Editing the MS Access MRU List

In Microsoft Access (and indeed, any Office program), there's something called an "MRU list" or "Most Recently Used" files list. Open Access (without opening any database, just the application itself), and you'll notice this list under File, or if you're using the most recent version of Microsoft Access, in a panel to the right-side of the screen.

Figure 1

This panel is handy for databases you work in frequently, but what if you open a lousy database that you never want to see again? Do you have to open database after database in order to finally get it off the list? Not at all! Click on Start, then Run, then type in "regedit" and hit, "OK."

Figure 1

Now, you are in the registry editor. If you've never been here before, you very well could mess up your computer so badly that it's completely unusable until you re-install Microsoft Windows. Due to that fact, I would highly recommend that only experienced users continue with the below steps. Whatever your level of knowledge working with computers, don't go blaming me if you end up thrashing your computer to the point of no return. Consider yourself warned and be cautious if you continue!

In the registry editor, you'll want to navigate to the following registry key (just keep hitting plus signs until you can click on the folder next to "Settings"):

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0AccessSettings

Figure 1

In this delightful little location, you've got all of the registry information for Microsoft Access. You'll immediately notice in the right panel of the registry editor, a long list of mostly incomprehensible numbers and letters. What should be obvious, is the MRU list.

Figure 1

The top entry in this case is, "Lousy Database" - you know, the one we don't want to have appear in the list. Simply click on that entry in the registry, delete it, open up Access, and voila! It's gone from the list! While this isn't exactly the speediest way to remove an entry from the MRU list, it sure beats opening up database after database in order to push one off the list.

If you scroll down a bit in the registry editor, you'll also notice an entry called, "Size of MRU File List". You can double-click that entry and change the number to change how many files appear in your MRU list. Would you rather have 4 or 9 files there? Change it, and there you have it.

While editing the registry isn't exactly the easiest or safest way to adjust how some of your applications work, in this case, it's the fastest and pretty much only way to accomplish what you need. So pay attention to what else is happening in the registry, and by all means, be careful in there!

David Badurina, President of Blue Moose Technology, LLC, is a relational database design expert. David's unique ability to easily explain virtually any technical concept has allowed him to work with companies such as AMD, Motorola, the American Heart Association, and countless small businesses. Learn more about database design right now at http://www.bluemoosetech.com.

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Editing the MS Access MRU List