How to Create Custom Menus in Microsoft Access on Windows 11
Posted on 20th June 2023
Microsoft Access is a relational database management system (RDBMS) from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications, included in the Professional and higher editions or sold separately.
Overview
Microsoft Access stores data in its own format based on the Access Jet Database Engine. It can also import or link directly to data stored in other applications and databases.
Microsoft Access is a file server-based database. Unlike client-server relational database management systems (RDBMS), Microsoft Access does not implement database triggers, stored procedures, or transaction logging.
Features
Microsoft Access is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications, included in the Professional and higher editions or sold separately.
Microsoft Access includes a graphical user interface which allows users to create and maintain their own databases.
Microsoft Access can create standalone Access applications which run without requiring Access to be installed on the client computer.
Microsoft Access can also be used as the ‘front-end’ of a application, where the user interface is created in Access, but the data is stored in a separate application (usually a RDBMS).
Microsoft Access is often used by developers as a quick way to create prototypes of applications.
Creating Custom Menus
Microsoft Access provides the ability to create custom menus. These menus can be used to provide easy access to frequently used commands, or to provide a custom interface for your application.
Step 1: Open the Database
Open the Microsoft Access database that you want to add a custom menu to.
Step 2: Click on the “File” Menu
Click on the “File” menu at the top of the screen.
Step 3: Click on the “Customize” Option
Click on the “Customize” option in the “File” menu. This will open the “Customize” dialog box.
Step 4: Select the “Menus” Tab
Click on the “Menus” tab in the “Customize” dialog box.
Step 5: Select the “New” Option
Click on the “New” option in the “Menus” tab. This will open the “New Menu” dialog box.
Step 6: Enter a Name for the Menu
Enter a name for the menu in the “Name” field. This name will be displayed on the menu.
Step 7: Enter a Caption for the Menu
Enter a caption for the menu in the “Caption” field. This caption will be displayed on the menu.
Step 8: Click on the “OK” Button
Click on the “OK” button. This will close the “New Menu” dialog box.
Step 9: Click on the “Close” Button
Click on the “Close” button in the “Customize” dialog box. This will close the “Customize” dialog box.
Adding Commands to Custom Menus
Commands can be added to custom menus to provide easy access to frequently used commands.
Step 1: Open the Database
Open the Microsoft Access database that you want to add commands to a custom menu in.
Step 2: Click on the “File” Menu
Click on the “File” menu at the top of the screen.
Step 3: Click on the “Customize” Option
Click on the “Customize” option in the “File” menu. This will open the “Customize” dialog box.
Step 4: Select the “Menus” Tab
Click on the “Menus” tab in the “Customize” dialog box.
Step 5: Select the Menu that you want to add a Command to
Click on the menu that you want to add a command to in the “Menus” tab.
Step 6: Click on the “New” Option
Click on the “New” option in the “Menus” tab. This will open the “New Command” dialog box.
Step 7: Enter a Name for the Command
Enter a name for the command in the “Name” field. This name will be used to reference the command in code.
Step 8: Enter a Caption for the Command
Enter a caption for the command in the “Caption” field. This caption will be displayed on the menu.
Step 9: Select a Command Type
Select a command type from the “Command Type” drop-down list. The available options are “Form”, “Report”, “Module”, and “Macro”.
Step 10: Click on the “OK” Button
Click on the “OK” button. This will close the “New Command” dialog box.
Step 11: Click on the “Close” Button
Click on the “Close” button in the “Customize” dialog box. This will close the “Customize” dialog box.
Assigning Shortcut Keys to Commands
Shortcut keys can be assigned to commands to provide quick access to the commands.
Step 1: Open the Database
Open the Microsoft Access database that you want to assign shortcut keys to commands in.
Step 2: Click on the “File” Menu
Click on the “File” menu at the top of the screen.
Step 3: Click on the “Customize” Option
Click on the “Customize” option in the “File” menu. This will open the “Customize” dialog box.
Step 4: Select the “Menus” Tab
Click on the “Menus” tab in the “Customize” dialog box.
Step 5: Select the Menu that contains the Command that you want to assign a Shortcut Key to
Click on the menu that contains the command that you want to assign a shortcut key to in the “Menus” tab.
Step 6: Select the Command that you want to assign a Shortcut Key to
Click on the command that you want to assign a shortcut key to in the “Menus” tab.
Step 7: Click on the “Properties” Button
Click on the “Properties” button in the “Menus” tab. This will open the “Command Properties” dialog box.
Step 8: Enter the Shortcut Key
Enter the shortcut key in the “Shortcut Key” field. The shortcut key must be a single character.
Step 9: Click on the “OK” Button
Click on the “OK” button in the “Command Properties” dialog box. This will close the “Command Properties” dialog box.
Step 10: Click on the “Close” Button
Click on the “Close” button in the “Customize” dialog box. This will close the “Customize” dialog box.
