1. Under Objects in the Database window (Database window: The window that appears when you open an Access database or an Access project. It displays shortcuts for creating new database objects and opening existing objects.), click the type of database object whose properties you want to change.
2. Click Properties on the toolbar.
3. Select or clear the Hidden check box.

Note  In a Microsoft Access project (Microsoft Access project: An Access file that connects to a Microsoft SQL Server database and is used to create client/server applications. A project file doesn't contain any data or data-definition-based objects such as tables and views.), you cannot change the properties of a table, query, or database diagram (database diagram: A graphical representation of any portion of a database schema. It can be either a whole or partial picture of the structure of the database. It includes tables, the columns they contain, and the relationships between the tables.) because these objects reside in the Microsoft SQL Server database. However, you can change the properties of a form, report, macro, or module, because these objects reside in the Access project itself, not in the Microsoft SQL Server database. You can also change the properties of a data access page.

If you need to work with objects that are defined as hidden without changing their status as hidden, you can display them in the Database window (Database window: The window that appears when you open an Access database or an Access project. It displays shortcuts for creating new database objects and opening existing objects.).

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Under Show, select or clear the Hidden objects check box. Microsoft Access displays hidden objects with dimmed icons to distinguish them from objects that aren't defined as hidden.

Microsoft Access automatically creates system objects (system object: Database objects that are defined by the system, such as the table MSysIndexes, or by the user. You can create a system object by naming the object with USys as the first four characters in the object name.) when you create a new database.

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Under Show, select or clear the System objects check box.

To prevent someone from viewing or making changes to your Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) (Visual Basic for Applications (VBA): A macro-language version of Microsoft Visual Basic that is used to program Windows applications and is included with several Microsoft applications.) code, you can help protect the code by requiring a password.

1. Open the Microsoft Access project (.adp) (Microsoft Access project: An Access file that connects to a Microsoft SQL Server database and is used to create client/server applications. A project file doesn't contain any data or data-definition-based objects such as tables and views.) file or Microsoft Access database (.mdb) (database: A collection of data related to a particular subject or purpose. Within a database, information about a particular entity, such as an employee or order, is categorized into tables, records, and fields.) file that has the VBA code you want to help protect.
2. In the Database window, point to Macro on the Tools menu, and then click Visual Basic Editor.

   Tip

   You can also press ALT+F11.

3. In the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor, click <Access database or Access project name> Project Properties on the Tools menu.
4. On the Protection tab, select the Lock project for viewing check box. If you set a password but don't select Lock project for viewing, the code can be viewed and edited by anyone, but security measures still help project the Project Properties dialog box.
5. In the Password box, type your password.

   Guidelines for passwords

   Use strong passwords that combine upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Weak passwords don't mix these elements. Strong password: Y6dh!et5. Weak password: House27. Use a strong password that you can remember so that you don't have to write it down.

   User names can range from 1 to 20 characters, and can include alphabetic characters, accented characters, numbers, spaces, and symbols, with the following exceptions:

   • The characters " \ [ ] : | < > + = ; , . ? *
   • Leading spaces
   • Control characters (ASCII 10 through ASCII 31)

   Note  Passwords are case-sensitive (case-sensitive: Capable of distinguishing between uppercase and lowercase letters. A case-sensitive search finds only text that is an exact match of uppercase and lowercase letters.).

6. In the Confirm password box, confirm your password by typing the password again, and then click OK.

   The password is now set. The next time you or any other user opens the database, a dialog box will be displayed that requests a password.

   Important  If you forget your password, it can't be recovered, and you won't be able to view or edit the VBA code.

Cautions

Be sure to save a copy of your original Microsoft Access project (.adp) file.

• If you need to change the design of these objects, you must do so in the original Access project file and then resave the Access project file as an .ade file.
• You can't create an .ade file in Access 2002 or later from an Access project file created in an earlier version. You can only save an .ade file from an Access project file from the same version of Access.
• You also won't be able to convert an Access project file saved as an .ade file in future versions of Microsoft Access. You will be able to run the .ade file in a later version of Access.

1. Close the Access project file. If you are working in a multiuser (multiuser (shared) database: A database that permits more than one user to access and modify the same set of data at the same time.) environment, make sure that all other users have closed the Access project file.
2. On the Tools menu, click Database Utilities, and then click Make ADE File.
3. In the Database To Save As ADE dialog box, specify the Access project file you want to save as an .ade file, and then click Make ADE.
4. In the Save ADE As dialog box, specify a name, drive, and folder for the Access project.