Set how Access behaves after the last tab stop

by Mary Ann Richardson | Apr 27, 2005 12:52:00 AM

Tags: Microsoft Office, Databases, Mary Ann Richardson, last field, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Office Suite Access Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: When you press [Tab] in the last field of an Access form page, your cursor will automatically be redirected to the first field of the next record. However, since this isn't always the desired behavior, learn how you can set Access' behavior after the last tap stop.

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By default, when you press [Tab] in the last field on a Microsoft Access form page, the focus moves to the first field of the next record. However, forms used mainly for data analysis, or simply to search for a specific record, should not force users to move to the next record after tabbing out of the last field. The forms should allow the user to determine where they should go next.

To set the tab stop property so that the focus moves back to the first field of the current record when [Tab] is pressed in the last field of the record, follow these steps:

1. Open the form in Design mode.
2. Double-click the form selector.
3. On the Other tab, click the Cycle property box.
4. Select Current Record.

Now you can control how Access behaves after the last tap stop.

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After the last tab stopdskulman  | 04/27/05

Last Tab Stopparker19  | 04/27/05

VB for last tab trickgawiles@...  | 05/01/05

Excellent Tipms@...  | 07/24/05