Keyboard Shortcuts in Access 2007

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keystrokes that let you execute commands more quickly than with a mouse. Access 2007 preserves the keyboard shortcuts from previous versions of Access, such as Ctrl+O to open a document, and many are included in this guide. (For an organized quick reference of all of the keyboard shortcuts in Access 2007, see the Quamut guide to Access 2007 Keyboard Shortcuts, available online at www.quamut.com.)

Along with keyboard shortcuts, Access 2007 provides a keyboard system for engaging most Access commands. This system is based on the Alt key—press the key and little letters and numbers called KeyTips appear next to the various tabs or commands on the screen. Hit the appropriate key (or keys) to use the marked command. For instance, to get to the Ribbon’s Home tab, you’d type Alt+H. Once there, a new set of letters and numbers appear that marks the Home tab commands. Hit those keys to enact those commands. To make the shortcut numbers and letters disappear, hit the Alt key again.

Alt-key commands can involve anywhere from two to five keystrokes and may overlap with traditional keyboard shortcuts. For instance, you can save an Access file using Ctrl+S or Alt+F, S.

You can access many Access commands by right-clicking on items within the work area or in the Navigation pane. When you right-click, Access displays a shortcut menu that contains a list of common tasks. To close a menu without performing an action, click on your screen outside the menu or press Esc.