Access 2010 view object descriptions

I know the original question is three years old and Bernman got part of his answer.  I'm responding to the last part of his question where he asks if there's a way to view descriptions alongside the object names--in a grid-like view.  Other folks in this thread have expressed similar concerns.

I've been frustrated with the MS Access 2007/2010 Navigation Pane for the same reason, and also because I can't sort on description.  Therefore, I wrote the code that follows.  Yes, it's a workaround but it can be helpful for finding a table, query, report, etc. by its description.  And because the output gets dumped into a table, you can sort it, query it, whatever.

You should be able to copy and paste the code into an MS Access 2010 module and run it without modifications.  (I hope.)

Cheers!  - Joel

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Public Function ListObjProps()
' Created by Joel S. on 12/05/2013
'
' This function lists MS Access 2010 objects (i.e. tables, queries, forms, reports,
' etc.) and their top-level properties as shown in the navigation pane. The output
' is written into a table, which allows an open, grid-like view of the object
' properties, similar to the navigation pane in Access 2000-2003.  Also, the output
' table makes it possible to sort on the Description field, which the Access 2010
' navigation pane does not allow.
'
' CAVEATS: The DateCreated and LastUpdated fields will reflect the values stored
' in the MSysObjects system table, not the values shown in the navigation pane
' (which sometimes appear to be incorrect).  Also, the Type field will show "Tables" not
' "Queries" for query objects, so this could cause confusion if some of the tables
' and queries in the database use exactly the same names.  Finally, this function should
' be run whenever the user deems he/she has added/deleted/modified enough
' MS Access objects to warrant refreshing the output table.

On Error GoTo Err_ListObjProps

Dim db As Database 'Variable for current database
Dim ctnr As Container 'High-level containers for MS Access objects
Dim obj As Document 'Individual MS Access Objects--tables, queries, forms, etc.
Dim prop As DAO.Property 'Object properties
Dim tdf As TableDef 'Output table definition
Dim strTbl As String 'Output table name
Dim rst As Recordset 'Recordset for updating output table
Dim boolRstOpen As Boolean 'Flag to indicate whether recordset is open

'Turn off warnings
DoCmd.SetWarnings False
DoCmd.Hourglass True

boolRstOpen = False 'Initiate flag to indicate recordset hasn't been opened.
Set db = CurrentDb()
strTbl = "tblSysObjProps" 'Name output table. (Can be renamed if user wishes.)

On Error Resume Next
'Close and delete previous output table if needed
DoCmd.Close acTable, strTbl, acSaveNo
DoCmd.DeleteObject acTable, strTbl
On Error GoTo Err_ListObjProps

'Create new output table definition
Set tdf = db.CreateTableDef(strTbl)
With tdf
  .Fields.Append .CreateField("Name", dbText)
  .Fields.Append .CreateField("Type", dbText)
  .Fields.Append .CreateField("Description", dbText)
  .Fields.Append .CreateField("DateCreated", dbDate)
  .Fields.Append .CreateField("LastUpdated", dbDate)
End With
'Append new output table definition to database
db.TableDefs.Append tdf

'Open output table for updating
Set rst = db.OpenRecordset(tdf.Name)
boolRstOpen = True
If (rst.RecordCount > 0) Then
    rst.MoveLast
End If

'Cycle through all container types--tables, queries, forms, reports, etc.
For Each ctnr In db.Containers
  'Cycle through each object in the container--individual tables, queries, etc.
  For Each obj In ctnr.Documents
    'Create new record in output table
    rst.AddNew
      obj.Properties.Refresh
      'Print object name to immediate window if needed
      'Debug.Print obj.Name
      'Cycle through each top-level property for the object in question
      'and write the value for each specified property into output table.
      For Each prop In obj.Properties
        Select Case prop.Name
          Case "Container"
            rst!Type = prop.Value
          Case "DateCreated"
            rst!DateCreated = prop.Value
          Case "Description"
            rst!Description = prop.Value
          Case "LastUpdated"
            rst!LastUpdated = prop.Value
          Case "Name"
            rst!Name = prop.Value
        End Select
        'Print object properties to immediate window if needed
        'Debug.Print vbTab & prop.Name & " = " & prop.Value
      Next prop
      'Update output table for last record entered.
      rst.Update
      rst.MoveLast
  Next obj
Next ctnr

'Clean up and close function
If boolRstOpen Then
    rst.Close
End If
'MS Access quirk requires the hidden output table to be explicitly hidden then unhidden.
Application.SetHiddenAttribute acTable, strTbl, True
Application.SetHiddenAttribute acTable, strTbl, False
db.Close
DoCmd.Hourglass False
DoCmd.SetWarnings True
MsgBox ("ListObjProps function completed successfully. See table " _
  & strTbl & " for output.")
Exit Function

Err_ListObjProps:
  'Clean up and close function
  On Error Resume Next
  If boolRstOpen Then
    rst.Close
  End If
  db.Close
  DoCmd.Hourglass False
  DoCmd.SetWarnings True
  MsgBox ("ERROR: ListObjProps function did not complete successfully.")
 
End Function

Hi All,

I might be misunderstanding the question Bernie is asking, but can't he right click on the top of the Navigation Pane, select "View By" and then choose "Details" in order to see his object descriptions display in the Navigation Pane? You can't sort by Description but you should be able to see them.

Kathy