Switchboard Manager does not appear in the ribbon

Symptoms

When trying to create a new switchboard form in an .accdb client database in recent versions of Microsoft Access, you are unable to locate the Switchboard Manager option in the ribbon. In a .mdb database, the Switchboard Manager option appears in the Administer group on the Database Tools tab; however, the Administer group does not appear on the ribbon in an .accdb file.

Cause

The Switchboard Manager option is deprecated from the Database Tools tab for .accdb databases starting in Access 2010.

Resolution

You can launch the Switchboard Manager in an .accdb file in Access 2010 or later by using one of the following methods:

Method 1: Run the Switchboard Manager by using VBA Code

1. Open the Visual Basic Editor by pressing Ctrl+G.

2. In the Immediate Window, type the following command:

   DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdSwitchboardManager
   

3. In the Microsoft Access window, you will see the message "The Switchboard Manager was unable to find a valid switchboard in this database. Would you like to create one?" Click Yes.

Method 2: Run the Switchboard Manager by creating a macro

1. On Microsoft Access ribbon, select the Create tab. In the Macros & Code group, click Macro.
2. Select the action RunMenuCommand.
3. Select the command SwitchboardManager.
4. Save the macro and run it.
5. You will see the message "The Switchboard Manager was unable to find a valid switchboard in this database. Would you like to create one?" Click Yes.

Method 3: Customize the ribbon by creating a custom group and adding the "Switchboard Manager" command

1. Open your .accdb client database in Microsoft Access.
2. Select the File tab > Options > Customize Ribbon.
3. In the right column, highlight Database Tools.
4. Click New Group. Click Rename to name the group "Administer."
5. In the Choose commands from combo box at the top of the window, select All Commands
6. Scroll down and highlight Switchboard Manager.
7. Click Add to add the Switchboard Manager to the new group you created under the Database Tools tab.
8. Click Ok to close the Access Options
9. You should now see the Switchboard Manager under the Database Tools tab.