How to use the Database Documenter in Access

Use Microsoft Access' Database Documenter to display and print all properties of an object or selected objects.

Microsoft Access has a feature called the Database Documenter. The Database Documenter creates a report that contains detailed data for each selected object, and then opens the report in Print Preview.

Here's how to use the Database Documenter.

1. Launch the Database Documenter

   Click Database Documenter from the Database Tools tab in the Ribbon.

2. Select the Object/s to Document

   Select the object/s to document, then click OK to generate the report.

   You can click on the various tabs to display only certain types of objects. You can click All Object Types to display all objects.

3. The Report

   The report is displayed, ready to be printed, exported, or emailed.

Customize the Report

You might find that the default report contains too much information for your needs. For example, you might only want to print a table's properties, or its relationships, or its permissions.

You can customize the report by using the Options... button in the Database Documenter.

1. Open the Options Dialog

   While viewing the relevant object group in the Database Documenter, click Options....

2. Customize the Options

   Deselect any unnecessary options (or select any that need to be selected).

   The options in this dialog box change, depending on the tab that you have open in the Database Documenter. For example, you'll see a different set of options for tables than you'll see for queries.

3. Run the Report

   Click OK to generate the report.

4. The Report

   The new report will contain information about the selected items only.