Microsoft Access: the 5 best tips

In this practical tip you will find the best tips that enable you to work more efficiently in Microsoft Access.

Microsoft Access tip: Hide the ribbon for a better overview

Click the small arrow in the top right corner to hide the menu bar.
This gives you a better overview of the content of the database. You can use the same arrow to show the tabs again permanently.
Alternatively, you can press [Ctrl] + [F1] or double-click the tab

With Shortcuts you can work more productively if you save yourself the constant use of the mouse. You can find some important shortcuts here.

[Ctrl] + [N]: Use this shortcut to open a new database.
[Ctrl] + [O]: This key combination makes it possible to open an existing database.
[Ctrl] + [F]: To open the Find tab in the Find and Replace dialog box.
[Ctrl] + [H]: If you use this shortcut, the "Replace" tab opens in the "Find and Replace" dialog box.
[F7]: Use the [F7] key to check the spelling.
[Tab]: Use the tab key to navigate to the next tab.
[Alt] + [Down]: This shortcut opens a combo box.
[Ctrl] + [F6]: Use the key combination [Ctrl] + [F6] to switch between the open windows.

With the "Attachment" field data type, you can save attachments in a field, similar to an email.
After you have selected "Plant" as the field data type, enter "Cover" as the label in the field properties, for example.
You will now find a paper clip in the "Cover" field in the table.
Double-click the paper clip to open the "Attachments" dialog window
If you click the "Add" button, you can add an image or another file.

The so-called "Calculated Fields" allow you to calculate numerical values directly in the table.
You need at least one numeric field for this.
In the design view, select the field data type "Computed".
In the expression generator that now appears, select the fields you want to calculate with.
For example, if you want to add VAT to a price field, the formula is "[Price] * 1.19".

Databases can become very extensive and complex in the long run.
Microsoft Access does not automatically release memory once it has been used. In addition, Access works a lot internally with pointers that sometimes do not find the correct assignment.
As a result, Access sometimes works slowly and not everything works. You can counteract this by compressing and repairing the data.
Click on the "Database Tools" tab and there in the "Tools" group on the "Compact and Repair Database" command. The changes are usually clearly noticeable.

Another practical tip reads how you can import Excel tables into Access.