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Keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Access What are they, what are they for, and what are all of them?

Although, Microsoft Access is not such a recognized and used program compared to Word, Excel and PowerPoint, for example; the truth is, it is a tool that allows the optimal administration of databases in a simple, direct and effective way. Since, it has the ability to organize, search and present information taking advantage of the graphic power of Windows.

In this sense, it is one of the best software in the office world for work and present any information based on a data flow. The reason why, provides tables, queries, forms, reports and many other tools that simplify data management. Either using pre-designed solutions, updating and compiling intuitive and agile information, obtaining different formats from a single report, etc.

But, to achieve the highest possible productivity when handling this database program, it is worth opting for make use of the many keyboard shortcuts that the tool accepts. As a consequence, from this post, we will mention you the best keyboard shortcuts you can use in Access.

What are keyboard shortcuts in Access and what are they for?

Also known as “Keyboard shortcuts” and “key combination”, keyboard shortcuts refer to a key or a set of keys that have the ability to carry out a previously defined action within a software or application, in general terms. Which have been designed by the programmer or even by the user.

However, for keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Access, are defined as the combination of two or more keys that must be pressed to perform a specific task which usually requires a mouse or pointing device. Thus, they are elements that serve to facilitate interaction with the software and in such a way, obtain a greater productivity when using it.

What are the benefits of using keyboard shortcuts in Access?

Basically, the keyboard shortcuts corresponding to Access help users to work in a more efficient way when handling the databases that are opened within the program. Taking into account that, this is due to the fact that they allow perform daily actions in a much shorter time than usual. That is why, both in this software Access as well as in other programs, applications or tools, using keyboard shortcuts provides excellent benefits.

Therefore, below, we mention the most important of them:

  • Allow save a lot of time when to organize, search and present information. Which, also reduce effort when working on the program.
  • They are optimal for ensure higher productivity, given that key combinations are characterized by reducing the number of steps that have to be executed to complete a task. Either using the mouse, navigating menus, or typing extensive instructions.
  • The keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Access have the ability to optimize the user experience, notably. Since, they are simple to use and of great help.
  • They are ideal solutions for all those users of Microsoft Access who have reduced mobility or visual impairment. Whereby, manage to openly incentivize inclusion.

List of all keyboard shortcuts that can be used in Access

If you want to win productivity while you work with Microsoft Access, as well as acquiring a greater facility to work with the menus and other commands, carry out different actions and, ultimately, specify an optimal user experience, It is essential that you use the keyboard shortcuts that this software supports.

Therefore, here we present the most interesting of all, through the following categories:

The most used

The most used

First of all, we will focus on mentioning to you which are all those key combinations that are most used in Access to create, modify or manage databases directly from your PC.

Let’s see below:

To navigate the ribbon

To navigate the ribbon

In case you didn’t know him yet, the band located at the top of Microsoft Access that is ordered through tabs, it’s called the “ribbon”. Therefore, through the keyboard shortcuts, you can scroll along it to enter the available tabs and from there, see both the groups and the commands that each one contains.

In that sense, the first available way to go to the ribbon of Access, it simply is pressing the “Alt” key and to scroll through the tabs there, you will have to use the left and right arrow keys.

But, additionally, there is another way to go directly to a tab on the ribbon and it is by relying on one of the following KeyTips or “special key combinations”:

To work with the database files

To work with the database files

In this case, in order to perfectly manage all your documents Database, either to open, save or print your informationIt is valuable that you are clear about the key combinations that allow you to save more time during these processes.

Below, we mention each one:

To use menus, dialog boxes, wizards, and property sheets

To use menus, dialog boxes, wizards, and property sheets

If you want to work with menus, make use of dialog boxes, as well as wizards and property sheets, you have to know the following keyboard shortcuts that are suitable for this type of task in Access:

To navigate in the software workspace

To navigate in the software workspace

By default, the databases of Microsoft Access They are displayed as completely common tabbed documents.

However, there is the possibility of modifying this by documents in windows and in order to do so, it will be necessary to carry out the following process:

  • Click on the tab “Archive” and among the alternatives available there, choose “Options”.
  • After that, click on “current database”, within the dialog box Access Options.
  • Finally, from the document window, proceed to choose “overlapping windows” and ready.

For its part, in order to navigate in the Microsoft Access workspace, we recommend that you use the following key combinations to simplify all the steps:

To work with objects

To work with objects

For no one is a secret that, in Access, objects are widely used. Thus, at the time of edit and navigate the list of objects, open them or navigate between them, you can make use of the following keyboard shortcuts that guarantee remarkable productivity.

Let’s see below:

To work with panels

To work with panels

Whether to use a diagram pane, grid pane, or Field List pane with a form or report in Design view or in View Presentation, you have the possibility to execute different key combinations directly from Access.

Which are:

To select text or data

To select text or data

Another fundamental point, when using keyboard shortcuts in Access It is about knowing how select text or data from your files.

Next, we show you how to choose, extend, search and replace text or data, using the keyboard:

To edit text or data

To edit text or data

In addition to select, search, replace and extend text or the data within a document of Microsoft Access, the program also allows you to edit them.

If you choose to do it directly from your keyboard, you will have to use the following shortcuts:

For help with Microsoft Access

For help with Microsoft Access

The keyboard shortcuts that we present below correspond to the window Help of the program that promises to offer you optimal assistance through all the content available in said panel.

With which, you will be able to optimize your user experience in an easy and agile way: