I while back I publish about Database Properties:
Access - Playing With Database Properties
Today, I thought we’d take a look at playing around with Database Properties: Listing the Properties Getting the Value of a Specific Property Creating a Property Deleting a Property To simplify my code, I am using my oCurrentDb Self-Healing Object Variable (SHOV). If you’re not familiar with that yet, then start off by reviewing: Or if your truly don’t want to learn/use SHOV, in all the code below, simply replace ‘oCurrentDb’ with ‘CurrentDb’. Now, let the fun begin!
In this post I thought I’d simply provide a listing of the common properties (you know the ones we see in the File -> Options -> Current Database dialog) with their relevant information so you as a developer can automate them without needing to search endlessly for property names, types, value as I have never found any proper documentation on the subject from Microsoft (or anywhere else).
| No. | Property Name | Property Label (from the Options form primarily) |
Proprety Description | Property Type | Information URL | Notes | Heading Under Which It Is Found (from the Options form) |
Get/SetOption Accessible |
DB Properties Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AccessVersion | Access Version | Text | No | Yes | ||||
| 2 | AllowBreakIntoCode | Allow Break Into Code | You can use the AllowBreakIntoCode property to specify whether or not the user can view Visual Basic code after a run-time error occurs in a module. | Boolean | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/aa223270(v=office.11) | 2003 No GUI access -1 => Enable the Debug button 0 => Disable the Debug button |
No | Yes | |
| 3 | AllowBuiltInToolbars | Allow Built-In Toolbars | You can use the AllowBuiltInToolbars property to specify whether or not the user can display Microsoft Access built-in toolbars | Boolean | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/aa223273(v=office.11) | 2003 -1 => Allow built-in toolbars 0 => Don’t allow built-in toolbars |
No | Yes | |
| 4 | AllowBypassKey | Allow Bypass Key | Enable/Disable the Shift bypass key | Boolean | https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/allowbypasskey-property-30ab5c36-51df-41a0-a955-b0f1deac517b | No GUI access True => Enable the SHIFT key Flase => Disable the SHIFT key |
No | Yes | |
| 5 | AllowDatasheetSchema | Enable design changes for tables in Datasheet view | When selected, lets you change the design of tables from the Datasheet view. | Boolean | 0 => Disabled -1 => Enabled |
Application Options | Yes | Yes | |
| 6 | AllowFullMenus | Allow Full Menus | specify whether or not full Microsoft Office Access 2007 built-in menus will be available when the application database opens | Boolean | https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/allowfullmenus-property-d1cf24ab-ca65-4450-8917-93d83319b678 | 0 => Disabled -1 => Enabled |
Ribbon and Toolbar Options | No | Yes |
| 7 | AllowShortcutMenus | Allow Default Shortcut Menus | specify whether or not your application allows Microsoft Access to display built-in shortcut menus | Boolean | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/aa223314(v=office.11) | 0 => Disabled -1 => Enabled |
Ribbon and Toolbar Options | No | Yes |
| 8 | AllowSpecialKeys | Use Access Special Keys | specify whether or not special key sequences (ALT+F1 (F11), CTRL+F11, CTRL+BREAK, and CTRL+G) are disabled or enabled | Boolean | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/access/concepts/miscellaneous/allowspecialkeys-property | 0 => Disabled -1 => Enabled |
Application Options | No | Yes |
| 9 | AllowToolbarChanges | Allow Toolbar Changes | You can use the AllowToolbarChanges property to specify whether or not your database allows users to customize toolbars, menu bars, and shortcut menus. | Boolean | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/aa223320(v=office.11) | 2003 0 => Disabled -1 => Enabled |
No | Yes | |
| 10 | ANSI Query Mode | Long | Yes | Yes | |||||
| 11 | AppIcon | Application Icon | specify the name of the bitmap (.bmp) or icon (.ico) file that contains the application’s icon | Text | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/access.application.appicon | Application Options | No | Yes | |
| 12 | AppTitle | Application Title | Specify a custom name to be displayed in the Windows title bar of your current database. | Text | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/access.application.apptitle | Application Options | No | Yes | |
| 13 | Auto Compact | Compact on close | When selected, the database is automatically compacted and repaired when you close it. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Application Options | Yes | Yes | |
| 14 | Build | Long representing the build number of the currently installed copy of Microsoft Access | Long | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/access.application.build | Read-only | No | Yes | ||
| 15 | CheckTruncatedNumFields | Check for truncated number fields | Long | 0 => to show that part of the number that fits 1 => to show #### if number doesn’t fit |
Application Options | Yes | Yes | ||
| 16 | Clear Cache on Close | Clear Cache on Close | Select this option to have Access clear any local cached data from memory when you close your database. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Caching Web Service and SharePoint tables | Yes | Yes | |
| 17 | CollatingOrder | CollatingOrder | value that specifies the sequence of the sort order in text for string comparison or sorting (Microsoft Access workspaces only) | Integer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-collatingorder-property-dao | No | Yes | ||
| 18 | Connect | Connect | value that provides information about the source an open database | Memo | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-connect-property-dao | No | Yes | ||
| 19 | Connection | Connection | variable that represents a Database object | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-connection-property-dao | No | No | |||
| 20 | CustomRibbonID | Ribbon Name | Text | Ribbon and Toolbar Options | No | Yes | |||
| 21 | Default Connection File | Default Connection File | Text | 2003 | No | No | |||
| 22 | Default Page Folder | Default Page Folder | Text | 2003 | No | No | |||
| 23 | DesignMasterID | Design Master ID | 16-byte value that uniquely identifies the Design Master in a replica set | GUID | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-designmasterid-property-dao | No | Yes | ||
| 24 | DesignWithData | Enable Layout View | When selected, shows the Layout View button on the Access status bar and in the shortcut menus that appear when you right-click an object tab. If you clear this option, the user can’t open the forms and reports in the Layout view. | Boolean | 0 => Disable Layout View in forms/reports -1 => Enable Layout View in forms/reports |
Application Options | Yes | Yes | |
| 25 | HasOfflineLists | Integer | No | Yes | |||||
| 26 | Log Name AutoCorrect Changes | Log name AutoCorrect changes | Access logs the changes it makes to a database when it repairs name errors and saves the data in a table named AutoCorrect.log. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Name AutoCorrect Options | Yes | Yes | |
| 27 | Name | Name | Memo | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-name-property-dao | Read-only | No | Yes | ||
| 28 | NavPane Category | Navigation Pane Category | Long | 0 => Object Type 1 => Tables and Related Views 2 => Modified Date 3 => Created Date |
Yes | Yes | |||
| 29 | NavPane Closed | Navigation Pane Closed | State of the navigation pane when the database was last compacted or closed | Long | No GUI access | Yes | Yes | ||
| 30 | NavPane Sort By | Navigation Pane Sort By | Long | 0 => Name, 1 => Type, 2 => Modified Date, 3 => Created Date, 4 => Remove Automatic Sorts |
Yes | Yes | |||
| 31 | NavPane View By | Navigation Pane View By | Long | 0 => List 1 => Icon 2 => Details |
Yes | Yes | |||
| 32 | NavPane Width | Navigation Pane Width | Width of the navigation pane when the database was last compacted or closed | Long | No GUI access | Yes | Yes | ||
| 33 | Never Cache | Never Cache | Select this option to not have Access cache a local copy of data while working with your linked SharePoint data sources. | Long | Caching Web Service and SharePoint tables | Yes | Yes | ||
| 34 | Perform Name AutoCorrect | Perform name AutoCorrect | When selected, Access repairs naming errors as they occur. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Name AutoCorrect Options | Yes | Yes | |
| 35 | Picture Property Storage Format | Picture Property Storage Format | Long | 0 => Preserve source image format (smaller file size), 1 => Convert all picture data to bitmaps (compatible with Access 2003 and earlier) |
Application Options | Yes | Yes | ||
| 36 | ProjVer | Integer | No | Yes | |||||
| 37 | Property Sheet Label Width | Yes | Yes | ||||||
| 38 | QueryTimeout | Specifies the number of seconds to wait before a timeout error occurs when a query is executed | Integer | No | Yes | ||||
| 39 | RecordsAffected | Long | No | Yes | |||||
| 40 | Remove Personal Information | Remove personal information from file properties on save | When selected, automatically removes personal information from the file properties when you save the file. | Long | Requires Compact on Close | Application Options | Yes | Yes | |
| 41 | ReplicaID | 16-byte value that uniquely identifies a database replica | GUID | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-replicaid-property-dao | No | Yes | |||
| 42 | Row Limit | Long | 2003 | No | No | ||||
| 43 | Show Navigation Pane Search Bar | Show Search Bar | Whether to display the Search area in the Navigation Pane | Long | 0 => Do NOT show 1 => Show |
In the Navigation Options dialog | Yes | Yes | |
| 44 | Show Values in Indexed | Local indexed fields | When selected, displays values from local indexed fields in the value lists that appear in the Filter by Form window. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Filter lookup options in [DbName] Database | Yes | Yes | |
| 45 | Show Values in Non-Indexed | Local nonindexed fields | Includes values from local nonindexed fields in the value lists that appear in the Filter by Form window. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Filter lookup options in [DbName] Database | Yes | Yes | |
| 46 | Show Values in Remote | ODBC fields | Includes values from tables to which you link by using an Open Database Connectivity connection. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Filter lookup options in [DbName] Database | Yes | Yes | |
| 47 | Show Values in Server | Show list of values in, Records at server | Long | 2003 | No | No | |||
| 48 | Show Values in Snapshot | Show list of values in, Records in local snapshot | Long | 2003 | No | No | |||
| 49 | Show Values Limit | Don’t display lists when more than this number of records is read | Enter the maximum number of records that you want Access to read while it builds the value list for Filter by Form operations. | Long | Filter lookup options in [DbName] Database | Yes | Yes | ||
| 50 | ShowDocumentTabs | Display Document Tabs | Boolean | 0 => Do NOT show tabs in tabbed view -1 => Show tabs in tabbed view |
Application Options | No | Yes | ||
| 51 | StartUpForm | Display Form | Specify a form that appears when your current database opens. | Text | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/aa196599(v=office.11) | Application Options | No | Yes | |
| 52 | StartUpMenuBar | StartUp Menu Bar | You can use the StartupMenuBar property to specify a custom menu bar to use as the global menu bar for your application. | Text | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/aa196600(v=office.11) | 2003 | No | Yes | |
| 53 | StartUpShortcutMenuBar | StartUp Shortcut Menu Bar | You can use the StartupShortcutMenuBar property to specify a custom shortcut menu to use as the global shortcut menu for your application. | Text | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/aa196601(v=office.11) | 2003 | No | Yes | |
| 54 | StartUpShowDBWindow | Display Navigation Pane | Boolean | 0 => Do Not Display 1 => Display |
Navigation | No | Yes | ||
| 55 | StartUpShowStatusBar | Display Status Bar | When selected, displays a status bar at the bottom of the Access workspace. | Boolean | 0 => Do Not Display 1 => Display |
Application Options | No | Yes | |
| 56 | StartupTitleBar | No | Yes | ||||||
| 57 | Theme Resource Name | Text | Yes | Yes | |||||
| 58 | Themed Form Controls | Use Windows-themed Controls on Forms | When selected, uses your Windows theme on the controls of forms and reports in the current database. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Yes | Yes | ||
| 59 | Track Name AutoCorrect Info | Track name AutoCorrect info | When selected, Access stores the information needed to correct naming errors. Allows you to use the Object Dependencies feature. | Long | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Name AutoCorrect Options | Yes | Yes | |
| 60 | Transactions | Transactions | value that indicates whether an object supports transactions | Boolean | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-transactions-property-dao | No | Yes | ||
| 61 | Updatable | Updatable | value that indicates whether you can change a DAO object | Boolean | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-updatable-property-dao | No | Yes | ||
| 62 | Use BigInt for linking and importing data | Support Bigint Data Type for Linked/Imported Tables | Enables Large Number data type support for linking to or importing from external databases that use an equivalent data type, such as bigint in SQL Server. | Long | https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/using-the-large-number-data-type-5b623f6e-641d-4e97-8bdf-b77bae076f70 | Untested if GetOption/SetOption work 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
No | Yes | |
| 63 | Use Default Connection File | Use Default Connection File | Long | 2003 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
No | No | |||
| 64 | Use Default Page Folder | Use Default Page Folder | Long | 2003 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
No | No | |||
| 65 | Use Microsoft Access 2007 compatible cache | Use the cache format that is compatible with Microsoft Access 2010 and later | Long | 0 => check (not 2007 compatible) 1 => unchecked (use 2007 compatible) |
Caching Web Service and SharePoint tables | Yes | Yes | ||
| 66 | UseAppIconForFrmRpt | Use as Form and Report Icon | When selected, the application icon will display in all form and report tabs of the current database. If the document tabs are not enabled, the icon does not display. | Boolean | 0 => Disabled 1 => Enabled |
Application Options | No | Yes | |
| 67 | UseMDIMode | Document Window Options | Byte | 0 => Tabbed Documents, 1 => Overlapping Windows |
Application Options | No | Yes | ||
| 68 | Version | Version | the vesion of the Microsoft Jet or Microsoft Access database engine that created the database | Memo | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/access/desktop-database-reference/database-version-property-dao | No | Yes | ||
| 69 | WebDesignMode | Byte | No | Yes |
A quick note regrading Boolean properties. You’d think that to populate these properties we would use False (0) and True (-1), and that does work, but so testing revealed it would seem things are a little more lenient. 0 or False does in fact make a property false and any other number -1, 1, 5, 1225, … will result in True. I’d still stick with 0/-1, but I found it interesting none the less. This is also why you will find many online code samples setting boolean properties to 0 and 1 rather than 0 and -1.
One other thing to keep in mind is that as I mentioned in my previous article, there are a couple of ways to work with Properties, some properties work with Get/SetOptions, others CurrentDb.Properties, and others required registry editing. Suprisingly, even after 30+ years, there appears to be no one solution to working with all properties.
As always, this is a work in progress, actually just a first run at it to try and catalog things, but there are some properties still missing. Feel free to drop me a comment below and I’ll see what I can do to add them.
Also, documentation has not been upkept properly by Microsoft on a number of these, once again please drop me a comment below if you know of reliable sources of information on the properties that I have no links for.
The post Access – Playing With Database Properties – Part 2 first appeared on DEVelopers HUT.