The following table lists Microsoft Access and Visual Basic methods by programming task.
Table 1 Methods by Programming Task
| Category | Task | Method |
| Combo box/list box | Force a combo box to drop down | Dropdown |
| Return data in the bound column of a combo box or list box | ItemData | |
| Controls | Set default properties of a control | DefaultControl |
| Size a control to fit the text or image it displays | SizeToFit | |
| Undo changes to a control or form | Undo | |
| Filters | Build a criteria string for a filter | BuildCriteria |
| Apply an existing filter | ApplyFilter | |
| Finding records | Find a record according to specified criteria | FindRecord |
| Find next matching record | FindNext |
Table 1 Methods by Programming Task (continued)
| Category | Task | Method |
| Graphics on printed reports | Change the coordinate system | Scale |
| Draw a shape | Circle, Line, PSet | |
| Find the size of text | TextHeight, TextWidth | |
| Print text | ||
| Importing, exporting, or linking data | Import, export, or link data in a database | TransferDatabase |
| Import, export, or link data in a spreadsheet | TransferSpreadsheet | |
| Import, export, or link data in a text file | TransferText | |
| Export data from a database to a Microsoft Excel workbook, a rich-text file, or a text file. | OutputTo | |
| Interacting with application and environment | Generate sound from the computer’s speaker | Beep |
| Cancel an event | CancelEvent | |
| Carry out a menu command | DoMenuItem | |
| Toggle mouse pointer to hourglass | Hourglass | |
| Maximize window | Maximize | |
| Minimize window | Minimize | |
| Move or resize the active window | MoveSize | |
| Refresh the application title bar | RefreshTitleBar | |
| Rename a database object | Rename | |
| Restore window to original size and position | Restore | |
| Send an object in an electronic mail message | SendObject | |
| Set the state for a menu item on a custom toolbar | SetMenuItem | |
| Toggle warning messages | SetWarnings | |
| Toggle built-in toolbar | ShowToolbar | |
| Microsoft Access options | Set or return Microsoft Access options | GetOption, SetOption |
Table 1 Methods by Programming Task (continued)
| Category | Task | Method |
| Modules | Add text to a module | InsertText |
| Navigating through records | Move to a specified record | GoToRecord |
| Printing | Print to Debug window | |
| Print the active object | PrintOut | |
| Quitting Microsoft Access | Quit Microsoft Access | Quit, Quit (DoCmd object) |
| Running code | Run a procedure in another database | Run |
| Run a macro | RunMacro | |
| Run an SQL statement | RunSQL | |
| Setting the focus | Move the focus to the specified control | GoToControl |
| Move the focus to a form or control | SetFocus | |
| Move to a specified page on a form with page breaks | GoToPage, GoToPage (DoCmd object) | |
| Select a database object | SelectObject | |
| Updating data | Update calculated controls or requery data for a form or control | Recalc, Refresh, Requery, Requery (DoCmd object) |
| Specify whether Microsoft Access updates the screen | Echo | |
| Update the screen | Repaint | |
| Update the screen for a specified database object | RepaintObject | |
| Working with a Collection object | Add a member to a Collection object | Add |
| Remove a member from a Collection object | Remove | |
| Return a specific member of a Collection object either by position or by key | Item | |
| Working with the Err object | Generate a run-time error | Raise |
| Clear all property settings of the Err object | Clear |
Table 1 Methods by Programming Task (continued)
| Category | Task | Method |
| Working with a database in the Microsoft Access window | Create a new database | NewCurrentDatabase |
| Open an existing database | OpenCurrentDatabase | |
| Close a database | CloseCurrentDatabase | |
| Working with database objects | Open a database object | OpenForm, OpenModule, OpenQuery, OpenReport, OpenTable |
| Save a database object | Save | |
| Close a database object | Close | |
| Copy a database object | CopyObject | |
| Delete a database object | DeleteObject | |
| Working with a Workspace object | Clone the default Workspace object | DefaultWorkspaceClone |