Need to disable the Delete a Record shortcut, CTRL -

[Modify_inc]

I would like to disable the shortcut, CTRL - which allows a user to delete a record. A user accidentally deleted a record while typing in an email address that had an underscore in the email address. While trying to type it she must have hit the CTRL key instead of the Shift key follow by the -. She noticed the delete confirmation, but not thinking, pressed enter and thus confirmed the deletion of the record.

Other than telling her to pay more attention, how can I disable the shortcut in Access 2013?

Would using the Application.OnKey be ideal for this?



Thanks
Mike

[June7]

I've never encountered this. Was not even aware of this shortcut. Review https://www.accessforums.net/forms/d...eys-41957.html

[Modify_inc]

I've never encountered this. Was not even aware of this shortcut. Review https://www.accessforums.net/forms/d...eys-41957.html

I experimented with some of the code from the links and modified it for my needs, but I can't even get Access to completely disable the CTRL key just for testing, let along with the dash character.

I tried this first, just to see if I could get Access to disable the CTRL key by itself, as the guy in the post said it worked for him.

Private Sub Form_Open(Cancel As Integer)
    If (Shift And acCtrlMask) > 0 Then
    Keycode = 0
    Shift = 0
    End If
End Sub

Nothing, the CTRL key still functions normally. I tried it without the Shift variable as I didn't think I needed it, but still no luck.

Should I run it under a different procedure type other than Open?

I tried using the Application.OnKey "^-", "" but I keep getting an error that the method or data member is not found.

I don't understand why because that command is recommend all over the internet for redirecting the key to a blank string.

[trevor40]

try this, i use it for my time tracking system, it disables both the alt and ctrl keys

Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
Dim intCtrlDown As Integer, intAltDown As Integer, intShiftDown As Integer
intAltDown = (Shift And acAltMask) > 0
intCtrlDown = (Shift And acCtrlMask) > 0
If intCtrlDown Then
    If KeyCode = vbKeyF4 Then
        KeyCode = 0
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
End If
If intAltDown Then
    If KeyCode = vbKeyF4 Then
        KeyCode = 0
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
End If

[ssanfu]

And this is what I use for the F12 key to hide the current form and open a new form

Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
    Select Case KeyCode
        Case vbKeyF12
            KeyCode = 0
            If lstEmp > -1 Then   'lstEmp is a list box
                DoCmd.OpenForm "employee details", , , "end_pk = " & lstEmp.Column(1)
                Forms!startup.Visible = False
            Else
                MsgBox "Please select an employee"
            End If

    End Select

End Sub

Note that both trevor40 and I use the "Form_KeyDown" event, NOT the "Form_Open" event.

Could also use the "Form_KeyUp" event.

[Modify_inc]

try this, i use it for my time tracking system, it disables both the alt and ctrl keys

Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
Dim intCtrlDown As Integer, intAltDown As Integer, intShiftDown As Integer
intAltDown = (Shift And acAltMask) > 0
intCtrlDown = (Shift And acCtrlMask) > 0
If intCtrlDown Then
    If KeyCode = vbKeyF4 Then
        KeyCode = 0
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
End If
If intAltDown Then
    If KeyCode = vbKeyF4 Then
        KeyCode = 0
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
End If

Thanks for the code, but I can still use the ALT and CTRL keys. It's like none of the code is even executing. I noticed the End Sub was missing in your code, but when I copy it and tested it with my form, it didn't even error out. I'm pretty sure it should have given me an error not having an End Sub, correct?

Anyways, I added the End Sub, but still the ALT and CTRL keys still work in the form.

Any ideas?

Mike

[ssanfu]

In the form that you want to limit ALT and CTL actions, did you open the form properties, click on the EVENT tab, go to the very last property and set "Keypreview" to YES?

This is necessary because by default, the form only sees keystrokes after the controls on the form.
You must set the "Keypreview" property on EACH form - it is not a global setting.

As stated above, you must use the "KeyDown" or "KeyUp" events.

[Modify_inc]

In the form that you want to limit ALT and CTL actions, did you open the form properties, click on the EVENT tab, go to the very last property and set "Keypreview" to YES?

This is necessary because by default, the form only sees keystrokes after the controls on the form.
You must set the "Keypreview" property on EACH form - it is not a global setting.

As stated above, you must use the "KeyDown" or "KeyUp" events.

No, I had no idea I was suppose too. I have it set to Yes now.

I only have one form, and I am using the KeyDown event for it. Unfortunately, I can still use the ALT and CTRL keys.

[trevor40]

set break points in the code and step debug to see if it's even getting to the code and running

[Modify_inc]

set break points in the code and step debug to see if it's even getting to the code and running

With the stop command between the last End If and the End Sub, I have noticed this pattern:

If I press any keys OTHER than CTRL or ALT, it will stop.
If I just press CTRL or ALT and no other keys, it will continue, it does not stop.
If I press CTRL or ALT WHILE pressing any other key, it will process the shortcut normally and not stop. So if I press ctrl - it will ask to delete the record.

I thought the code was suppose to suppress the CTRL and ALT keys. Seems to be doing the opposite, unless I'm misunderstanding something.

[trevor40]

post your code pls.

[Modify_inc]

post your code pls.

Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
Dim intCtrlDown As Integer, intAltDown As Integer, intShiftDown As Integer
intAltDown = (Shift And acAltMask) > 0
intCtrlDown = (Shift And acCtrlMask) > 0
If intCtrlDown Then
    If KeyCode = vbKeyF4 Then
        KeyCode = 0
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
End If
If intAltDown Then
    If KeyCode = vbKeyF4 Then
        KeyCode = 0
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
End If
Stop
End Sub

[trevor40]

Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
Dim intCtrlDown As Integer, intAltDown As Integer, intShiftDown As Integer
intAltDown = (Shift And acAltMask) > 0
intCtrlDown = (Shift And acCtrlMask) > 0
If intCtrlDown Then
    If KeyCode = vbKeyF4 Then
        KeyCode = 0
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
End If
If intAltDown Then
    If KeyCode = vbKeyF4 Then
        KeyCode = 0
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
End If
Stop
End Sub

your code is only checking if F4 has been hit as well as ctrl or alt,
adjust your code to check for the key combination you need.

[Modify_inc]

your code is only checking if F4 has been hit as well as ctrl or alt,
adjust your code to check for the key combination you need.

Ok, that made a big difference. I got it to work, but only using the CTRL and the subtract key on the numpad.

Looking at the list of key codes from Microsoft, https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...=vs.60%29.aspx

There is no key code for the hyphen/dash key on the main keyboard. Only found the vbSubtract key which is code 109 and apparently only works for the subtract key on the numpad.

Any idea what the code is for the hyphen/dash key on the main keyboard?

[June7]

Don't know if this will help but - from the ASCII table, all of these codes generate the same character in appearance:

Chr(45)

Chr(6)

Chr(150)

Chr(173)

And Asc("-") - by typing the hyphen on the main keyboard or minus on numeric keypad - returns 45.

Bing search: Microsoft keycode hyphen
Apparently a common issue.
These have some interesting comments
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/o...5-c89673ad5603
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Fo...silverlightnet