ACC2000: How to Use Animation ActiveX Control in Access

Example 1: Using the Animation Control to Animate a Command Button

1. Start Microsoft Access and create a new blank database called Animate.mdb.
   
2. Create a new form not based on any table or query in Design view.
   
3. On the Insert menu, click ActiveX Control.
   
4. In the Insert ActiveX Control dialog box, select Microsoft Animation Control, version 6.0, and then click OK.
   
5. Set the following properties for the animation control:
   

   
      Animation control
      -----------------
      Name: an1
      Visible: No
      Left: 1"
      Top: .5"
      Width: 1"
      Height: 1"
    

6. Add a command button to the form, and set the following properties:
   

   
      Command button
      --------------
      Name: cmd1
      Caption: Play Animation
      Left: 1"
      Top: .5"
      Width: 1"
      Height: 1"
      OnClick: [Event Procedure]
    

7. Type the following code in the command button's OnClick event procedure:
   
   

   Private Sub cmd1_Click()
   Dim AviFile As String
   
   ' Type the full path to the .avi file on the following line.
   AviFile = "path and filename"
   
      With an1
         .Visible = True
         .AutoPlay = True
         .Open AviFile
      End With
   End Sub
   

   NOTE: For the code to run properly you must insert the correct path and filename of your .avi file.
8. Save the form as frmAnimate, and then switch to Form view.
   
9. Click the command button and note that the .avi file plays on top of the command button.
   

Example 2: Selecting and Playing an Animation File

1. Follow steps 1 through 3 in Example 1.
   
2. On the Insert menu, click ActiveX Control.
   
3. In the Insert ActiveX Control dialog box, select Microsoft Animation Control, version 6.0, and then click OK.
   
4. Set the Name property of the animation control to An2.
   
5. On the Insert menu, click ActiveX Control.
   
6. In the Insert ActiveX Control dialog box, select Microsoft Common Dialog Control 6.0, and then click OK.
   
7. Set the Name property of the common dialog control to Cd2.
   
8. Add a command button to the form, and set the following properties:
   

   
      Command button
      --------------
      Name: cmd2
      Caption: Select & Play
      OnClick: [Event Procedure]
    

9. Type the following code in the command button's OnClick event procedure:
   

   Private Sub cmd2_Click()
      With Cd2
         .Filter = "avi (*.avi)|*.avi"
         .ShowOpen
      End With
      With An2
         .AutoPlay = True
         .Open Cd2.FileName
      End With
   End Sub
   

10. Save the form as frmSelectPlay, and then switch to Form view.
11. Click the command button.