Try These Keyboard Shortcuts for the Access Navigation Pane

Posted by: Avantix Learning Team | Updated September 13, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft® Access® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365

The Navigation Pane was introduced in Access 2007 and offered a new way to work with database objects. For keyboard users, there are many shortcuts than can be used in the Navigation Pane. The four basic objects that appear in the Navigation Pane are tables, queries, forms and reports.

Recommended article 10 Timesaving Shortcuts in Microsoft Access

1. Show or hide the Navigation Pane

To show or hide the Navigation Pane, press F11.

2. Move the focus to the Navigation Pane

To move the focus to the Navigation Pane, keep pressing F6 until the Navigation Pane has the focus.

3. Go to the Search box in the Navigation Pane

To go to the Search box in the Navigation Pane, press Control + F if the Navigation Pane has the focus or press Control + Alt + F if another area has the focus.

4. Move up or down by line or screen

To move up or down by line in the Navigation Pane, press the up or down arrow keys. To move up or down by screen, press Page Up or Page Down.

5. Move to the first or last object in the Navigation Pane

To move to the first object in the Navigation Pane, press Home. To move to the last object, press End.

6. Copy an object

To copy an object in the Navigation Pane, select the object and press Control + C and then Control + V. Enter a name for the copy in the dialog box that appears and press Enter.

7. Rename an object

To rename an object in the Navigation Pane, select the object and press F2. The current name is highlighted in the Navigation Pane. Enter a new name and press Enter.

8. Open the selected form, report, query or table

To open the selected form, report, query or table, select the object in the Navigation Pane and press Enter. This will open forms in Form View, reports in Report View, and queries and tables in Datasheet View.

9. Open the selected form, report, query or table in Design View

To open the selected form, report, query or table in Design View, select the object in the Navigation Pane and press Control + Enter.

10. Access the context menu

To access the context menu for the selected form, report, query or table, select the object in the Navigation Pane and press Shift + F10. To access the context menu for the Navigation Pane, ensure the Navigation Pane has the focus and then keep pressing Tab until the title bar of the Navigation Pane is selected, then press Shift + F10.

These shortcuts can be very helpful when you're working with the Navigation Pane in Access.

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More resources

How to Convert a Microsoft Access Report to PDF (3 Ways)

How to Filter a Report on the Fly in Microsoft Access

10 Techniques for Designing Forms in Microsoft Access

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