CHAPTER 12Customizing Menus and

Toolbars

1. Using Access Command BarsThe basic element of toolbars, menu

bars, and shortcut menus is the command the user chooses to cause an action to take place

The command can appear as a button with an image or a menu command showing text

The commands can be grouped as a set of items in several ways:◦In a menu, such as the New, Open and

Close commands on the File menu.◦On a toolbar, such as the Print, Print

Preview on the Form View toolbar.

2. Showing/Hiding Built-in ToolbarsTo add toolbars not in the list to the

window, open the Customize dialog box using one of the following methods:◦Choose Customize at the bottom of

the toolbar shortcut menu.◦Choose ViewToolbarsCustomize.◦Choose ToolsCustomize.

2. Showing/Hiding Built-in ToolbarsThe Toolbars tab contains a list of all

three types of available toolbars.

2. Showing/Hiding Built-in ToolbarsClick the check box of any toolbar you

want to add to the display, and then click Close.

To remove a toolbar from the display, clear the check mark and click Close.

3. Showing/Hiding Toolbar ButtonsTo show a button

◦Click the Toolbar Options button on the right end of the toolbar.

◦Click Add or Remove Buttons and point to the toolbar name in the list of toolbar buttons currently showing

To hide a button, clear the check mark next to the button name

4. Adding/Deleting Toolbar ButtonsTo add a button from the Customize

dialog box:◦Select command tab◦Choose the type of command you want

in the Categories list. The Commands list shows images and text of commands in that category.

◦When you find the button you want, drag it to the toolbar. When you see a dark I-beam, drop the button on the toolbar.

4. Adding/Deleting Toolbar Buttons

5. Adding Built-in MenusYou can add built-in menus to a toolbar

or a menu bar by drag from the Commands box of the Customize dialog box.

The only difference between adding toolbar buttons and menus is that the menus, by default, show only text, while the buttons show only an image.

5. Adding Built-in MenusWith the new menu bar or toolbar

showing, open the Customize dialogselect the Commands tab. Scroll down the Categories list and select Built-in Menus

5. Adding Built-in MenusDrag the menu from the Commands box

to the menu bar or toolbar, and then drop the menu when you see the dark I-beam.

6. Adding Custom MenusTo add a new custom menu:Open the Customize dialog box select

the Toolbars tabNewType Toolbar NameOK

6. Adding Custom MenusSelect commands tabScroll down the list of Categories select

New Menu.

6. Adding Custom MenusDrag New Menu from the Commands box

to the menu bar or toolbar.Right-click the New Menu, enter a name

in the Name box ENTER

6. Adding Custom MenusAdd commands to the new menu by

choosing from the Commands dialog box

7. Adding a SubmenuTo add a custom submenu to an existing

menu, do the following:◦Drag the New Menu command from the

Commands box to the menu you want to contain the submenu

◦Right-click New Menu and type a name for the submenu ENTER.

7. Adding a SubmenuSelect and drag a command to the

empty box and when the I-beam appears, release the mouse.

Drag the names of the object you want in the submenu from the categories list to the submenu.

7. Adding a Submenu

8. Attaching a Custom Command Bar to an ObjectReports, forms, and controls have

properties that specify which, if any, command bar is to be displayed when the object is in view.

To set one of these properties:◦Open the object’s property sheet

Other tab. ◦Select the name of the command bar

from the drop-down list

8. Attaching a Custom Command Bar to an ObjectRepeat the process for each form, report,

or control to which you want to attach a command.

9. Deleting a Custom Command BarTo delete a custom toolbar, menu bar, or

shortcut menu:◦Open the Customize dialog box as

usual, and then click the Toolbars tab. ◦Select the item you want to delete and

click Delete

9. Deleting a Custom Command BarDeleting a shortcut menu is a little

different. You must convert it to a toolbar before you can delete it. ◦Open the Customize dialog

boxToolbars, and then select any toolbar.

◦Shortcut menus don’t appear in the list, so you need to select any toolbar to get started.

9. Deleting a Custom Command BarClick PropertiesIn the Selected Toolbar

box, choose the name of the shortcut menu you want to delete.

9. Deleting a Custom Command BarChoose Toolbar in the Type list to change

it to a toolbar, and then click Close to return to the Customize dialog box.

The shortcut menu name is added to the list of toolbars.

Select the name of the shortcut menu in the list of toolbars to open the Toolbar Properties dialog box and delete