Add-ins tab in Access 2016

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I have an Access database which was converted from a 2003 one. In that old database I had a toolbar which I’ve used for most of my databases, with commands for things I do often. This disappeared in Access 2013 (then 2016), but when showing my daughter some basics of using Access, I noticed a tab called add-ins and clicked on it. I’ve seen it before but assumed it was a function I wouldn’t need (similar to add-ons in a browser). However, I found it was holding that toolbar as above.

I’ve tried to edit it – indeed do anything with it, but nothing seems to work. Going to File/Options/add-ins says I have none. So how do I get to this toolbar? I think I may try using it more often, but it’s the fact I can’t seem to change it that gets me.

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If it is in a tab trying customizing the Ribbon.

Joe

--Joe

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Just tried customizing the tab – but no go. I can’t change or see what’s there and it won’t allow me to add anything (message is “Commands need to be added to custom groups. To create a group pick a tab in the list then click New Group”.

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Did you change the drop down on the right from “Main Tabs” to “All Tabs”?

Joe

--Joe

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I didn’t need to as I could see the add-in tab on the right hand side. It just wouldn’t let me do anything and trying to add a command came up with that error message in #3.

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Unfortunately the ability to modify custom toolbars was pretty much removed in recent versions of Access. The only way I’ve been able to do that is to go back to an installation of Access 2003, do the changes and additions there, and save them, and then reopen the database in the newer version. And I think those toolbars are only supported on .mdb databases, though I’ve never tried to convert one to the .accdb format.

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Also, see RibbonCreator 2016[/url] which is a shareware program for creating custom ribbons.

Joe

--Joe

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If you add-in tab has common functions you can create a new group which has what you need and then hide the add-in tab.

Joe

--Joe

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OK, I think this thread is done. Thanks Joe and Wendell for your input. I don’t have the ability to go back to Access 2003 any more and I’ve not noticed it for 8 months, so I can live with it being there but unused (though I might try and remember to use it). I’ve just converted one of my mdb databases to accdb and it’s still there (I did this to try out the table analysis feature which doesn’t seem to work in mdb databases).

Moral is that you never know what you might discover when you help daughter with her (inherited) database issues!

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