This article provides reference information about the functions and properties that sandbox mode allows and blocks in Access. Note that Access allows several newer functions to run in sandbox mode, including MonthName and StrReverse, and it now blocks several more functions, including Assistance, ExportNavigationPane, and LoadCustomUI. As you proceed, remember that you must trust (enable the content in) the database or place the database in a trusted location for the information in this article to be of use.
In this article
- Set sandbox mode to run unsafe expressions
- Functions that you can use in sandbox mode
- Functions that cause errors in sandbox mode
- Functions blocked by sandbox mode
- Properties blocked by sandbox mode
Set sandbox mode to run unsafe expressions
When you add an expression to a database, Access runs that expression in an operating environment called sandbox mode. Access enables sandbox mode by default, and in turn, sandbox mode always disables unsafe expressions, even after you trust a database.
If you trust a database and you want to run an expression that sandbox mode disables, you can run that expression by changing a registry key that disables sandbox mode. Remember that you must first trust a database to follow the steps in this section.
This figure shows the process that you follow when deciding whether to run unsafe expressions.
Caution Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your operating system, requiring you to reinstall it. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from editing the registry incorrectly can be resolved. Before editing the registry, back up any valuable data. For the most recent information about using and protecting your computer's registry, see Microsoft Windows Help.
If you are not familiar with the registry or you are not comfortable with changing registry keys yourself, contact someone who is or consider converting the database from the earlier version of Access to the Access file format. Also, you must have administrator permissions on the computer to change the registry values.
Change the registry key
Important
Following these steps allows unsafe expressions to run in all instances of Access for all users on the computer.
In Windows 10
On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit and then press ENTER.
The Registry Editor starts.Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder and navigate to the following registry key:
\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Access Connectivity Engine\EnginesNote
Note, 16.0 indicates Access 2016 and newer versions.
In the right pane of the registry editor, under Name, double-click SandboxMode.
The Edit DWORD Value dialog box appears.In the Value Data field, change the value from 3 to 2, and then click OK.
Close the Registry Editor.
Important Remember that if you do not first trust the database, Access disables any unsafe expressions regardless of whether you change this registry setting.
You can set the registry value to the following values, with 0 (zero) being the most permissive and 3 being the least permissive.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Sandbox mode is disabled at all times. |
| 1 | Sandbox mode is used for Access, but not for non-Access programs. |
| 2 | Sandbox mode is used for non-Access programs, but not for Access. |
| 3 | Sandbox mode is used at all times. This is the default value, set when you install Access. |
Functions that you can use in sandbox mode
The following table lists the functions that you can use in Access database engine queries when sandbox mode is enabled. Any functions that do not appear in the list are not available in sandbox mode.
| Abs | Array | Asc | Ascb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascw | Atn | CBool | CByte |
| CCur | CDate | CDbl | Choose |
| Chr | Chr$ | Chrb | Chrb$ |
| Chrw | Chrw$ | Cint | Clng |
| Cos | Csng | Cstr | Cvar |
| CVDate | CVErr | Date | Date$ |
| DateAdd | DateDiff | DatePart | DateSerial |
| DateValue | Day | DDB | Error |
| Error$ | Exp | Fix | Format |
| Format$ | FormatCurrency | FormatDateTime | FormatNumber |
| FormatPercent | FV | Hex | Hex$ |
| Hour | IIf | IMEStatus | InStr |
| InStrb | Int | IPmt | IRR |
| IsDate | IsEmpty | IsError | IsNull |
| IsNumeric | IsObject | LCase | LCase$ |
| Left | Left$ | Leftb | Leftb$ |
| Len | Lenb | Log | LTrim |
| LTrim$ | Mid | Mid$ | Midb |
| Midb$ | Minute | MIRR | Month |
| MonthName | Now | NPer | Npm |
| Oct | Oct$ | Partition | Pmt |
| PPmt | PV | QBColor Function | Rate |
| Replace | RGB | Right | Right$ |
| RightB | Rightb$ | Rnd | Round |
| RTrim | RTrim$ | Second | Sgn |
| Sgr | Sin | SLN | Space |
| Space$ | Str | Str$ | StrComp |
| StrConv | String | String$ | StrReverse |
| Switch | SYD | Tan | Time |
| Time$ | Timer | TimeSerial | TimeValue |
| Trim | Trim$ | TypeName | UCase |
| UCase$ | Val | VarType | Weekday |
| Year |
Functions that cause errors in sandbox mode
The following Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) functions will cause an error when the functions are called from an expression in an Access database engine query, or when called from an Access property.
| AppActivate | Beep | Calendar | CallByName | ChDir |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChDrive | Command | Command$ | CreateObject | CurDir |
| CurDir$ | DeleteSetting | DoEvents | Environ | Environ$ |
| EOF | Err | FileAttr | FileCopy | FileDateTime |
| FileLen | FreeFile | GetAllSettings | GetAttr | GetObject |
| GetSetting | Input | Input$ | InputB | InputB$ |
| Kill | Load | Loc | LOF | Randomize |
| Reset | SaveSetting | Seek | SendKeys | SetAttr |
| Shell | Spc | Tab | Unload | UserForms |
| Width |
Functions blocked by sandbox mode
Sandbox mode blocks the following Access functions when the functions are called from an expression in a query or from an Access property.
Properties blocked by sandbox mode
In addition to the functions listed in the previous section, sandbox mode also blocks a number of object properties. The following table lists the objects and the blocked property or properties for each object.
| Object | Blocked Property or Properties |
|---|---|
| BoundObjectFrame | Object |
| Combobox | Recordset |
| Control | Object |
| CurrentProject | AccessConnection, BaseConnectionString, CloseConnection, Connection, OpenConnection |
| CustomControl | Object |
| Form | Dynaset |
| Hyperlink | Add to favorites |
| Listbox | Recordset |
| ObjectFrame | Object |
| Report | Recordset |
| SmartTagAction | Execute |
| Screen | ActiveDataAccessPage |