I always recommend you watch each video once through completely, then watch it a second time and follow along with the examples.

Are you ready? Sit back, relax, and let us get ready to start lesson one. And of course, live long and prosper my friends. I will see you in a few minutes in lesson one.

Quiz

Q1. What is the main project built in this lesson?
A. A dynamic Kanban board system in Microsoft Access
B. A static calendar system in Microsoft Excel
C. A project management dashboard in PowerPoint
D. An automated email system in Outlook

Q2. What is a key difference between the Kanban board in this level and the previous fixed board?
A. The columns are now configurable and dynamic
B. The board only allows one list at a time
C. It no longer uses VBA
D. It relies solely on macros instead of code

Q3. Which of the following features is included in the dynamic Kanban system?
A. Drag and drop between list boxes
B. Sending SMS notifications
C. Email integration
D. Cloud syncing

Q4. What data will be stored in the status table to help with dynamic layouts?
A. Positions and sizes of controls
B. User passwords
C. Data connection strings
D. Chart colors

Q5. What should you do if you are not familiar with a specific technique discussed in the lesson?
A. Refer to the course outline and watch related previous lessons
B. Skip it and move on
C. Look for answers only on external forums
D. Ignore it and try to guess

Q6. What versions of Microsoft Access should this project be compatible with, according to the instructor?
A. Access 2007 and later
B. Only the newest version
C. Access 2003 only
D. Access for Mac

Q7. What does the instructor recommend regarding the order in which to take the lessons?
A. Take the lessons in sequence without skipping levels
B. Start at any lesson you prefer
C. Only take even numbered lessons
D. Watch lessons in reverse order

Q8. What mouse-related feature will you learn to implement in this course?
A. Drag and drop between columns with pointer feedback
B. Drawing freehand sketches on forms
C. Mouse gesture shortcuts for queries
D. Double click to export to Excel

Q9. Where can you post your questions related to lesson content?
A. At the bottom of each video page in the discussion thread
B. Only by email to the instructor
C. On any unrelated forum page
D. You cannot post questions at all

Q10. What is the instructor's advice for learning efficiently with this course?
A. Watch each video through once, then again while following along
B. Only read the transcripts
C. Skip practical exercises
D. Just watch the summaries

Answers: 1-A; 2-A; 3-A; 4-A; 5-A; 6-A; 7-A; 8-A; 9-A; 10-A

DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.

Summary

Today's video from Access Learning Zone is all about building a dynamic Kanban board system in Microsoft Access. As your instructor, Richard Rost, I'll walk you through the entire process. We'll take the simple fixed Kanban board that I created in the TechHelp series and convert it into a much more advanced developer-level project. This means you will be able to set up configurable columns, manage form layouts at runtime, store control positions, and handle mouse coordinate math. We'll even add features like drag and drop between lists, including changing the mouse pointer for visual feedback.

By the end of this level, you should have a strong grasp on how to move and resize controls with VBA and make forms adapt themselves dynamically as your database runs. Rather than hard coding every detail, you'll learn how to design a much more polished, interactive interface that can be customized and is easier to maintain.

The focus here is not just about creating another Kanban board. It's about shifting your mindset to think more like a developer. How can you make tools that are flexible, reusable, and easy to maintain as your project grows?

This lesson builds directly on what we covered in Access Developer 57. Ideally, you should have worked through all my previous levels, as the techniques we will use - from VBA fundamentals to working with recordset clones - are covered in earlier lessons. If you need to brush up on something, check the course outline to review specific topics before continuing. My course is designed to be taken in sequence for a reason, and skipping around may require backtracking if you run into something unfamiliar.

As of June 2026, I am teaching these lessons using Microsoft 365, which is comparable to Access 2024. I always recommend using the subscription version so you have access to the latest updates and features. The content in this video is compatible with most older versions as well, going back to at least Access 2007. The only area where older versions might face issues could be with the drag and drop functionality. If you encounter any problems, please let me know.

Before starting this lesson, I highly suggest watching the two-part Kanban TechHelp series, including the extended cut. These videos establish the foundation for the dynamic Kanban board we will build together. Even if you are not normally an extended cut member, purchasing Access Developer 58 gives you special access to that extended Kanban video.

If you have questions as you move through the material, you can now post them at the bottom of each video page. Each lesson has its own dedicated comment section, so you can ask questions directly related to the current topic and even share code there. For general Access questions not connected to a specific lesson, please use the forum so the broader community can benefit from the answers.

Here is an overview of what we will cover in each lesson:

Lesson one introduces you to the basics of a dynamic Kanban layout. We'll create multiple list boxes and labels, store their positions and sizes in a status table, and then use VBA at runtime to arrange, resize, show, or hide these controls. We'll start with nine total boxes on your form, but you can configure the number of boxes to display in your table. For example, if you decide to use six, the form will recognize that and only show six boxes when it loads.

In lesson two, we will refine the layout system further. We will track how many boxes are active, hide and compact the unused ones, and adjust the navigation buttons and info panel to stay centered. We'll also build in safety checks to ensure everything works correctly as the number of visible columns changes.

Lesson three is where we will create the drag and drop system. We'll use mouse event handling, coordinate math, and control boundaries to determine exactly where the user drops a record. This adds a new level of interaction to your board.

Lesson four completes the drag and drop features. Here, we move records between list boxes, requery controls, fix any runtime issues, and polish the design. We'll adjust the mouse pointer during dragging so users see visual feedback as they move items, creating a much smoother user experience.

At the end of this level, you will have a fully operational, dynamic Kanban board with configurable columns, runtime control positioning, active drag and drop, mouse pointer feedback, and a deeper understanding of what Access forms can do with VBA. These skills are not limited to Kanban boards. If you need a form that rearranges itself or responds to user actions for any application, the techniques taught here will apply. I am even using some of these tricks in an updated version of my calendar seminar, which dynamically resizes days in the month. There is a lot you can do once you master these concepts.

As always, I recommend you watch each video through once to get the big picture, and then a second time to work through the examples step by step.

Now, get ready to begin lesson one. Live long and prosper, my friends.

You can find a complete video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on everything discussed here on my website at the link below.

Topic List

Building a dynamic Kanban board in Microsoft Access
Converting a fixed Kanban board to a developer-level project
Making Kanban columns configurable
Storing and retrieving control positions and sizes in a table
Using VBA to move and resize controls at runtime
Showing and hiding form controls dynamically
Displaying a variable number of Kanban columns based on table settings
Hiding and compacting unused controls
Centering navigation buttons and info panel on a form
Implementing safety checks for dynamic layouts
Using mouse events to track drag and drop actions
Calculating mouse X and Y coordinates in form controls
Determining target list box for record drop
Implementing drag and drop between list boxes
Moving records between Kanban columns with drag and drop
Changing the mouse pointer during drag operations
Polishing the form interface for interactive use
Making forms adapt their layout at runtime using VBA
Making interactive, flexible, and reusable form layouts in Access
Techniques for forms that respond to user actions

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