Access
Access Shortcut Keys and Tips
Use shortcut keys for menus
Using a menu
Show the shortcut menu
Make the menu bar active
Show the program icon
menu (on the program title
bar)
Select the next or previous
command on the menu or
submenu
Select the menu to the left
or right; or, with a submenu
visible, switch between the
main menu and the
submenu
Select the first or last
command on the menu or
submenu
Close the visible menu and
submenu at the same time
Close the visible menu; or,
with a submenu visible,
close the submenu only
Use shortcut keys for toolbars
Using a toolbar
Make the menu bar active
Select the next or previous
toolbar
Select the next or previous
button or menu on the
toolbar
Open the menu
Perform the action assigned
to a button
Enter text in a text box
Select an option from a
drop-down list box or from
a drop-down menu on a
button
Use shortcut keys for windows and dialog boxes
Using a window
Switch to the next program
Switch to the previous
program
Show the Windows Start
menu
Close the active database CTRL + W
window
Press Switch to the next database CTRL + F6
SHIFT + F10 window
F10 Switch to the previous CTRL + SHIFT + F6
ALT + SPACEBAR database window
Select a folder in the Open ALT + 0 to select the folder
or Save As dialog box (File list; arrow keys to select a
DOWN ARROW or UP menu) folder
ARROW (with the menu or Choose a toolbar button in ALT + number (1 is the
submenu displayed) the Open or Save As dialog leftmost button, 2 is the next,
LEFT ARROW or box (File menu) and so on)
RIGHT ARROW Update the files visible in F5
the Open or Save As dialog
box (File menu)
Using a dialog box Press
HOME or END
Switch to the next tab in a CTRL + TAB or CTRL +
dialog box PAGE DOWN
Switch to the previous tab in CTRL + SHIFT + TAB or
ALT
a dialog box CTRL + PAGE UP
Move to the next option or TAB
ESC
option group
Move to the previous option SHIFT + TAB
or option group
Move between options in Arrow keys
Press the selected drop-down list
F10 box or between some
CTRL + TAB or CTRL + options in a group of
SHIFT + TAB options
TAB or SHIFT + TAB (when Perform the action assigned SPACEBAR
a toolbar is active) to the selected button; select
or clear the check box
ENTER (when a menu on a Move to the option by the Letter key for the first letter
toolbar is selected) first letter in the option in the option name you want
ENTER (when a button is name in a drop-down list (when a drop-down list box is
selected) box selected)
ENTER (when the text box is Select the option or select or ALT + letter key
selected) clear the check box by the
Arrow keys to move through letter underlined in the
options in the list or menu; option name
ENTER to select the option Open a drop-down list box ALT + DOWN ARROW
you want (when a drop-down (when a drop-down list box is
list box is selected) selected)
Close a drop-down list box ESC (when a drop-down list
box is selected)
Press Perform the action assigned ENTER
ALT + TAB to the default button in the
ALT + SHIFT + TAB dialog box
Cancel the command and ESC
CTRL + ESC close the dialog box
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Editing in a text box Press To display What's This SHIFT + F1

Move to the beginning of
the entry
Move to the end of the entry END
Move one character to the
left or right
Move one word to the left
or right
Select from the insertion
point to the beginning of the
entry
Select from the insertion
point to the end of the entry
Select or unselect one
character to the left
Select or unselect one
character to the right
Select or unselect one word
to the left
Select or unselect one word
to the right
Use shortcut keys on the Office Assistant
To
Make the Office Assistant
balloon active
Select a Help topic from the ALT + number (1 is the first
topics the Office Assistant
displays
See more Help topics
See previous Help topics
Close an Office Assistant
message
Get Help from the Office
Assistant
Display the next tip
Display the previous tip
Close tips
Use global Microsoft Access shortcut keys
Displaying help
To dis play the Office
Assistant, Microsoft Access
Contents and Index;
context -sensitive help about
the selected property,
control, macro action, or
Visual Basic keyword; or
alerts with a Help button.
HOME help; after pressing
SHIFT + F1, move the
pointer to the menu
command, toolbar button,
LEFT ARROW or RIGHT
dialog box option, or screen
ARROW
region, and then
CTRL + LEFT ARROW or
CTRL + RIGHT ARROW Opening databases Press
SHIFT + HOME To open a new database CTRL + N
To open an existing CTRL + O
database
SHIFT + END Printing and saving Press
To print the current or CTRL + P
SHIFT + LEFT ARROW selected object
To save a database object CTRL + S or SHIFT + F12 or
SHIFT + ALT + SHIFT + F2
RIGHT ARROW To open the Save As dialog F12 or ALT + F2
CTRL + SHIFT + box
LEFT ARROW Using a Combo box or list Press
CTRL + SHIFT + box
RIGHT ARROW To open a combo box F4 or ALT +
DOWN ARROW
To refresh the contents of a F9
Press
Lookup field list box or
ALT + F6: repeat until the combo box
balloon is active To move down one line DOWN ARROW
To move down one page PAGE DOWN
topic, 2 is the second, and so
To move up one line UP ARROW
on)
To move up one page PAGE UP
ALT + DOWN ARROW
To exit the combo box or TAB
ALT + UP ARROW list box
ESC
Finding and replacing text Press
or data
F1
To open the Find dialog box CTRL + F
ALT + N (Datasheet view, Form
ALT + B view, and Module Window
ESC only)
To open the Replace dialog CTRL + H
box (Datasheet view, Form
Press view, and Module Window
F1 only)
To find the next occurrence SHIFT + F4
of the text specified in the
Find or Replace dialog box
when the dialog box is
closed (Datasheet view and
Form view only)
Working in Design view Press
To switch between edit F2
mode (with insertion point
displayed) and navigation
mode
To select a form or report CTRL + R
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To switch to Form view F5 Navigating and opening Press

from form design or a form objects
module To cycle through the tab of CTRL + TAB
To switch between the F6 each object's type
upper and lower portions of To cycle through the tab of SHIFT + CTRL + TAB
a window (Design view of each object's type right to
tables, macros, and queries left
and the Advanced To open the selected table ENTER
Filter/Sort window only) or query in Datasheet view,
To add a control to a section SHIFT + ENTER or form in Form view
(Form and Report Design To open the selected report ENTER
view only) For more in Print Preview
information, click To run the selected macro ENTER
Window operations Press To open the selected table, CTRL + ENTER or
To bring the Database F11 or ALT + F1 query, form, report, macro, ALT + D
window to the front or module in Design view
To cycle between open CTRL + F6 Use shortcut keys to select text or data
windows
To restore the selected ENTER Selecting text in a field Press
minimized window when all To extend one character to SHIFT +
windows are minimized the right RIGHT ARROW
To display the Control ALT + SPACEBAR To extend one word to the CTRL + SHIFT +
menu right RIGHT ARROW
To close the active window CTRL + W or CTRL + F4 To extend one character to SHIFT + LEFT ARROW
Miscellaneous Press the left
To extend one word to the CTRL + SHIFT +
To display the complete F2
left LEFT ARROW
hyperlink address for a
selected hyperlink Note: To cancel a selection, use the opposite arrow key.
To check spelling F7
Selecting a field or record Press
To open the Zoom box to SHIFT + F2
conveniently enter To select the next field TAB
expressions and other text in To switch between Edit F2
small input areas mode (with insertion point
To display a property sheet ALT + ENTER displayed) and Navigation
To quit Microsoft Access, ALT + F4 mode
close a dialog box, or close To switch between selecting SHIFT + SPACEBAR
a property sheet the current record and the
To invoke a Builder CTRL + F2 first field of the current
To toggle between a custom CTRL + F11 record, in Navigation mode
menu bar and a built-in To extend selection to the SHIFT + UP ARROW
menu bar previous record, if the
current record is selected
Use shortcut keys in the Database window To extend selection to the SHIFT +
Editing and navigating the Press next record, if the current DOWN ARROW
list of objects record is selected
To rename a selected object F2 To select all records CTRL + A or CTRL +
To move down one line DOWN ARROW SHIFT + SPACEBAR
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

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Extending a selection Press Copying, moving, or Press

To turn on Extend mode F8 deleting text
(EXT appears in the lower To copy the selection to the CTRL + C
right corner of the window); Clipboard
pressing F8 repeatedly To cut the selection and CTRL + X
extends the selection to the copy it to the Clipboard
word, the field, the record To paste the contents of the CTRL + V
(in Datasheet view only), Clipboard at the insertion
and all records point
To extend a selection to LEFT ARROW, or To delete the selection or BACKSPACE
adjacent fields in the same RIGHT ARROW the character to the left of
row in Datasheet view the insertion point
To extend a selection to UP ARROW, DOWN To delete the selection or DEL
adjacent rows in Datasheet ARROW the character to the right of
view the insertion point
To undo the previous SHIFT + F8 Undoing changes Press
extension To undo typing CTRL + Z or ALT +
To cancel Extend mode ESC BACKSPACE
Selecting a column in Press To undo changes in the ESC
Datasheet view current field or current
To select the current column CTRL + SPACEBAR record; if both have been
or cancel the column changed, press ESC twice to
selection, in Navigation undo changes first in the
mode only current field and then in the
To select the column to the RIGHT ARROW current record
right, if the current column Entering data in Datasheet Press
is selected or Form view
To select the column to the LEFT ARROW To insert the current date CTRL +
left, if the current column is SEMICOLON (;)
selected To insert the current time CTRL + COLON (:)
Use shortcut keys to edit text or data To insert the default value CTRL + ALT + SPACEBAR
for a field
Note: If the insertion point isn't visible, press F2 to display it. To insert the value from the CTRL +
Moving the insertion point Press same field in the previous APOSTROPHE (')
in a field record
To move it one character to RIGHT ARROW To add a new record CTRL +
the right PLUS SIGN ( + )
To move it one word to the CTRL + To delete the current record CTRL +
right RIGHT ARROW MINUS SIGN (-)
To move it one character to LEFT ARROW To save changes to the SHIFT + ENTER
the left current record
To move it one word to the CTRL + LEFT ARROW To switch between the SPACEBAR
left values in a check box or
To move it to the end of the END option button
field, in single-line fields To insert a new line CTRL + ENTER
To move it to the end of the CTRL + END Refreshing fields with Press
field, in multiple-line fields current data
To move it to the beginning HOME To recalculate the fields in F9
of the field, in single-line the window
fields To requery the underlying SHIFT + F9
To move it to the beginning CTRL + HOME tables; in a subform, this
of the field, in multiple-line requeries the underlying
fields table for the subform only

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Refresh the contents of a F9 To turn off Move mode ESC

Lookup field list box or Use shortcut keys to navigate in Form view
combo box
Go to a specific record Press
Use shortcut keys to navigate in Datasheet view
To move to the record F5
Going to a specific record Press number box; then type the
To move to the record F5 record number and press
number box; then type the ENTER
record number and press Navigate between fields Press
ENTER and records
Navigating between fields Press To move to the next field TAB
and records To move to the previous SHIFT + TAB
To move to the next field TAB, ENTER, or field
RIGHT ARROW To move to the last field in END
To move to the last field in END the current record, in
the current record, in Navigation mode
Navigation mode To move to the last field in CTRL + END
To move to the previous SHIFT + TAB, or the last record, in
field LEFT ARROW Navigation mode
To move to the first field in HOME To move to the first field in HOME
the current record, in the current record, in
Navigation mode Navigation mode
To move to the current field DOWN ARROW To move to the first field in CTRL + HOME
in the next record the first record, in
To move to the current field CTRL + Navigation mode
in the last record, in DOWN ARROW To move to the current field CTRL + PAGE DOWN
Navigation mode in the next record
To move to the last field in CTRL + END To move to the current field CTRL + PAGE UP
the last record, in in the previous record
Navigation mode Navigate between sections Press
To move to the current field UP ARROW of a record
in the previous record To cycle forward through F6
To move to the current field CTRL + UP ARROW sections
in the first record, in To cycle back through SHIFT + F6
Navigation mode sections
To move to the first field in CTRL + HOME
Navigate in forms with Press
the first record, in more than one page
Navigation mode
To go down one page; at the PAGE DOWN
Navigate to another screen Press
end of the record, moves to
of data
the equivalent page on the
To go down one screen PAGE DOWN next record
To go up one screen PAGE UP To go up one page; at the PAGE UP
To go right one screen CTRL + PAGE DOWN end of the record, moves to
To go left one screen CTRL + PAGE UP the equivalent page on the
To move columns Press previous record
To turn on Move mode CTRL + F8 Navigate between the Press
(MOV appears in the lower main form and subform
right corner of the window) To enter the subform from TAB
To move the selected RIGHT ARROW the preceding field in the
column to the right one main form
column in Move mode To enter the subform from SHIFT + TAB
To move the selected LEFT ARROW the following field in the
column to the left one main form
column in Move mode
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To exit the subform and CTRL + TAB To move to the upper-left CTRL + HOME
move to the next field in the corner of the page
master form or next record Use shortcut keys in the Module and Debug
To exit the subform and CTRL + SHIFT + TAB windows
move to the previous field
in the main form or previous View Visual Basic code Press
record To display the Object F2
Use shortcut keys in Print Preview and Layout Browser
Preview To display the Calls dialog CTRL + L
box
Dialog box and window Press To view a procedure SHIFT + F2
operations definition, variable, or
To open the Print dialog box P or CTRL + P keyword
To open the Page Setup S To return to the last line CTRL + SHIFT + F2
dialog box position in the previously
To zoom in or out on a part Z viewed procedure
of the page To display the previous CTRL + UP ARROW
To cancel Print Preview or C or ESC procedure
Layout Preview To display the next CTRL +
View different pages Press procedure DOWN ARROW
To move to the page F5 To display context -sensitive F1
number box; then type the Help about the keyword
page number and press containing the insertion
ENTER point
To view the next page PAGE DOWN or To put focus on the Object CTRL + F2
(when Fit To Window is DOWN ARROW Box
selected) To put focus on the CTRL + F2
To view the previous page PAGE UP or Procedure Box (then press TAB)
(when Fit To Window is UP ARROW To list properties and CTRL + J
selected) methods
Navigate in Print and Press To list constants CTRL + SHIFT + J
Layout Preview To enter the selected item in CTRL-ENTER or TAB
a list
To scroll down in small DOWN ARROW
increments To enter the selected item ENTER
and move the cursor to the
To scroll down one full PAGE DOWN
next line
screen
To make the list disappear ESC
To move to the bottom of CTRL +
To display quick CTRL + I
the page DOWN ARROW
information
To scroll up in small UP ARROW
increments To display parameter CTRL + SHIFT + I
information
To scroll up one full screen PAGE UP
To complete the Visual CTRL + SPACEBAR
To move to the top of the CTRL + UP ARROW
Basic keyword
page
To scroll to the right in RIGHT ARROW Edit Visual Basic code Press
small increments To select all visible code in CTRL + A
To move to the right edge of END or CTRL + the Module window
the page RIGHT ARROW To find the next occurrence F3
To move to the lower-right CTRL + END of the text specified in the
corner of the page Find or Replace dialog box
To scroll to the left in small LEFT ARROW when the dialog box is
increments closed
To move to the left edge of HOME or CTRL +
the page LEFT ARROW

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To find the previous SHIFT + F3

occurrence of the text
specified in the Find or
Replace dialog box when
the dialog box is closed
To find the next occurrence CTRL + F3
of selected text
To indent selected lines TAB or CTRL + M
To remove indentation from SHIFT + TAB or CTRL +
selected lines SHIFT + M
To cut the current line and CTRL + Y
copy it to the Clipboard
Run and debug Visual Press
Basic code
To display the Debug CTRL + G
window
To run a parameterless F5
subprocedure containing the
insertion point, from the
Module window
To switch between the F6
upper and lower panes
To step into a procedure F8
(single step)
To step over a procedure SHIFT + F8
To step out of a procedure CTRL + SHIFT + F8
To run code to the current CTRL + F8
insertion point and halt
execution
To create an instant watch SHIFT + F9
for a selected expression
To toggle a breakpoint at F9
the selected line
To clear all breakpoints CTRL + SHIFT + F9
To set the next statement CTRL + F9
To halt the execution of CTRL + BREAK
code or a macro
To continue execution of F5
code or macro
To reset execution of code SHIFT + F5
or macro
To toggle between breaking ALT + F5
and not breaking on
unhandled errors and then
step to the next statement
To toggle between breaking ALT + F8
and not breaking in class
modules and then continue
execution

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