private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            curve_border();
            tool_tip();
            //show verification panel on load
            panel_verification.Size     = new Size(844, 406);
            panel_verification.Location = new Point(2, 143);
            panel_admin.Visible         = false;
            panel_staff_rec.Visible     = false;
            panel_verification.Visible  = true;
            //connect to server and laod records
            db_handle db = new db_handle();

            db._verify_db_exists();
            lbl_status.Text = db.n;
            //db._load_records();

            //append launch date and time to log_file to make error tracing easier
            try
            {
                System.IO.File.AppendAllText(Application.StartupPath + "\\app_logs\\program_log.txt", "\n--------" +
                                             "--------Program Log for " + DateTime.Now.ToShortDateString() + "---at---" + DateTime.Now.ToLongTimeString() +
                                             "----------------");
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("error " + ex.Message);
            }
        }