Access (Desktop Application)
Welcome to the Access Desktop feedback forum! This is the place for users to send us suggestions and ideas on how to improve.
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Redraw errors with lables while browsing through records in forms
Since Access 2007 there is an annoying effect regarding label texts while you are browsing through records in data driven forms. Every time you do so, some of the labels (seemingly not all of them) are redrawn with a minimal offset to their original position without removing the old pixels. This results in making the label texts bolder and bolder - very annoying!
There is a similar effect with command buttons using advanced formats (styles).
7 votes -
Create APIs for existing email methods and other "canned" wizards
The existing email mechanics for sending emails to create/update data are nifty, but problematic.
1) they are so limited in terms of automatically enabling complex data handling and customized business rules - especially if attempting to inter-operate with other enterprise-level systems, like SAP or Dynamics as the final data repository. For example... wanting email approval of a work order or PO...the updates to the enterprise systems will require significant coding and implementation of business rules specific to the organization, but the email handling itself is relatively trivial.
2) the lack of ANY API accessibility in the email send/reply process, especially…
8 votes -
VBA addition of conditional formatting, past the previously built in limit of 3
The limit of three conditional formats seems to be stuck in VBA in access 2010 onwards (perhaps 2007 onwards), even though, via the graphical interface, we can add many more than 3 conditional formats now.
Can this be fixed?2 votes -
Deal with sleep mode properly for tablet environments
When a tablet or PC goes into sleep mode any active form looses its connection to the database backend (I am using SQL Server). This is very annoying in tablet environments where the PC is frequently switched to sleep mode. Make it so that Access can detect a reawaken from sleep and refresh the connection automatically rather than leave an error so that the user doesn't have to log off and reload the screen.
27 votes -
Access Query Designer - fix/enhance behavior of layout window
When a query opens in MS Access designer, quite often the window (query designer form) needs to be re-sized to be larger. When I drag the bottom of the window down, PLEASE keep the results fields selected "portion" (sub-form) the same size! This will result in the top area being enlarged, which gives me more room to view the contents lists of the objects selected (most often they are tables).
Wouldn't it be phenomenal if the table lists would also automatically extend vertically?
I spend a lot of time resizing my query designer windows. (e.g. please automatically enlarge the top…7 votes -
When previewing a report enable touch screen scrolling…similar to scrolling through a PDF on a touch screen.
When previewing a report enable touch screen scrolling…similar to scrolling through a PDF on a touch screen.
2 votes -
Allow developer to put animations like gif images or flash
Review the shockwave flash object and put a animated gif component.
An example for usage:
a) We can use little flash animations in splash screens
b) Animated gifs could be an option instead of progressbars (like the "loading" icons we see on web pages)We do have a shockwave flash component - but at least here I can't make it work in Access 2013). The gif idea came from a customer.
10 votes -
Add a VBA method to the Navigation Pane so the Search Bar text can be cleared or set
I have developed a few Access Add-ins that I use to extend the development environment (like a Navigation Pane replacement with features like Access 2003). I'm able to use VBA to select an object on the Navigation Pane, but only if it's visible in the current Search filter. I'd like you to add a method to the Navigation Pane so I can clear the Search Bar, or even better allow me to set the value. Does adding a method like this cause a lot of heartache for the Access team?
4 votes -
Bring back a basic security option urgently
Since 2007 they left out the possibility to secure your database in a customized way.
I still can't believe it! Anyhow, personally i don't need the entire workgroup system on user level of the past. But I (we?) need urgently something that prevent that some one can change what I have built! Just a simple setting "allow design/changes" YES or NO. (And of course an administrator right to change this setting.) This setting must include the database properties so that for instance setting of the AllowbypassKey cannot be changed.A simple direct quit/close on your database if someone tries to…
9 votes -
Modify form and report designer to allow use to add (sub) sections (detail/group/header/footers)
I would find the ability to add additional sections would give greater design capability. Similar functionality to that provided in Crystal Reports.
3 votes -
Put a button on all Reports to allow them to be closed
The button should be at the top and not be visible on the printed report.
Users are perplexed when there is no obvious way to close a Report in Print Preview. The Ribbon may not be visible and users may not realise they can Right Click to show the Context Menu.
9 votes -
Create a customizable validator for textbox
Access has a field validator in table designer.
But in forms would be good to have, for example, predefined (and customizable) validators, like e-mail, directly on textboxes. And, instead of a message box, we can paint the control and show a tooltip with error.
For reference, take a look at section "validator" in Bootstrap or Material design.
Thanks!
3 votes -
file corruption. make access more robust. even with sql server backend is frontend corruption a problem
I would think after all these years MS has a pretty good knowldge about reasons for file corruption. It is quite the joy when The dreaded dialog that deletes Your vba Project appears...
17 votes -
Remove the orange selection border in design view.
I guess this border is introduced in order to see more clearly which control is selected. However this selection border now hides the border of the selected controls and for this reason you need to deselect the control to see how they are aligned with other controls or to view how the placement shows is within the design.
And if the control is not place how you want, you need to select it again, move it a little with the arrow keys, deselect it to view the result, etc.
In earlier version of Access, without this orange border, this works…9 votes -
Create an "expert mode" option that disables Access novice features in design mode.
For examples, it frustrates to me when Access decides to trial run my complicated or data intense cross-tab queries upon entering or exiting design mode. And sometimes it alters a failed query automatically when I open it in design mode. In all cases the auto changes are destructive, even when I try to close out of design without saving. There are many other automatic features for dummies that I'd love to disconnect but can't.
14 votes -
Support strong-typed nullable data types.
In VBA, we can only store nulls in a Variant data type. But I hate this because this lacks information whether this is a string, a number or date. In SQL, those data types are all nullable but we have to constantly do Nz(), IsNull(), to avoid the nefarious error "Invalid use of Null".
Please make it possible for us to specify a nullable data type so that we also know this can be only either a null or a number (and thus prevent invalid entries of string in addition to writing self-documenting code).
11 votes -
7 votes
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Fix how the tabbed interface behaves when switching to design view
When using the tabbed interface, if you switch a form out of Form view to Design view, the interface changes to the next tab in the sequence. You have to manually re-select the tab you were working on each time, which is really annoying. This bug affects all versions that support the tabbed interface, from what I have observed.
4 votesWith the latest version of Access, we are not able to reproduce the issue you are describing.
If you still experience problems with the tabbed interface please provide information about the version you are using, and steps to reproduce.Thanks,
Access Engineering -
VBA Application Add-Ins
Create a new type of VBA add-in (*.accda) that loads before the database is loaded, can display its own ribbon and is unloaded after the database is unloaded. This would enable VBA programmers to build application add-ins like in Excel or Word.
6 votes -
Import from Access to hide and ignore Msys tables
If you have set your nav pane options to show system objects, they should not show in the Import list.
1 vote
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