Marianne Martinez
The Navigation Pane in Microsoft Access is the main way to view and access all your database objects. It is usually located on the left side of the Access window by default. However, there may be instances when the Navigation Pane is not visible. This could be due to specific settings or customizations made to the database. In such cases, users can follow certain steps to unhide the Navigation Pane, which vary depending on the version of Microsoft Access being used.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reasons for not seeing the Navigation Pane | The Navigation Pane may be hidden or not displaying when a specific desktop database is opened |
| Ways to hide the Navigation Pane | By default, the Navigation Pane does not display when a new Blank desktop database is created or an existing one is used; the Display Navigation Pane check box is cleared under the Current Database category in the Options menu |
| Ways to unhide the Navigation Pane | Click on the button in the top right corner of the Navigation Pane or press F11; change the startup options by clicking on the Microsoft Office button, then Access Options, and then Current Database |
| Other methods to display the Navigation Pane | Click the Navigation Pane toggle button on the Home tab in the Show group to display the Navigation Pane in an Access web app |
| Customization options | Ability to adjust the appearance, display, and sorting of database objects in the Navigation Pane |
| Default settings | The Navigation Pane is displayed on the left side of the Access window by default, with Tables and Related Views as the default category and All Tables as the default group |
| Predefined categories | Object Type, Tables and Related Views, and two additional categories based on creation or modification dates |
| Global groups | All Tables is an example of a global group that contains all objects within a specific category |
| Filtering options | Ability to filter by group and display only a subset of database objects; the default groups include Tables, Queries, Forms, and Reports |
| Sorting options | Objects can be sorted manually or automatically by object type in ascending alphabetical order |
| Search functionality | The Search box allows for dynamic searching and filtering of objects and groups within the currently displayed categories and groups |
| Display options | Objects can be displayed as icons or lists, with options to include creation or modification dates |
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What You'll Learn
Navigation Pane hidden in Access 2007
The Navigation Pane in Microsoft Access 2007 is a window on the left-hand side of the screen, which provides a quick way to access and manage database objects. It is the default method of viewing and accessing all your database objects. The Navigation Pane can be hidden in Access 2007 in several ways, and there are different methods for displaying a hidden Navigation Pane.
If the Navigation Pane is hidden, you can unhide it by clicking the button in the top right corner of the pane or by pressing F11. If the pane is always hidden on startup, you may need to change the startup options. To do this, click the Microsoft Office button in the top left of the Access window and then click Access Options.
If you are using a Blank desktop database, you can set options so that the Navigation Pane does not display when the specific desktop database is opened. To do this, click the File tab, click Options, click the Current Database category, and then, under Navigation, clear the Display Navigation Pane check box.
The Navigation Pane is not available in an Access web app or web database when viewed in a browser. However, if you open an Access web app in Access, you can display the Navigation Pane by clicking the Navigation Pane toggle button on the Home tab, in the Show group.
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Displaying a hidden Navigation Pane
If you can't see the Navigation Pane in Access, it may be hidden. There are different ways the Navigation Pane can be hidden, and as a result, there are different methods for displaying it. Here are the steps you can take to unhide the Navigation Pane:
Method 1:
- Click on the button in the top-right corner of the Navigation Pane or press F11. This is the easiest and most common method of unhiding the Navigation Pane.
- If the Navigation Pane remains hidden, you may need to change the startup options. To do this, click on the Microsoft Office button in the top-left corner of the Access window, then click on "Access Options".
- When the Access Options window appears, click on "Current Database" in the left-hand menu.
Method 2:
- Click on the File tab, then click "Options".
- Click on the "Current Database" category.
- Under "Navigation", clear the "Display Navigation Pane" check box.
- Click "OK".
- Close and reopen the database to apply the changes.
Method 3:
- Right-click on the menu bar at the top of the Navigation Pane, then click "Navigation Options".
- In the "Navigation Options" dialog box, uncheck the "Show Hidden Objects" check box, then click "OK".
Please note that Method 3 may not always be successful in unhiding the Navigation Pane. Additionally, if you are using an Access web app or web database in a browser, the Navigation Pane will not be available. However, you can use the Navigation Pane in an Access web app if you open it in Access.
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Customising the Navigation Pane
The Navigation Pane in Access is the primary method for viewing and accessing all your database objects, and it appears on the left side of the Access window by default. It can be customised in a variety of ways to suit your needs.
Custom Categories and Groups
You can create custom categories and groups within those categories to reorganise, highlight, and hide objects. For example, if you have many reports in your database, you can create a "Reports" category and then create "Daily", "Weekly", "Monthly", "Quarterly", and "Yearly" groups within it. You can then add the relevant reports to each group.
Sorting Options
By default, Access sorts objects in the Navigation Pane by object type in ascending alphabetical order. However, you can change the sorting by right-clicking on the top of the Navigation Pane to display the shortcut menu. From there, you can select a different sorting option or choose to sort manually and customise the display order.
Search Function
The Search box at the top of the Navigation Pane allows you to search for specific objects within the currently displayed categories and groups. As you type, Access will eliminate any group headings that don't contain a match. To search within the entire database, select one of the predefined categories, such as "'Tables and Related Views' or "Object Type".
Display Options
You can customise how objects are displayed in the Navigation Pane. Right-click on the top of the Navigation Pane and select "View By" to choose between displaying objects as icons, lists, or details. You can also include additional information such as creation or modification dates.
Hiding the Navigation Pane
If you need more workspace, you can hide the Navigation Pane by pressing F11 or by going to the "'File' tab, clicking 'Options', selecting the 'Current Database' category, and clearing the 'Display Navigation Pane' checkbox. However, hiding the Navigation Pane is not recommended unless you have an alternative method for navigating the database, such as a switchboard.
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Changing the sort order
The Navigation Pane is the primary way to view and access all your database objects. By default, Access sorts the objects in the Navigation Pane by object type in ascending alphabetical order. However, you can change the sorting to suit your needs.
To change the sort order, right-click the top of the Navigation Pane to display the shortcut menu. Then, point to 'Sort By' and select a sorting option. To sort manually and customize the display order, click 'Sort By' and then click 'Remove Automatic Sorts'.
When you select a category, the items are arranged into the groups that the category contains. Each predefined category also includes a global group that contains all the objects in the database. You can easily locate the global group for a category by looking for the word 'All' in front of the group name. For example, if you select the Tables and Related Views category, the global group is called 'All Tables'.
You can also select the way in which the objects in the database are displayed in the Navigation Pane. For example, you can include the creation or modified dates, or display objects as icons or lists. To specify how objects are displayed, right-click the top of the Navigation Pane to display the shortcut menu. Then, point to 'View By' and click either 'Details', 'Icon', or 'List'.
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Hiding the Navigation Pane without providing access
The Navigation Pane in Microsoft Access is the main way to view and access all your database objects. It is located along the side of the screen and can be hidden or shown at any time.
To hide the Navigation Pane without providing access, you can try the following methods:
Method 1: Using the Display Navigation Pane Checkbox
- Open the desktop database.
- Click the "File" tab, then "Options".
- Select the "Current Database" category.
- Under "Navigation," clear the "Display Navigation Pane" checkbox.
- Click "OK" and close the database.
- Reopen the database to see the changes.
Method 2: Renaming the Database File Extension
Another way to hide the Navigation Pane is by renaming the database file extension from *.accdb to *.accdr. This will open the database in runtime mode, which does not include the ribbon bar or Navigation Pane.
Method 3: Using VBA Code
You can also use Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code to hide the Navigation Pane. Here is an example code snippet:
Vb
Dim strCurrentObjectName As String
StrCurrentObjectName = Application.CurrentObjectName
' Move focus to the navigation pane/database container
DoCmd.NavigateTo "acNavigationCategoryObjectType"
If strCurrentObjectName <> Application.CurrentObjectName Then
' The Navigation Pane is open and has focus.
' Use the window menu to hide the navigation pane
DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdWindowHide
End If
This code checks if the Navigation Pane is open and has focus, then uses the `DoCmd.RunCommand` method with the `acCmdWindowHide` argument to hide it.
Important Notes:
- Microsoft recommends against hiding the Navigation Pane in desktop databases unless the database employs a switchboard or another method for opening objects.
- The Navigation Pane is not available in Access web apps or web databases viewed in a browser.
- The above methods may not work reliably if other objects are open or if a search filter is set in the Navigation Pane.
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Frequently asked questions
To hide the Navigation Pane in Access, click the File tab, then click Options. Click the Current Database category, and under Navigation, clear the Display Navigation Pane check box. Click OK and close and reopen the database.
To unhide the Navigation Pane in Access 2007, click on the button in the top right corner of the Navigation Pane or press F11.
To change the startup options, click on the Microsoft Office button in the top left of the Access window and then click on the Access Options button. Click on the "Current Database" option on the left when the Access Options window appears.
Right-click the top of the Navigation Pane to display the shortcut menu. Then, point to View By and select Details, Icon, or List depending on your preference.
To filter the objects, click the title bar of the Navigation Pane and select a group. By default, Access displays Tables, Queries, Forms, and Reports. You can also select All Access Objects to remove the group filter.
