Microsoft Access basic questions

sfsdfd · 11-20-03, 10:28 AM

I've been using Excel for years to organize data - not just numerical data, but also documents that primarily contain text. I've thought about converting it to a database since it's more appropriate, and recently I made the switch to Access. It's remarkably easy to use - once you set up the database, the record view works almost exactly like Excel (only the data is a lot better formatted, and the filtering and query features are excellent.)

The interface, however, appears to be pretty non-user-friendly. I have some questions - any insight that you might have would be helpful:

1) When you have one control window that you use to access all of the other windows, it's terribly annoying that those windows overlap and obscure the control window. I can't find a way to keep it on top, or a hotkey that will bring it to the front. Any ideas?

2) Is there an easy keyboard shortcut to switch from one window to another? In Excel, Ctrl-PageUp/PageDown switches worksheets. I can't find any such equivalent in Access, and it slows me down as I hunt for the right window (including Ctrl-Tab, which I thought was the universal switch-subwindows key combination.)

3) In Excel, when the text you've entered into a cell exceeds the width of the cell, you can have the text wrap to the next line and the row height auto-adjust, and if you select the cell you can see all of the text in the edit bar at the top of the window. But Access doesn't appear to have anything like this, so when you enter text longer than the size of the cell, it's hard to see (you have to cursor back and forth.) Any solutions to that?

- David Stein

X · 11-20-03, 11:14 AM

1) What do you mean by a "control window"? Are you talking all datasheet views here or a mixture of forms and datasheets?

2) Don't know offhand.

3) In datasheet view, not that I know of. You can wrap text in boxes on forms that are tied to the cells though.

Groucho · 11-20-03, 11:19 AM

I don't think that you can wordwrap in the datasheet view, but you can resize the columns however you want. Or look at the data via a form or a report.

X · 11-20-03, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Groucho
I don't think that you can wordwrap in the datasheet view, but you can resize the columns however you want. Or look at the data via a form or a report.

Good one, Groucho!

dtcarson · 11-20-03, 11:25 AM

2. On my machine with Access and Win 2k, Alt-Tab takes me from window to window.

LarLar · 11-21-03, 08:11 AM

1. F11 brings the Database window to the top

2. In Access 2002: Tools-Options on the View tab click the checkbox for "Windows in taskbar". According to the tooltip, you have to install MS IE Active Desktop. Lets you Alt-Tab like dtcarson said.

11-20-03, 10:28 AM	#1
sfsdfd Moderator Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: \|-\|@><0r L@n\|) Posts: 17,214	Microsoft Access basic questions I've been using Excel for years to organize data - not just numerical data, but also documents that primarily contain text. I've thought about converting it to a database since it's more appropriate, and recently I made the switch to Access. It's remarkably easy to use - once you set up the database, the record view works almost exactly like Excel (only the data is a lot better formatted, and the filtering and query features are excellent.) The interface, however, appears to be pretty non-user-friendly. I have some questions - any insight that you might have would be helpful: 1) When you have one control window that you use to access all of the other windows, it's terribly annoying that those windows overlap and obscure the control window. I can't find a way to keep it on top, or a hotkey that will bring it to the front. Any ideas? 2) Is there an easy keyboard shortcut to switch from one window to another? In Excel, Ctrl-PageUp/PageDown switches worksheets. I can't find any such equivalent in Access, and it slows me down as I hunt for the right window (including Ctrl-Tab, which I thought was the universal switch-subwindows key combination.) 3) In Excel, when the text you've entered into a cell exceeds the width of the cell, you can have the text wrap to the next line and the row height auto-adjust, and if you select the cell you can see all of the text in the edit bar at the top of the window. But Access doesn't appear to have anything like this, so when you enter text longer than the size of the cell, it's hard to see (you have to cursor back and forth.) Any solutions to that? - David Stein __________________ "The Other is not a peaceful community. We are bitches." -kvrdave Ask not what your country can do for you... because the answer is disappointing.

11-20-03, 11:19 AM	#3
Groucho DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 62,109	I don't think that you can wordwrap in the datasheet view, but you can resize the columns however you want. Or look at the data via a form or a report. __________________ Xbox Live: Runner Groucho PSN: RunnerGroucho "The Borg is a species" -- Tracer Bullet (Citation)

11-20-03, 11:25 AM	#5
dtcarson DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Triangle, NC, USA Posts: 8,082	2. On my machine with Access and Win 2k, Alt-Tab takes me from window to window. __________________ I have nothing to say. My dvds 360 Gamertag: dtcarson

11-20-03, 11:14 AM	#2
X Administrator Join Date: Oct 1987 Location: AA- Posts: 10,130	1) What do you mean by a "control window"? Are you talking all datasheet views here or a mixture of forms and datasheets? 2) Don't know offhand. 3) In datasheet view, not that I know of. You can wrap text in boxes on forms that are tied to the cells though.

11-21-03, 08:11 AM	#6
LarLar Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 67	1. F11 brings the Database window to the top 2. In Access 2002: Tools-Options on the View tab click the checkbox for "Windows in taskbar". According to the tooltip, you have to install MS IE Active Desktop. Lets you Alt-Tab like dtcarson said.