You can set general options by selecting File > Options > General in the Access Options dialog box. General options can be used to specify how some user interfaces are displayed to users, which default file format or sort order is used, or where database folders are located in the database user's computer.
What do you want to do?
Set User Interface options
The following User Interface options apply to all Office products.
Live Preview
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When the Enable Live Preview option is selected, you can preview how a feature affects the document as you hover over different choices.
ScreenTips
You can point to a command or option on the ribbon to see a screen tip about the purpose of the button and any available keyboard shortcuts for that option. To hide the screen tips, select a ScreenTip scheme that meets your needs from the ScreenTip style options:
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Show feature descriptions in ScreenTips shows description of the button or option in the ribbon if you hover over the option.
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Don't show feature descriptions in ScreenTips allows you to see the name of the option or feature but not the description.
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Don't show Screen Tips does not display the name or description of buttons or options on the ribbon if you hover over the button or option.
Graphics acceleration
When the Disable hardware graphics acceleration option is selected, Access won't be able to use the graphics acceleration capabilities of your computer to improve performance.
What is a graphics accelerator? A graphics accelerator is a type of video adapter that contains its own processor to boost performance levels. These processors are specialized for computing graphical transformations, so they achieve better results than the general-purpose CPU used by your computer. These adapters free your computer's CPU to execute other commands while the graphics accelerator handles graphics computations.
Set options for creating databases
You can select a version of Access for new desktop databases, a specific location on your computer for the new database folders, and a custom sorting order.
Default file format for Blank Database
Use this option to set or change the file format that Access uses whenever you create a new database. If your database is shared by multiple users, consider the version of Access that is available on their computers so that they can access all the features in your database.
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Next to Default file format for Blank Database, select a file format.
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Close and reopen the database for the option to take effect.
Default database folder
To set or change the default folder for storing new databases and files:
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In the Default database folder text box, type the folder name or click Browse to locate the folder.
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Close and reopen the database for the option to take effect.
New database sort order
Use this option to change the default sort order (also called the collating sequence).
To change the sort order for future databases:
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Next to New database sort order, select the language you want to use.
This option takes effect the next time you create a database.
To change the sort order for the current database:
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Next to New database sort order, select the language you want to use.
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Compact and repair the database. Access compacts and repairs the database and keeps it in the same location. For more information, see Compact and repair a database.
Personalize your copy of Office
The following personalization options apply to all Office products.
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Type your name, or the name of another user in the User name text box.
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Type your initials or the initials of another user in the Initials text box.
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You can also pick an Office Background or Office Theme to use with your Access databases.
