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When you create a new blank database, Access opens a new table in which you can enter data, but it creates no other objects in the database. If you want other objects, such as forms, reports, macros, or additional tables, present in all new databases you create, you can create a custom blank template that contains those objects. Then, the next time you create a new database, it will already contain those objects in your template. In addition to these objects, the template can include tables prepopulated with data, as well as any special configuration settings, database properties, references, or code that you want to have in all new databases.

For example, suppose you have a collection of macros that you like to use in all your projects. If you create a blank template containing those macros, Access includes them in any new databases you create.

Create a custom blank template

You can create blank templates in the .accdb file format or the .mdb file format. The template must be named Blank.accdb for the .accdb file format, and Blank.mdb for the earlier file formats.

To create a blank template, do one of the following:

  • Create a new database (you can name it Blank or give it a temporary name), and then import or create the objects you want to include in the template.

  • Make a copy of an existing database that already contains the objects you want in the template, and then delete any objects you don't want.

After you have the objects you want in the template, you must save it to a specific location.

  1. Click File, and then point to Save As.

  2. Under Save the database in another format, click the file format you want for the template.

  3. In the Save As dialog box, browse to one of these two template folders:

    • System template folder    For example, C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates\1033\Access

      Note: A blank template in the System template folder overrides blank templates in any user template folders.

    • User template folder    For example, C:\Users\user name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

  4. In the File name box, type Blank.accdb (or Blank.mdb, if you are creating an earlier-version template), and then click Save.

Now that the new template is in place, when you create a new blank database, the objects in the template are included in any new database you create by default. Access opens a new table in Datasheet view, as it does when you create new blank databases without using a template.

To stop using the blank template, delete or rename the file named Blank.accdb (or Blank.mdb, for earlier versions of Access).

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