Microsoft Access Tips and Shortcut Keys

​Like MS Word and Excel, Microsoft Access has tricks for searching and navigating records. Following are some of the more commonly used filtering capabilities and keyboard shortcuts.

Searching Records
When searching records in MS Access, use the Right-click popup menu.

Basic Quick Filters:

Advanced Text Filters:

Navigation Within a Single Record

Tab key: Moves cursor forward in the textbox order.
Shift + Tab: Moves the cursor backwards to the preceding textbox.
Esc: Use the escape key to undo an edit.

• Hitting escape once will undo your edit in the current field.
• Clicking the escape key twice will undo all edits to the current record.

Shift + F2 Function Key: Opens the zoom box

​F4 Function Key: Opens drop-down lists

Navigation Between Records
​
Enter: Using the enter key will take focus to next line or next record.
Ctrl + PageUp: Focus moves to the next record.
Ctrl + PageDown: Focus moves to the previous record.

Ctrl+ (Plus Key): Using the Ctrl and + keys together takes focus to a new record.
Ctrl + “ (Ctrl + Quote key): Copies value of same column in previous record

Miscellaneous Shortcut Keys

Ctrl + P: When a report view is open in your window, Ctrl+P opens the Print dialog box.

Alt + F4 Function Key: Closes the entire Access Database

If you’ve any other questions about navigating your MS Access Database do feel free to contact me.
 
For More Data Management Articles See:

• Using Microsoft Access for Data Evolution Projects
• Yes – Microsoft Access works in a Multi-User Environment
• YES – Microsoft Access Can be Used Securely
• Deploying Microsoft Access in a Remote Environment
• Why You Should Care about RAD and How It Impacts Your Bottom Line ....