PRA: Access Key Displays Literal Ampersand (&) on a Subform

Article ID: Q155298
Creation Date: 26-AUG-1996
Revision Date: 06-DEC-1996

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you create an access key by typing an ampersand (&) in the Caption property of a label control on a subform, the ampersand displays as a literal character instead of underlining the intended letter. The access key normally appears as an underlined letter; when you press the ALT key plus that letter, the insertion point moves to that control on the form.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 7.0. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Access 97.

MORE INFORMATION

The access keys still function on the subform, but you see the ampersand instead of the underlined letter.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

CAUTION: Following the steps in this example will modify the sample database Northwind.mdb. You may want to back up the Northwind.mdb file or perform these steps on a copy of the Northwind database.

Open the Orders Subform form in Design view.

On the View menu, click Properties.

Click the Product Label control and set its Caption property as follows:
```
      Caption: &Product:
```
Click the Quantity Label control and set its Caption property as follows:
```
      Caption: &Quantity:
```
Click the Unit Price Label control and set its Caption property as follows:
```
      Caption:  U&nit Price:
```
On the View menu, click Form. Note that the Product:, Quantity:, and Unit Price: labels correctly display the underlined letters, indicating the access keys.
Save the Orders Subform form and close it.
Open the Orders form. Note that the ampersand is displayed on each of the subform's label controls instead of underlining the correct letter for the access key. Although the intended letter is not underlined, you can still use the access keys to move the insertion point to that control on the subform.

REFERENCES

For more information about using access keys in your application, search for "access keys," using the Microsoft Access 7.0 Help Index.

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