MS Access Record Navigation Keys

	Microsoft Access Record Navigation Keys
	This is a basic topic, but I have found many people that are unaware of this feature. When using a form in MS Access (any version: 1997 or later) a navigation toolbar is displayed by default at the bottom of the form, as seen in Figure 1. These buttons are quite self evident, but here we go starting from the left:
	Figure 1: The Record Navigation Bar
	First Record Button: This moves the record pointer to the first record in the table and the data is displayed. (In some versions of MS Access) If you are already positioned on the first record, this is button is grayed out or unavailable. Previous Record Button: This moves the record pointer to the record in the table immediately before the currently displayed record and the data is displayed. If you are already positioned on the first record, this is button is also grayed out or unavailable. Current Record Number Text Box: This input field shows the record number you are currently viewing. This record number is based on the primary key or arrival sequence as records are entered into the table. Notice in figure 1 that the first record out of 5 total records is being displayed This text box can also be used to navigate around the table. Just enter the new record number you wish to view in the box and press enter. Next Record Button: This moves the record pointer to the record in the table immediately following the currently displayed record and the data is displayed. If you are already positioned on the last record, this is button is grayed out or unavailable. Last Record Button: This moves the record pointer to the last record in the table and the data is displayed. If you are already positioned on the last record, this is button is also grayed out or unavailable.
	Figure 2: Form before and after pressing the Add a New Record button
	Add a New Record Button: This moves the record pointer to the end of the table and a blank form is displayed. This allows you to key in a new record in the blanks provided. You may say: Big Deal! But this actually makes a lot of sense when you have a table with several thousand records and you want to move around quickly. So, if you are positioned at the front of the table, you can get to the last record by: Pressing the Last Record Button Pressing the Add New Record Button Or Entering the number of the last record in the Current Record Number Text Box Similarly, If you are toward the end of several thousand records and you want to get to the first record, you can: Press the First Record Button Press the Previous Record Button several thousand times (a little joke) Or Enter the number 1 (one) in the Current Record Number Text Box This makes a lot of sense when you have a table with several thousand records and you want to move around quickly. So there you have it! Hope this helps you move around more easily.