Microsoft Access Hotkeys - Keyboard Shortcuts

Microsoft Access Hotkeys - Keyboard Shortcuts 

General shortcut keys

Global Access shortcut keys

Opening databases

To do this	Press
To open a new database	CTRL+N
To open an existing database	CTRL+O
To quit Microsoft Access	ALT+F4

Printing and saving

To do this	Press
To print the current or selected object	CTRL+P
To open the Print dialog box	P or CTRL+P
To open the Page Setup dialog box	S
To cancel Print Preview or Layout Preview	C or ESC
To save a database object	CTRL+S or SHIFT+F12 or ALT+SHIFT+F2
To open the Save As dialog box	F12 or ALT+F2

Using a combo box or list box

To do this	Press
To open a combo box	F4 or ALT+DOWN ARROW
To refresh the contents of a Lookup field (Lookup field: A field, used on a form or report in an Access database, that either displays a list of values retrieved from a table or query, or stores a static set of values.) list box or combo box	F9
To move down one line	DOWN ARROW
To move down one page	PAGE DOWN
To move up one line	UP ARROW
To move up one page	PAGE UP
To exit the combo box or list box	TAB

Finding and replacing text or data

To do this	Press
To open the Find tab in the Find and Replace dialog box (Datasheet view and Form view only)	CTRL+F
To open the Replace tab in the Find and Replace dialog box (Datasheet view and Form view only)	CTRL+H
To find the next occurrence of the text specified in the Find and Replace dialog box when the dialog box is closed (Datasheet view and Form view only)	SHIFT+F4

Working in Design view

To do this	Press
To switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation mode (Navigation mode: The mode in Microsoft Access in which an entire field is selected and the insertion point is not visible. In Navigation mode, you can move between fields by using the arrow keys.)	F2
To switch to the property sheet (Design view in forms and reports in databases and Access projects)	F4
To switch to Form view from form Design view	F5
To switch between the upper and lower portions of a window (Design view of tables, macros, and queries and the Advanced Filter/Sort window only)	F6
To switch to the Code Builder from form or report Design view (Design view window or property sheet)	F7
To switch from the Visual Basic Editor to form or report Design view	SHIFT+F7
To open property sheet for a selected object	ALT+V+P

Editing controls in form and report Design view

To do this	Press
To add a control to a section	SHIFT+ENTER
To copy the selected control to the Clipboard	CTRL+C
To cut the selected control and copy it to the Clipboard	CTRL+X
To paste the contents of the Clipboard in the upper-left corner of the selected section	CTRL+V
To move the selected control to the right	CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
To move the selected control to the left	CTRL+LEFT ARROW
To move the selected control up	CTRL+UP ARROW
To move the selected control down	CTRL+DOWN ARROW
To increase the height of the selected control	SHIFT+DOWN ARROW
To increase the width of the selected control	SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
To reduce the height of the selected control	SHIFT+UP ARROW
To reduce the width of the selected control	SHIFT+LEFT ARROW

Window operations

To do this	Press
To bring the Database window to the front	F11
To cycle between open windows	CTRL+F6
To restore the selected minimized window when all windows are minimized	ENTER
To turn on Resize mode for the active window when it’s not maximized; press the arrow keys to resize the window	CTRL+F8
To display the Control menu	ALT+SPACEBAR
To display the shortcut menu	SHIFT+F10
To close the active window	CTRL+W or CTRL+F4
To switch between the Visual Basic Editor and the previous active window	ALT+F11
To switch to the Microsoft Script Editor from the previous active window	ALT+SHIFT+F11

Working with Wizards

To do this	Press
Move to the Help button in the wizard	TAB
To move to the next window in the wizard	ALT+N
To move to the previous window in the wizard	ALT+B
To close the wizard window	ALT+F

Note  You can not use CTRL+TAB to navigate from one wizard window to another. CTRL+TAB will move the cursor between dialog boxes and controls on the wizard window.

Miscellaneous

To do this	Press
To display the complete hyperlink address for a selected hyperlink	F2
To check spelling	F7
To open the Zoom box to conveniently enter expressions and other text in small input areas	SHIFT+F2
To display a property sheet in Design view	ALT+ENTER
To quit Microsoft Access, close a dialog box, or close a property sheet	ALT+F4
To invoke a Builder	CTRL+F2
To toggle between a custom menu bar and a built-in menu bar	CTRL+F11
To toggle forward between views when in a table, query, form, report, page, view , PivotTable list, PivotChart report, stored procedure, or Access project (.adp) function. If there are additional views available, successive keystrokes will move to the next available view.	CTRL+RIGHT ARROW or CRTL+COMMA (,)
To toggle back between views when in a table, query, form, report, page, view, PivotTable list, PivotChart report, stored procedure, or .adp function. If there are additional views available, successive keystrokes will move to the previous view	CTRL+LEFT ARROW or CRTL+PERIOD (.)

Database window shortcut keys

Editing and navigating the Object list

To do this	Press
To rename a selected object	F2
To move down one line	DOWN ARROW
To move down one window	PAGE DOWN
To move to the last object	END
To move up one line	UP ARROW
To move up one window	PAGE UP
To move to the first object	HOME

Navigating and opening objects

To do this	Press
To cycle through the Objects bar top to bottom	CTRL+TAB
To cycle through the Objects bar bottom to top	SHIFT+CTRL+TAB
To open the selected table or query in Datasheet view, or form in Form view	ENTER or ALT+O
To open the selected report in Print Preview	ENTER
To open the selected data access page in Page view	ENTER
To run the selected macro	ENTER
To open the selected table, query, form, report, data access page, macro, or module in Design view	CTRL+ENTER or ALT+D
To create a new table, query, form, report, data access page, macro, or module	ALT+N
To refresh the Database window	F5
To display the Immediate window in the Visual Basic Editor	CTRL+G

Work with menus

To do this	Press
To show the shortcut menu	SHIFT+F10
To make the menu bar active	F10
To show the program icon menu (on the program title bar)	ALT+SPACEBAR
With the menu or submenu is visible, to select the next or previous command	DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW
To select the menu to the left or right; or, when a submenu is visible, to switch between the main menu and the submenu	LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW
To select the first or last command on the menu or submenu	HOME or END
To close the visible menu and submenu at the same time	ALT
To close the visible menu; or, with a submenu visible, to close the submenu only	ESC

Work with toolbars

To do this	Press
To select the next or previous toolbar	CTRL+TAB or CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
When a toolbar is active, to select the next or previous button or menu on the toolbar	TAB or SHIFT+TAB
When a menu on a toolbar is selected, to open the menu	ENTER
When a button is selected, to perform the action assigned to a button	ENTER

Work in windows and dialog boxes

Using a program window

To do this	Press
To switch to the next program	ALT+TAB
To switch to the previous program	ALT+SHIFT+TAB
To show the Windows Start menu	CTRL+ESC
To close the active database window	CTRL+W
To switch to the next database window	CTRL+F6
To switch to the previous database window	CTRL+SHIFT+F6
To restore the selected minimized window when all windows are minimized	ENTER

Using a dialog box

To do this	Press
To switch to the next tab in a dialog box	CTRL+TAB or CTRL+PAGE DOWN
To switch to the previous tab in a dialog box	CTRL+SHIFT+TAB or CTRL+PAGE UP
To move to the next option or option group	TAB
To move to the previous option or option group	SHIFT+TAB
To move between options in the selected drop-down list box, or to move between some options in a group of options	Arrow keys
To perform the action assigned to the selected button; select or clear the check box	SPACEBAR
To move to the option by the first letter in the option name in a drop-down list box	Letter key for the first letter in the option name you want (when a drop-down list box is selected)
To select the option, or to select or clear the check box by the letter underlined in the option name	ALT+letter key
To open the selected drop-down list box	ALT+DOWN ARROW
To close the selected drop-down list box	ESC
To perform the action assigned to the default button in the dialog box	ENTER
To cancel the command and close the dialog box	ESC
To close a dialog box	ALT+F4

Editing in a text box

To do this	Press
To move to the beginning of the entry	HOME
To move to the end of the entry	END
To move one character to the left or right	LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW
To move one word to the left or right	CTRL+LEFT ARROW or CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
To select from the insertion point to the beginning of the entry	SHIFT+HOME
To select from the insertion point to the end of the entry	SHIFT+END
To select one character to the left	SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
To select one character to the right	SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
To select one word to the left	CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
To select one word to the right	CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW

Work with the Open, File New Database, and Save dialog boxes

To do this	Press
Go to the previous folder ()	ALT+1
Open the folder up one level from the open folder (Up One Level button )	ALT+2
Close the dialog box, and open your World Wide WebWorld Wide Web search page (Search the Web button )	ALT+3
Delete the selected folder or file (Delete button )	ALT+4
Create a new subfolder in the open folder (Create New Folder button )	ALT+5
Switch between List, Details, Properties, and Preview views	ALT+6
Show the Tools menu (Tools button)	ALT+7

Work with task panes

To do this	Press
Move to a task pane (task pane: A window within an Office application that provides commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while still working on your files.) from another pane in the program window. (You may need to press F6 more than once.)	F6Note   If pressing F6 doesn't display the task pane you want, try pressing ALT to place focus on the menu bar, and then pressing CTRL+TAB to move to the task pane.
When a menu or toolbar (toolbar: A bar with buttons and options that you use to carry out commands. To display a toolbar, press ALT and then SHIFT+F10.) is active, move to a task pane. (You may need to press CTRL+TAB more than once.)	CTRL+TAB
When a task pane is active, select the next or previous option in the task pane	TAB or SHIFT+TAB
Display the full set of commands on the task pane menu	CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Move among choices in a selected submenu; move among certain options in a group of options	DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW
Open the selected menu, or perform the action assigned to the selected button	SPACEBAR or ENTER
Open a shortcut menu (shortcut menu: A menu that shows a list of commands relevant to a particular item. To display a shortcut menu, right-click an item or press SHIFT+F10.); open a drop-down menu for the selected gallery item	SHIFT+F10
When a menu or submenu is visible, select the first or last command on the menu or submenu	HOME or END
Scroll up or down in the selected gallery list	PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN
Move to the top or bottom of the selected gallery list	CTRL+HOME or CTRL+END

Keyboard shortcuts for using the Help task pane and Help window

The Help Pane is a task pane that provides access to all Office Help content. As a task pane, the Help Pane appears as part of the active application. The Help window displays topics and other Help content and appears as a window next to, but separate from, the active application.

In the Help task pane

To do this	Press
Display the Help task pane.	F1
Switch between the Help task pane and the active application.	F6
Select the next item in the Help task pane.	TAB
Select the previous item in the Help task pane.	SHIFT+TAB
Perform the action for the selected item.	ENTER
In a Table of Contents, select the next and previous item, respectively.	DOWN ARROW and UP ARROW
In a Table of Contents, expand and collapse the selected item, respectively.	RIGHT ARROW and LEFT ARROW
Move back to the previous task Pane.	ALT+LEFT ARROW
Move forward to the next task Pane.	ALT+RIGHT ARROW
Open the menu of Pane options.	CTRL+SPACEBAR
Close and reopen the current task pane.	CTRL+F1
Expand a +/- list.	RIGHT ARROW
Collapse a +/- list.	LEFT ARROW

In the Help window

To do this	Press
Select the next hidden text or hyperlink, or Show All or Hide All at the top of a topic	TAB
Select the previous hidden text or hyperlink, or the Browser View button at the top of a Microsoft Office Web site article	SHIFT+TAB
Perform the action for the selected Show All, Hide All, hidden text, or hyperlink	ENTER
Move back to the previous Help topic.	ALT+LEFT ARROW
Move forward to the next Help topic.	ALT+RIGHT ARROW
Print the current Help topic.	CTRL+P
Scroll small amounts up and down, respectively, within the currently-displayed Help topic.	UP ARROW AND DOWN ARROW
Scroll larger amounts up and down, respectively, within the currently-displayed Help topic.	PAGE UP AND PAGE DOWN
Change whether the Help window appears connected to (tiled) or separate from (untiled) the active application.	ALT+U
Display a menu of commands for the Help window; requires that the Help window have active focus (click an item in the Help window).	SHIFT+F10

Send e-mail messages

To do this	Press
Send the active database object as an e-mail message	ALT+F+D+A
Open the Address Book	CTRL+SHIFT+B
Check the names in the To, Cc, and Bcc boxes against the Address Book	ALT+K
Select the next box in the e-mail header or the body of the message when the last box in the e-mail header is active	TAB
Select the previous field or button in the e-mail header	SHIFT+TAB

Keys for working with text and data

Select text and data

Selecting text in a field

To do this	Press
To extend one character to the right	SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
To extend one word to the right	CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
To extend one character to the left	SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
To extend one word to the left	CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW

Selecting a field or record

Note  To cancel a selection, use the opposite arrow key.

To do this	Press
To select the next field	TAB
To switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation mode (Navigation mode: The mode in Microsoft Access in which an entire field is selected and the insertion point is not visible. In Navigation mode, you can move between fields by using the arrow keys.)	F2
To switch between selecting the current record and the first field of the current record, in Navigation mode	SHIFT+SPACEBAR
To extend selection to the previous record, if the current record is selected	SHIFT+UP ARROW
To extend selection to the next record, if the current record is selected	SHIFT+DOWN ARROW
To select all records	CTRL+A or CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR

Extending a selection

To do this	Press
To turn on Extend mode (EXT appears in the lower-right corner of the window); pressing F8 repeatedly extends the selection to the word, the field, the record (in Datasheet view only), and all records	F8
To extend a selection to adjacent fields in the same row in Datasheet view	LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW
To extend a selection to adjacent rows in Datasheet view	UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW
To undo the previous extension	SHIFT+F8
To cancel Extend mode	ESC

Selecting and moving a column in Datasheet view

To do this	Press
To select the current column or cancel the column selection, in Navigation mode (Navigation mode: The mode in Microsoft Access in which an entire field is selected and the insertion point is not visible. In Navigation mode, you can move between fields by using the arrow keys.) only	CTRL+SPACEBAR
To select the column to the right, if the current column is selected	SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
To select the column to the left, if the current column is selected	SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
To turn on Move mode (Move mode: The mode in which you can move column(s) in Datasheet view by using the left and right arrow keys.); then press the RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW key to move selected column(s) to the right or left	CTRL+SHIFT+F8

Edit text and data

Note  If the insertion point isn't visible, press F2 to display it.

Moving the insertion point in a field

To do this	Press
To move it one character to the right	RIGHT ARROW
To move it one word to the right	CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
To move it one character to the left	LEFT ARROW
To move it one word to the left	CTRL+LEFT ARROW
To move it to the end of the field, in single-line fields	END
To move it to the end of the field, in multiple-line fields	CTRL+END
To move it to the beginning of the field, in single-line fields	HOME
To move it to the beginning of the field, in multiple-line fields	CTRL+HOME

Copying, moving, or deleting text

To do this	Press
To copy the selection to the Clipboard	CTRL+C
To cut the selection and copy it to the Clipboard	CTRL+X
To paste the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point	CTRL+V
To delete the selection or the character to the left of the insertion point	BACKSPACE
To delete the selection or the character to the right of the insertion point	DELETE
To delete all characters to the right of the insertion point	CTRL+DELETE

Undoing changes

To do this	Press
To undo typing	CTRL+Z or ALT+BACKSPACE
To undo changes in the current field or current record; if both have been changed, press ESC twice to undo changes, first in the current field and then in the current record	ESC

Entering data in Datasheet or Form view

To do this	Press
To insert the current date	CTRL+SEMICOLON (;)
To insert the current time	CTRL+SHIFT+COLON (:)
To insert the default value for a field	CTRL+ALT+SPACEBAR
To insert the value from the same field in the previous record	CTRL+APOSTROPHE (')
To add a new record	CTRL+PLUS SIGN (+)
To delete the current record	CTRL+MINUS SIGN (-)
To save changes to the current record	SHIFT+ENTER
To switch between the values in a check box or option button	SPACEBAR
To insert a new line	CTRL+ENTER

Refreshing fields with current data

To do this	Press
To recalculate the fields in the window	F9
To requery (requery: To rerun a query underlying the active form or datasheet in order to reflect changes to the records, display newly added records, and eliminate deleted records.) the underlying tables; in a subform, this requeries the underlying table for the subform only	SHIFT+F9
Refresh the contents of a Lookup field (Lookup field: A field, used on a form or report in an Access database, that either displays a list of values retrieved from a table or query, or stores a static set of values.) list box or combo box	F9

Keys for navigating records

Navigate in Design view

To do this	Press
To switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation mode	F2
To switch to the property sheet (Design view in forms and reports in databases and Access projects)	F4
To switch to Form view from form Design view	F5
To switch between the upper and lower portions of a window (Design view of the Advanced Filter/Sort window only)	F6
To switch to the Code Builder from form or report Design view (Design view window or property sheet)	F7
Invokes the field list in a form, report , or data access page. If field list is already open, moves focus to field list	F8
To switch from the Visual Basic Editor to form or report Design view	SHIFT+F7
To switch from a control's