# Access problem....i don't know jack
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 9, 2002, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596 "2002-09-09T01:54:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2002, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596/1 "2002-09-09T01:54:57Z")
i am entering a bunch of data into an access file at work. now, in addition to my other illiteracies, i am also illiterate in access. i want to know how to perform a simple task which i thought would be already taken care of by the program itself. i want to press one key and take the cursor to the first column of the next row. when i press tab, of course, it goes to the next column. the same for when i press enter. is one of my function keys depressed and i don’t know about it? how can i get this to do what i want with one key?
Next question. I hate the for dummies books with a passion. \*for dummies \* what is a good reference tool to use for learning the basics, i.e., word, access, excel, powerpoint? is the video professor cd stuff any good?\*video professor \*
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### Author:  [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596/2 "2002-09-09T02:01:32Z")
pas bien!!! let’s try again
i am entering a bunch of data into an access file at work. now, in addition to my other illiteracies, i am also illiterate in access. i want to know how to perform a simple task which i thought would be already taken care of by the program itself. i want to press one key and take the cursor to the first column of the next row. when i press tab, of course, it goes to the next column. the same for when i press enter. is one of my function keys depressed and i don’t know about it? how can i get this to do what i want with one key?
Next question. I hate the for dummies books with a passion. what is a good reference tool to use for learning the basics, i.e., word, access, excel, powerpoint? is the video professor cd stuff any good?
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### Author:  [@jbird3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbird3000)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2002, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596/3 "2002-09-09T02:16:22Z")
(From memory)
Under Tools go to Options (or possibly Database Options?). In there, SOMEWHERE, is an option that lets you pick what the enter key does. Change that.
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### Author:  [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596/4 "2002-09-09T02:19:58Z")
that did it! i’m a thankin ye!
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### Author:  [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2002, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596/5 "2002-09-09T03:55:05Z")
wait…back up…it worked once, now it just takes it down one rowwhat happened…?
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### Author:  [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2002, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596/6 "2002-09-09T04:06:32Z")
wait…back up…it worked once, now it just takes it down one rowwhat happened…?
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596/7 "2002-09-09T07:41:41Z")
Different database maybe? - some of the settings in Microsoft applications are global to the program, others are peculiar to the file that you currently have open.
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### Author:  [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-problem-i-dont-know-jack/127596/8 "2002-09-10T00:49:37Z")
MS Access 2000:
Go to Tools/Options/Keyboard
The setting “Move after Enter” has 3 options:
- Don’t move
- Next Field
- Next Record
So it looks like “Next Record” is your baby, but there is a catch: it goes to the next record, but to the same field that you are currently in, not the first field.
I think that’s what you have already discovered.