Add a Countdown to a Timeout Message Box

Last updated: 16 Apr 2026

The MsgBoxTC function adds both an optional timeout and a countdown to new style Fluent UI message boxes in Access 365. It can also add the same functionality to old style message box with a bold first line and to standard message boxes with no formatting. It also supports Unicode text and responds to Office themes and Ease of Access settings

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Add a Timeout to Message Boxes

Last updated: 5 Mar 2026

This article shows several ways of adding a timeout to Access message boxes.

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Add colour to queries, combos & listboxes

Last updated: 14 Feb 2018

This article explains how colour formatting can be used for formatting text, number and date fields in queries and tables.

A similar approach can be used for text boxes, combo boxes and list boxes in forms

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Add references using code

Last updated: 25 Sept 2022

This article explains how to list references in a table or save these to a text file. It also describes 2 methods of adding references in code - using GUID or file name

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Age Calculations

Last updated: 28 June 2023

This article gives various functions for calculating age in years, years and months, years, months and days or even calculated to the nearest second.

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Align Text With Spacers

Last updated: 23 Nov 2022

This article provides example code showing how you can align text list using monospaced fonts and spacers.

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Always Open Popup Forms in Specified Location

Last updated: 25 Mar 2026

Popup forms are independent of the Access user interface. Unless otherwise specified, they will open on the same monitor where they were last saved. This can cause problems for end users being unable to locate the popup form as it is 'off-screen'. The article includes an example app with code giving 4 possible solutions to avoid such problems.

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Application.UserControl property

Last updated: 6 Feb 2026

Application.UserControl is a boolean property used in automation. The article discusses some important implications for the display of Access user alert messages in apps opened using automation.

It also discusses how the UserControl property can be used to restrict how an application can be opened with one line of code in the Form_Load event of the startup form or an autoexec macro. In conjunction with other measures such as disabling the shift bypass, this property can help secure applications against hacking using automation.

Three examples are provided each containing a Starter app and a Main app:
a)    OpenExternalDB
      - modify the code to see the effects of changing the UserControl property value on the automated app
b)    BlockDBOpenDirect
      - the Main app can be opened via the Starter app but cannot be run directly.
c)   BlockDBRemoteAccess
      - the Main app can be run directly but cannot be opened remotely using automation

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Autofit or Zoom? Match Text to Form Control

Last updated: 10 Nov 2022

This article describes 3 different methods of ensuring all text is visible in a form control:
a)   adjust the width of the textbox to fit the text
b)   adjust the font size to fit the control width
c)   use a zoom box

The first two methods are achieved using the hidden, undocumented WizHook object.
The third method requires little or no code

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Calculate Distance Between Locations

Last updated: 1 Jan 2024

This article has code to calculate the linear distance on the Earth's surface between any two locations based on their co-ordinates.

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Case Sensitive Password Validation

Last updated: 7 May 2023

By default, Access is case insensitive. In certain situations, you may need to check the case of the entered string is correct for each character e.g. when a password is entered on a login form. In such cases, use the StrComp function with a binary comparison.

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Change Office Language Using Code

Last updated: 23 Sept 2026

This article shows how the Office language can easily be changed without using the Access Options menu. Code is used to edit the language settings in the registry and then restart Access

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Change Query Views Using Command Bars Code

Last updated: 31 July 2023

This article explains how to change between the query design, datasheet & SQL views using code

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Change Resolution Using Code

Last updated: 4 Oct 2022

This article provides code to change the screen resolution using VBA and to restore the default resolution

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Check if an Application is Running

Last updated: 6 Nov 2025

This provides code to check if an application is running so it can be closed (forcibly if necessary)

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Check Internet Connection Using Code

Last updated: 2 Oct 2022

This article provides code to check whether an Access app is connected to the internet

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Check Procedure Exists

Last updated: 4 Jan 2019

This article contains code to check if a procedure exists in an Access project

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Clear the Immediate Window Using Code

Last updated: 30 Jan 2023

There is no built-in menu item or VBA command to clear the immediate window. This article shows several ways it can be done using code

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Close All VBE Windows

Last updated: 18 Apr 2017

This is a simple function to close all VBE windows. This is very useful when so many windows are left open you can't find anything. It also significantly speeds up loading the VBE editor if it doesn't need to load lots of unwanted 'legacy' windows

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Colour Conversion Code

Last updated: 6 Oct 2026

This article contains functions to easily convert between various colour formats: HEX, RGB, OLE (long) and HSL. I use many functions similar to these in my colour converter and colour picker example apps.

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Compile Modules Using Code

Last updated: 22 Sept 2022

This article explains how to save and compile all VBA modules using code. This requires the use of an undocumented SysCmd function

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Copy Meetings & Appointments in Outlook

Last updated: 26 Jan 2024

This article shows how to create copies of meetings and appointments in Outlook which do not fit a regularly repeating pattern. A registry fix is provided to allow meetings to be copied in the latest version of Outlook.

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Count Jobs in Print Queue

Last updated: 19 July 2023

This article provides code to count the number of jobs waiting in the print queue for the default printer

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Create ACCDB & ACCDE Files Using Code

First Published: 22 Sept 2022

This article explains how to create both ACCDB & ACCDE files in code. Creating an ACCDE file requires the use of an undocumented SysCmd function

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Create Index on linked SQL View

Last updated: 25 Nov 2017

This article explains how to add an index to a linked SQL Server view so that the data can be edited in Access

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Database Object Types and Collections

Last updated: 17 Jan 2025

This short article demonstrates how to obtain the object type and collection information for each database object by querying the MSysObjects system table.

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Database Statistics

Last updated: 30 Jan 2022

This includes a procedureGetDatabaseStatistics which examines all tables, forms, reports, macros and modules in a project and produces statistics about the number of fields, controls, VBA functions, lines of code etc.

The results are saved to the VBE immediate window and to a message box

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Detailed System Info

Last updated: 20 Feb 2022

This uses Windows Management Instrumenation (WMI) to obtain detailed information about your computer system / processor / BIOS / each hard drive or logical disk.

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Disable Design View In ACCDB Files

Last updated: 7 Oct 2022

This article explains how you can use code to disable design view to prevent changes to the design of all database objects in ACCDB files

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Disable Shortcut Menus in Reports

Last updated: 8 Oct 2024

Unlike forms, Access reports do not have a shortcut menu property. This article describes alternative methods that can be used to disable the right click context menu in Access reports.

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Easter Calculator

Last updated: 31 Oct 2024

This contains a 3 line function which calculates Easter Sunday for any year between 1900 and 2099. A second function is available for a much wider range of years from 1582 to 4100.

Both are taken from code originally done by Excel guru, Chip Pearson.

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Edit Linked Excel Data in Access

Last updated: 26 Feb 2022

Linked Excel files have been read only in Access since 2002 when Microsoft removed the ability to edit them directly.
Normally developers either use automation or import the file, edit then export back to Excel.

However, there is a much better method which is not widely known about. This article shows how linked Excel files can be directly edited in Access. New records can also be added. This approach relies on setting the IMEX value = 0

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Fast File Copy using a Windows API

Last updated: 22 May 2022

This article describes a very fast method of copying files using a Windows API. This is particularly useful if you have many large files to copy. A progress dialog is shown automatically.

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Encode Map Path Co-ordinates

Last updated: 21 May 2022

This article explains how to encode a series of map co-ordinates as a single string to save space and ensure it fits within the URL character limit

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Fill down in tables, queries & forms

Last updated: 31 Jan 2022

This explains a simple method of copying field values from one record to the next

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Fix Google maps display issues in Access web browser control

Last updated: 29 Nov 2022

This article explains how to fix Google maps display issues in Access web browser controls based on Internet Explorer

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Fix Filtered Scrollbar Issue

Last updated: 5 Aug 2026

This article shows how to remove an unwanted grey bar left behind when the vertical scrollbar disappears after filtering a continuous form or subform to a single record.

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Fix Shrunken Navigation Pane

Last updated: 11 May 2018

Sometimes the width of the navigation pane can become so small that it cannot be expanded by standard methods.
This article describes 3 methods of solving the issue if it happens to you

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Forcibly Shutdown Access

Last updated: 8 May 2024

This article provides three different ways of forcibly shutting down Access if necessary when problems occur. Warnings are given about the risks of doing so.

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Formatted Message Box

Last updated: 29 Jan 2023

This provides a simple method of using BOLD text in a standard message box

Unlike standard message boxes, it can also handle text in languages that use Unicode character sets such as Japanese, Greek, Bengali etc without needing to change locale or keyboard settings. This includes right-to left languages such as Arabic and Hebrew.

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Get Computer Name

Last updated: 8 Dec 2018

This describes 3 different methods of getting the current computer name using VBA and compares the effectiveness of each method

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Get Control Positions & Sizes Using Code

Last updated: 14 Jan 2024

This article shows two different methods of obtaining position and size data for form controls using code

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Get Control Properties Using Code

Last updated: 4 Jan 2024

This article shows how you can get control and associated label properties in code including name, caption and control type

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Get Default Printer

Last updated: 12 Oct 2022

This article provides code that lists all installed physical and virtual printers and identifies the default printer.

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Get list of VBA References & locations

Last updated: 5 Nov 2017

This article describes two different routines giving a list of VBA references & their locations.

This can be useful if you need to create a fresh copy of your database or deal with reference issues on a client machine. In such cases, it can be difficult to identify where certain references are located and the small size of the reference window doesn't help.

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Get Network Path

Last updated: 5 Oct 2022

This includes two functions for obtaining the network (UNC) path for a mapped drive.

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Get Office License Info Using Code

Last updated: 30 Aug 2026

The new SysCmd actions released with version 2604 do not include information about the Office language in use for the current user. Obtaining this info can be useful as some Office bugs/issues can be language specific. This article shows how Office & Windows languages information can be obtained using VBA code.

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Get Office/Windows Language Info Using APIs

Last updated: 22 Sept 2026

The new SysCmd actions released with version 2604 provide very useful information about the installed Office version. However, these do not include information about the Office language in use for the current user. This article shows an improved method of obtaining Office & Windows languages information using APIs.

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Get Office/Windows Language Info Using Code

Last updated: 20 Sept 2026

The new SysCmd actions released with version 2604 provide very useful information about the installed Office version. However, these do not include information about the Office license for the current user. This article shows how the information can be obtained using VBA code.

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Get User Full Name

Last updated: 11 Mar 2022

This shows how Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) can be used to get the full name of the user belonging to the network login profile.

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Get User Name

Last updated: 12 Sept 2018

This describes 3 different methods of getting the current user name using VBA and compares the effectiveness of each method

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Get Value in Previous Record

Version 2.0             Last updated: 3 Dec 2018

This shows a method for calculating the difference between values in the current record with those in the previous record. For example, this approach can be used for calculating energy consumption between meter readings.

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Group Page Numbering in Report

Last updated: 21 Dec 2017

This article explains how you can reset the report page numbering at the start of each new group

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Hide Access Splash Screen

Last updated: 25 Feb 2022

This article explains how to remove the splash screen that normally appears when you open any Access application

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Hide or Move the Quick Access Toolbar using code

Last updated: 29 Nov 2025

This article explains how the Quick Access Toolbar can be moved above / below the ribbon or hidden by using code to edit the reigstry.

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Is Form Loaded?

Last updated: 23 Oct 2022

This article contains code to check whether a form is loaded (opened)

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Is Form Open as a Subform?

Last updated: 11 July 2023

This article contains code to check whether a form is open as a subform

This can be important to determine whether or not other code should run.
For example in automatic form resizing

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Is My Database Compiled?

Last updated: 9 Sept 2025

When developers refer to compiling an Access database, it can have either of two possible meanings. Depending on the meaning, there are two different ways of using code to check if a VBA project or Access app is compiled.

The supplied code can be used on the current database or external database files.

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Is Report Open as a Subreport?

Last updated: 11 July 2023

This article contains code to check whether a report is open as a subreport

This can be important to determine whether or not other code should run.

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Linked No Tables

Version 2.0             Last updated: 6 Feb 2019

This DEMO application shows a method of running a split database where the connection strings cannot be viewed by end users

The front end (FE) database has no linked tables.
The FE file has 2 forms and 1 report none which have a permanent record source

The backend (BE) contains 1 ‘deep hidden’ table though it would work equally well with a standard table.

The record source for each FE object is set automatically to the BE table when the object is opened. It is cleared again when the object is closed

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List Access Error Codes

Last updated: 3 Jun 2018

This is a procedure to create a complete list of Access error codes and descriptions

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List All Installed Apps

Last updated: 6 Oct 2022

This article provides code to get a list of all installed apps and program updates as displayed in the Apps section of Windows Settings

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List All Module Procedures

Last updated: 6 June 2023

This article contains code using Visual Basic Extensibility to list all procedures in each code module (form / report / standard / class) to the Immediate window

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List Environ Variables

Last updated: 3 Oct 2022

This article includes a simple procedure for listing all the Environ variables and their values

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List Tables with Complex Fields

Last updated: 21 Dec 2022

This article provides a simple method of listing all tables with complex fields in a database.
This can be useful when analysing client databases e.g. before upsizing to SQL Server

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Manage Nav Pane / Ribbon / Taskbar / Application Window

Last updated: 25 Oct 2017

This article explains how to manage parts of the application interface using VBA:
a) Navigation Pane - hide / mimimise / maximise
b) Ribbon - hide / minimise / maximise
c) Taskbar - hide / show
d) Application window - hide / show

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Manage Totals Row Using VBA

Last updated: 30 Oct 2023

This article discusses how totals rows can be added/modified/removed from Access tables & queries using VBA.

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Masked Input Box

Last updated: 28 Aug 2018

This is an updated version of the masked input box code originally written by Daniel Klann in 2003 for 32-bit Access only.

This updated version will work in both 32-bit and 64-bit Access

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Maximize Restored Form After Making Visible

Last updated: 6 June 2026

Setting a form as restored (non-maximized) affects all forms opened in that database. This article shows how to open a hidden form to its maximized state when made visible from a non-maximized calling form.

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Message Box Constants & Values

Last updated: 26 Nov 2022

This page provides a convenient reference list of message box constants and their equivalent values. You can use either values or constants in your code (or use them interchangeably)

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Missing Trigonometric Functions

Last updated: 20 May 2022

Four of the most commonly used trigonometric functions are built in to the standard Access VBA reference library:
    - atn     (arctangent of a number = angle whose tangent is a specified number)
    - cos     (cosine of an angle)
    - sin     (sine of an angle)
    - tan     (tangent of an angle)

This article contains 6 missing trigonometric functions:
    - ASin         (arcsine = angle whose sine is a specified value)
    - ACos         (arccosine = angle whose cosine is a specified value)
    - ACot         (arccotangent = angle whose cotangent is a specified value)
                        NOTE: cotangent = 1 / tangent = adjacent / opposite in right-angled triangle
    - ASec         (arcsecant = angle whose secant is a specified value)
                        NOTE: secant = 1 / cosine = hypotenuse / adjacent in right-angled triangle
    - ACsc         (arccosecant = angle whose cosecant is a specified value)
                        NOTE: cosecant = 1 / sine = hypotenuse / opposite in right-angled triangle
    - Atn2         (arctangent of two values - latitude/longitude)

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Module Type Property

Last updated: 5 July 2023

This article describes a simple way of identifying standard and class modules by using the module Type property

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Move Option Group Controls Using Code (2 pages)

Last updated: 14 May 2026

Despite its name, the controls in an option group do not move as a group with its container frame. This 2-part article describes ways of moving all the controls together as a group using code.

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Negative Total Pages on Report

Last updated: 17 Jan 2019

If you have a VERY large report with more than the integer limit of 32767 pages, Access will display the total pages as a negative number
For example: Page 1 of -15440 pages

This article explains how to deal with that situation if it arises

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New Style Access Message Boxes With Timeout

Last updated: 18 March 2026

The MsgBoxT function was designed to create new style message boxes in Access 365 with a timeout feature.pages
However, it can create each of the following message box types with or without a timeout:
- new style message box with red header - Access 365 Current Channel or faster)
- old style message box with a bold first line
- standard message box with no formatting

It also supports:
- Unicode text in the title and message prompt
- Links to online Help articles / local help files
- Adapts to Office theme colours
- Ease of Access features such as larger text size and high contrast themes

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On/Off Toggle Slider Control

Last updated: 23 May 2022

This article is the first in an occasional series of additional controls that can be added to Access without requiring ActiveX functionality. It shows how to create a simple on/off toggle control

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Open Database with Shift Bypass using Code

Last updated: 3 Nov 2023

This series of three articles shows how to open an external database using automation to press the shift key and bypass startup code. Code is provided to handle password protected databases and optionally open them exclusively

The articles also include code to enable / disable the shift bypass properrty and help protect your databases

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Paint Me Transparent In A Continuous Form

Last updated: 17 Jan 2024

This article describes a very simple method for selectively showing /hiding command buttons in a continuous form.

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Personalised Popup Forms in Windows 10 & 11

Last updated: 1 Mar 2026

This article shows how you can easily change the title bar and border colours of popup forms in Windows 10 & 11. Additional customisation is available in Windows 11 using an API.

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Prevent Copy & Paste in Forms

Last updated: 29 Oct 2017

This article explains how to prevent users copying and pasting text in forms

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Prevent Opening Objects From the Navigation Pane

Last updated: 5 Nov 2023

This article demonstrates 2 ways of preventing forms and reports from being opened directly from the navigation pane. This may be useful for security or if other code needs to run prior to the object being opened.

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Progress Bar

Last updated: 23 May 2024

This is a simple but effective progress bar for use in Access forms. Five different versions are provided based on a timer or a series of events. The progress bar can use a solid bar, image or gradient fill.

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Rank Order in Queries

Last updated: 9 Jun 2018

This shows one way of creating rank orders in Access queries using the Serialize function

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Remove core Windows 'modern' apps

Last updated: 16 Jun 2018

Certain core Windows modern apps CANNOT be removed using Add/Remove programs.
However if you have a problem, these cannot be installed from the Windows Store as they are already installed! CATCH-22!!!

This article explains how to remove these core Windows modern apps using Powershell.

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Restart Current Database Using Code

Last updated: 23 Sept 2026

This article shows how the current database can be safely closed and restarted using code. This is useful if you change an option which requires a restart to take effect e.g. change Office language or document display option.

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Reset the Property Sheet

Last updated: 24 Jun 2023

This article explains how to reset the property sheet position if it cannot be found after resizing or relocation.

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Restore Missing Status Bar

Last updated: 21 Jan 2024

The status bar is used to show information about the current status of your Access apps. It provides a convenient way of changing views and mode of text entry. This article shows how to restore the status bar if it ever goes missing.

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Save As Text / Load From Text

Last updated: 7 Aug 2024

This article outlines the use of two very useful but hidden and undocumented items in Access. SaveAsText is used to export database objects to text files either as a backup or to transfer to another database. LoadFromText can then be used to retrieve those objects from text files. The article also outlines the use of a little known addition to both items

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Select All Text in a Textbox

Last updated: 25 Aug 2025

This short article shows how to select all text in a textbox using code e.g. to copy it to another location

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Set Application Icon Using Code

Last updated: 6 Aug 2024

This article provides code to set the title and icon properties for your Access applications.

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Set Character Limit in Long Text (Memo) Fields

Last updated: 26 Mar 2022

This article explains how the number of characters in long text fields can be limited using VBA code. It also includes code to check the spelling of entered text. This is particularly useful if text entry is done using the Windows dictation tool.

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Set Default Printer

Last updated: 2 Dec 2023

This article explains how set the default printer using code.

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Show Color Dialog

Last updated: 31 Jan 2025

The ShowColorDialog function is used to display a standard Windows color selector dialog form for use in any application.

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Show Font Dialog

Last updated: 3 Feb 2025

The FontDialog function can be used to display a standard Windows font selector dialog form for use in any application.

The article also includes code to get a list of fonts either from the c:\Windows\Fonts folder or, more usefully, from the registry. Either of these can be used as a row source in comboboxess or listboxes

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System Date Time Check

Last updated: 13 Dec 2025

This article provides code to check the system date & time against a valid internet time. Where there is a discrepancy outside a specified tolerance limit, code is included to close the Access application. This code can be used to protect against unauthorised datetime settings changes which would invalidate the integrity of data entry. It can also be used to protect time-limited evaluation copies of applications.

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Unicode Input Box

Last updated: 29 Jan 2023

This function allows input boxes to handle unicode character sets used in languages such as Bengali, Chinese etc without changes to locale or keyboard settings. It can also handle right-to-left languages such as Arabic and Hebrew

The standard input box only works with Latin script languages such as English, German, Spanish unless additional changes are made to locale and keyboard settings

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Update All Form & Report Fonts

Last updated: 11 Oct 2022

This article contains code that will globally change the selected font across all forms and reports in the database.

It is strongly recommended that you backup the database before running the code.

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'UPEND' or 'UPSERT' Query

Last updated: 18 Sept 2018

A very common database task is to both append new records to a table and update existing records. The standard approach is to use an APPEND query and an UPDATE query.

This article explains how to combine both of these into a single UPEND (AKA UPSERT) query.

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View Form Code

Last updated: 11 Mar 2022

This article describes different methods of viewing the VBA code for a form or individual procedure

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