Create or delete a Hyperlink field

Use to store a hyperlink address, such as a URL, UNC path, or an e-mail address. A hyperlink field can store up to 2048 characters. To enter a hyperlink in a datasheet or form, right click on the field and choose Hyperlink > Edit Hyperlink or press Ctrl+K. A hyperlink field can contain up to four parts separated by a pound assign (#) character: the display text, the address, the subaddress, and a screen tip. To see the underlying parts, Use the Expression Builder to add a calculated field based on the HyperlinkPart Method.

Add a Hyperlink field in Datasheet view

You can add a Hyperlink field to a new or existing table in Datasheet View.

Add to an existing table

Open the table in Datasheet View.
If necessary, scroll horizontally to the first blank field.
Select Click to Add and then select Hyperlink from the list.
Double-click the new header row, and then type a meaningful name for the new field.
Save your changes.

Add to a new table

On the Create tab, in the Tables group, click Table.
Click Save , and in the Save As dialog box, enter a name for the new table.
Select Click to Add and then select Hyperlink from the list.
Double-click the new header row, and then type a meaningful name for the new field.
Save your changes.

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Add a Hyperlink field in Design view

You can add a Hyperlink field to a new or existing table in Design View.

Add to an existing table

Open the table in Design View.
In the Field Name column, select the first blank row, and then type a name for the field.
Select the adjacent cell in the Data Type column, and then select Hyperlink from the list.
Save your changes.

Add to a new table

On the Create tab, in the Tables group, click Table.
Click Save, and in the Save As dialog box, enter a name for the new table.
Right-click the document tab for the new table and click Design View.
In the Field Name column, select the first blank row, and then type a name for the field.
Select the adjacent cell in the Data Type column, and then select Hyperlink from the list.
Save your changes.

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Set or change Hyperlink field properties

You can use Datasheet View to set a subset of field properties, such as Default Value or Name & Caption, but use Design View to set all available properties, including Required or Indexed.

Open the table in Design View.
On the General tab in the lower section of the table designer, under Field Properties, locate the property that you want to change.
Select the field next to the property name. Depending on the property, you can enter data, start the Expression Builder by clicking , or select an option from a list.

For information about how to use each field property, select the property and then press F1.

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Delete a Hyperlink field

Important When you delete a Hyperlink field that contains data, you lose that data permanently — you cannot undo the deletion. For that reason, you should back up your database before you delete any table fields or other database components.

Delete from Datasheet view

Open the table in Datasheet View.
Locate the Hyperlink field, right-click the header row (the name), and then click Delete Field.
Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

Delete from Design view

Open the table in Design View.
Click the row selector (the blank square) next to the Text field, and then press DELETE, or right-click the row selector and then click Delete Rows.
Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

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Hyperlink field property reference

When you use Design View to add a Hyperlink field to a table, you can set and change a number of properties for the field. This table shows the Hyperlink field properties, describes what each one does, and explains the implications of setting or changing them.

Property	Use
Allow Zero Length	Allows entry (by setting to Yes) of a zero-length string ("") in a Hyperlink, Text, or Memo field.
Append Only	Determines whether to track field value changes. There are two settings: Yes Tracks changes. To view the field value history, right-click the field, and then click Show column history. No Does not track changes. Warning: Warning Setting this property to No deletes any existing field value history.
Caption	The label text that is displayed for this field by default in forms, reports, and queries. If this property is empty, the name of the field is used. Any text string is allowed. An effective caption is usually brief.
Default Value	Automatically assigns the specified value to this field when a new record is added.
Format	Determines the way that the field appears when it is displayed or printed in datasheets or in forms or reports that are bound to the field. You can define a custom format for a Hyperlink field.
IME Mode	Controls the conversion of characters in East Asian versions of Windows.
IME Sentence Mode	Controls the conversion of sentences in East Asian versions of Windows.
Indexed	Specifies whether the field has an index. There are three available values: Yes (No duplicates) Creates a unique index on the field. Yes (Duplicates OK) Creates a non-unique index on the field. No Removes any index on the field. Note: Do not change this property for a field that is used in a primary key. Although you can create an index on a single field by setting the Indexed field property, some kinds of indexes cannot be created in this manner. For example, you cannot create a multi-field index by setting this property.
Required	Requires that data be entered in the field.
Smart Tags	Attaches a smart tag to the field. Smart tags were deprecated in Access 2013.
Text Align	Specifies the default alignment of text within a control.
Unicode Compression	Compresses text that is stored in this field when less than 4,096 characters are stored.
Validation Rule	Supplies an expression that must be true whenever you add or change the value in this field. Use in conjunction with the Validation Text property.
Validation Text	Enter a message to display when a value that is entered violates the expression in the Validation Rule property.