Hello all

I just found a code online that allows me to set the transparency of the form background making it semi transparent. I use it in combination with the progress bar making it look great.

I am still trying to figure out how the code exactly works, but maybe Richard can make a developer lesson explaining the code :-)

This is module:

Option Compare Database

Public Const GWL_STYLE = (-16)
Public Const GWL_EXSTYLE = (-20)
Public Const LWA_COLORKEY = &H1
Public Const LWA_ALPHA = &H2
Public Const WS_EX_LAYERED = &H80000
Public Declare PtrSafe Function GetWindowLong Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindowLongA" (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal nIndex As Long) As Long
Public Declare PtrSafe Function SetLayeredWindowAttributes Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal crKey As Long, ByVal bAlpha As Byte, ByVal dwFlags As Long) As Long
Public Declare PtrSafe Function SetWindowLong Lib "user32" Alias "SetWindowLongA" (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal nIndex As Long, ByVal dwNewLong As Long) As Long

Sub SetTransp(hWnd As Long, Lcolor As Long)
    On Error Resume Next
    Dim TransP As Long
    TransP = GetWindowLong(hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE)
    TransP = TransP Or WS_EX_LAYERED
    SetWindowLong hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE, TransP
    SetLayeredWindowAttributes hWnd, Lcolor, 0, LWA_COLORKEY
End Sub

Public Sub SetFormOpacity(frm As Form, sngOpacity As Single, TColor As Long)
Dim IngStyle As Long

IngStyle = GetWindowLong(frm.hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE)
SetWindowLong frm.hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE, IngStyle Or WS_EX_LAYERED
SetLayeredWindowAttributes frm.hWnd, TColor, (sngOpacity * 255), LWA_ALPHA
End Sub

And these are the settings of the form:

Private Sub Form_Load()

    DoCmd.Maximize
    
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Open(Cancel As Integer)

    Dim TransP As Long
    Dim OpacityValue As String
    
    Me.Painting = False
    
    SetFormOpacity Me, 0.8, TransP
    
    Me.Painting = True
    
End Sub

As soon as the form opens it gives a semi transparent background that can be adjusted by setting the 2nd variable in: SetFormOpacity