In addition to all the various commands and options available on the Backstage view, ribbon, and in the Navigation pane, Access 2010 has one central location for setting and modifying global options for all your Access database files or for only the database currently open. This location is the Access Options dialog box. To open the Access Options dialog box, click the File tab on the Backstage view and then click Options, as shown in Figure 2-98.
Figure 2-98. Click the File tab on the Backstage view and then click Options to open the Access Options dialog box.
The Access Options dialog box contains 11 categories in the left pane to organize the various options and settings. The first category, General, has settings that apply not only to Access 2010, but also any other Office 2010 system programs you might have installed.
From here, you can choose to enable Live Preview, display ScreenTips, select a color scheme for the application window, and enter a user name for use in all your Office 2010 system applications. In the Creating Databases section, you can choose a default file format for new databases that you create in Access 2010. By default, the file format is set to create all new databases in Access 2007 format. The Default Database Folder box displays the folder where Access will save all new database files unless you select a different folder when creating the database. Figure 2-99 shows the General category of the Access Options dialog box.
The Current Database category, shown in Figure 2-100, has many settings that apply only to the database currently open. This category groups the options into these areas: Application Options, Navigation, Ribbon And Toolbar Options, Name AutoCorrect Options, Filter Lookup Options, and Caching Web Service And SharePoint Tables.
The Document Window Options section in this category was discussed previously in Using the Single-Document vs. the Multiple-Document Interface. Use Windows-Themed Controls On Forms will be discussed in Chapter 13, and Chapter 14. The remaining options in the Current Database category will be discussed in Chapter 26, “The Finishing Touches.”
The Datasheet category, shown in Figure 2-101, has settings that control the appearance of the datasheet views in your database. This category has options grouped in the following sections—Gridlines And Cell Effects and Default Font—which allow you to modify the look of your datasheets with different colors, gridlines, and cell effects. You can also select a default font and size under Default Font. You’ll learn more about applying these settings to datasheets in Working in Query Datasheet View, and in Chapter 12, and Chapter 13.
The Object Designers category, shown in Figure 2-102, includes settings for creating and modifying database objects in all databases. The Object Designers category is divided into four sections: Table Design View, Query Design, Form/Report Design View, and Error Checking In Form And Report Design View. The Table Design View section has settings for Default Field Type, Default Text Field Size, and Default Number Field Size. You’ll learn more about the impact of these settings in Chapter 4. The Query Design section lets you select a default font and size for working in the query design grid. You’ll learn more about the impact of these settings in Chapter 10. The Form/Report Design View section has options that allow you to use the existing form and report templates or choose a custom template that you have created. You’ll learn more about these settings in Chapter 13. The Error Checking In Form And Report Design View section has several default options that Access looks for when checking for errors in your database file. You’ll learn more about these settings in Chapter 24, “Understanding Visual Basic Fundamentals,” on the companion CD.
The Proofing category, shown in Figure 2-103, includes options for controlling the spelling and AutoCorrect features. You can click AutoCorrect Options to customize how Access helps you with common typing mistakes. You can also click Custom Dictionaries to select a custom dictionary to use when working with Access 2010 and the other Office 2010 system applications. See Chapter 26 for more information on these options.
The Language category, shown in Figure 2-104, contains options for controlling the language settings for your Access 2010 and Office 2010 installed programs. Under Choose Editing Languages, you can select a default editing language for Access 2010. If you have installed additional language packs, you can choose to change your default language to a different language. Under Choose Display and Help Languages, you can change what display language and Help language to use when working with Access 2010. Note that you will need to close your current session of Access and reopen to see these changes. If you click the arrow next to View Display Languages Installed for each Microsoft Office Program, a list expands beneath the arrow that lists all of the Office applications that you have installed and their display languages.
Figure 2-104. The Language category has settings for changing your editing, display, and Help language for Access 2010 and other Office 2010 programs.
The Client Settings category, shown in Figure 2-105, contains a wide variety of settings for Access 2010. This category has options grouped in the following sections: Editing, Display, Printing, General, Advanced, and Default Theme. Each of the settings on this category applies to all client database files that you use in Access 2010. Many of these settings are discussed later in various parts of this book. See Chapter 8, and Chapter 9, for more information.
Figure 2-105. The Client Settings category has options for controlling editing, display, and printing.
The Customize Ribbon category, shown in Figure 2-106, was discussed previously in Customizing the Ribbon. This category is where you customize the ribbon. You can make modification to the built-in ribbon tabs or create your own custom ribbon tabs and groups.
The Quick Access Toolbar category, shown in Figure 2-107, was discussed previously in Taking Advantage of the Quick Access Toolbar. This category is where you customize the Quick Access Toolbar. You can make modifications to the Quick Access Toolbar for this specific database only or to the Quick Access Toolbar for all Access databases.
The Add-Ins category, shown in Figure 2-108, lists all the various Access add-ins that might be installed on your computer. You can manage COM add-ins and Access add-ins from this area, and each add-in has its various properties listed. COM add-ins extend the ability of Access and other Office system applications with custom commands and specialized features. You can even disable certain add-ins to keep them from loading and functioning.
The Trust Center category, shown in Figure 2-109, is the last category in the Access Options dialog box. This category is where you access all Trust Center options for handling security. As we discussed earlier in Understanding Content Security, you can open the Trust Center Settings dialog box, which controls all aspects of macro security. This category also has links to online privacy and security information.
Figure 2-109. The Trust Center category has links to privacy and security information and the Trust Center Settings button, which allows you to view more options.
In the next chapter, you’ll learn about the internal architecture of an Access 2010 application. You’ll also open the Housing Reservations and Conrad Systems Contacts sample databases to explore some of the many features and functions of Access. Finally, you’ll discover some of the ways that you can use Access as an application solution.