Learn Access Now! Chapter 17 Next Section in Chapter 18 Chapter 19
(This is section 1 of 6 in this chapter)
As you work more with Access, you will discover many ways you can tailor your Access environment to your needs. One of the ways Access lets you simplify tasks is with macros. In short, a macro is a recording of the steps you perform to accomplish a specific task.
For example, to print a table, you select the File menu Print option and then choose OK within the Print dialog box. Using an Access macro, you record these steps. Later, you can play back your macro and Access will automatically perform the steps for you. As you will learn, you can write macros that perform simple or complex tasks.
By the time you finish this chapter, you will understand the following key concepts:
You have probably heard the term "macro" before. In general, a macro is nothing but a series of commands an application program executes. Macros help you automate tasks within a program such as Access. Macros let you program your software without requiring you to learn or even understand the basics of writing a program. For example, both Word and Excel include macro languages you can use to automate a series of commands. When you record and then execute a macro, the macro typically mimics the steps a user would take when manually using a program.
Access also has a macro language you can use. Access has 53 macro actions; you can pass values (called arguments) to a macro action to control the operations the action performs. (An action is an instruction that directs Access to perform a specific act, such as selecting an option from a menu.) Table 18-1 lists the different macro actions available.
| Action | Purpose | |
|---|---|---|
| AddMenu | Adds a drop-down menu to a menu bar. Used in forms and reports. | |
| ApplyFilter | Applies a filter to a table. | |
| Beep | Sounds the PC speaker. | |
| CancelEvent | Cancels the event that ran the current macro. | |
| Close | Closes a window. | |
| CopyObject | Copies a database object. | |
| DeleteObject | Deletes a database object. | |
| Echo | Controls whether a macro updates the screen. | |
| FindNext | Finds the next record meeting the search criteria specified in a FindRecord action. | |
| FindRecord | Finds a record that meets your criteria. | |
| GoToControl | Changes focus to a particular control. | |
| GoToPage | Changes focus to a specified page in a form. | |
| GoToRecord | Jumps to a specified record. | |
| Hourglass | Controls whether the mouse pointer is displayed as an hourglass. | |
| Maximize | Same as clicking your mouse on a window's maximize button. | |
| Minimize | Same as clicking your mouse on a window's minimize button. | |
| MoveSize | Moves or resizes a window. | |
| MsgBox | Displays a message box. | |
| OpenDataAccessPage | Opens a data access page. | |
| OpenDiagram | Opens a diagram showing the layout of the database. | |
| OpenForm | Opens a form. | |
| OpenModule | Opens a Visual Basic for Applications module. | |
| OpenQuery | Opens an existing query. | |
| OpenReport | Opens an existing report. | |
| OpenStoredProcedure | Opens and runs a stored SQL procedure. | |
| OpenTable | Opens an existing table. | |
| OpenView | Opens a database view. | |
| OutputTo | Exports data in either Excel or text format. | |
| PrintOut | Prints a database object. | |
| Quit | Quits Access. | |
| Rename | Renames a database object. | |
| RepaintObject | Redraws a database object on the screen. | |
| Requery | Updates the information in a control. | |
| Restore | Same as clicking your mouse on a window's restore button. | |
| RunApp | Runs a Windows or DOS program. | |
| RunCode | Executes a Visual Basic for Applications function. | |
| RunCommand | Executes an Access command, such as those on the menu or toolbar. | |
| RunMacro | Executes another macro. | |
| RunSQL | Executes an SQL statement. | |
| Save | Saves an Access object. | |
| SelectObject | Selects a named object. | |
| SendKeys | Sends information to the keyboard buffer, as if it had been typed. | |
| SendObject | Sends a database object using E-mail. | |
| SetMenuItem | Changes the state of a menu item. | |
| SetValue | Specifies the contents of a field, control, or property. | |
| SetWarnings | Controls the display of system messages. | |
| ShowAllRecords | Removes the effects of a filter. | |
| ShowToolbar | Displays a particular toolbar. | |
| StopAllMacros | Stops execution of all macros. | |
| StopMacro | Stops the current macro. | |
| TransferDatabase | Imports or exports information. | |
| TransferSpreadsheet | Imports or exports to a spreadsheet program. | |
| TransferText | Imports or exports to a text file. |
Table 18-1 The Access macro actions.
Note: To see detailed help on any particular macro action, search for the action name in the Access online Help system.
Learn Access Now! Chapter 17 Next Section in Chapter 18 Chapter 19