Create a new warning for Access record deletion

by Mary Ann Richardson | Jan 16, 2007 8:00:00 AM

Tags: Microsoft Office, Databases, Mary Ann Richardson, Click New, Microsoft Access, Enter Keystrokes, cell, Microsoft Office Suite Access Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: If you have started to glaze over the message you get whenever you delete an Access record, you may want to record a message that is more likely to grab your attention. Mary Ann Richardson shows you how.

When you delete a record in a form, Access displays a standard message box, asking you to confirm the deletion. But you are not limited to this message; you can create your own message text to include a reminder or other information. Follow these steps:

1. Open the database, and click Macros under Objects.
2. Click New.
3. Right-click the macro title bar and select Conditions. (In Access 2002, click the Conditions button in the Macro toolbar.)
4. Click in the first Conditions cell and enter the following:
   MsgBox("Do you really want to delete the record?"273,"Delete")<>1
5. Click in the Action cell and enter CancelEvent.
6. Click in the next Condition cell.
7. Enter an ellipsis (...).
8. Press [Tab].
9. Enter StopMacro.
10. Click in the next Action cell.
11. Enter Keystrokes.
12. Under Action Arguments, click in the Keystrokes box and click [Enter].
13. Close and save the macro as ConfirmDelete.
14. Open the form in design view, then right-click the form and select Properties.
15. On the Event tab, click in the On Delete property box and select ConfirmDelete.

You can modify the message in step 4 to be any text you like. The macro will execute before the system actually deletes the record.

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Question re: #11 & #12 SIObserver | 01/17/07

11. Enter Keystrokes. timdolezal@... | 01/18/07

Step #11 gfiori@... | 02/02/07

Step #12 rkutcher@... | 02/15/07

RE: Create a new warning for Access record deletion sstewart@... | 03/17/09