Microsoft Access - Tip # 3: Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts in Forms

(NOTE: A 'control' is any field/item within the form or report, e.g. text box, checkbox.)

In addition to correct tab order (discussed in MS Access Tip # 2), providing shortcuts on forms to field data/controls may also assist the user with efficient data entry.

Keyboard shortcuts can be applied to field data / controls - the user would press ALT plus the assigned key, and the focus would move to the respective field/control.

To Assign a Keyboard Shortcut to a Field/Control Within a Form

• Open the form in design view - within the Database Window Forms Objects list, select the form and either click on the Design Button, , or press CTRL + ENTER.
• Within the form's design view, click on the required field/control and view its properties (one method is just double-clicking on the control). A property sheet similar to the following will be displayed:
  
• For the CAPTION property, enter an ampersand - & - to the left of the character that is to be the keyboard shortcut. In the above example pressing ALT + L will move the focus to the Location field.

NOTES:

• When an ampersand is included as part of the caption for the label, enter as two ampersands (&&). E.g. the CAPTION property for the label, Date & Time with the keyboard shortcut ALT + D, would be &Date && Time.
• For text boxes, applying a keyboard shortcut to a control will only work if the label is associated with the field control.

Related Tip:
Access Tip # 2: Tab Order in Forms