Feb 27 2021 10:07 AM
I have accidently delineated the switchboard from the forms sidebar in Access - how can I get it back?
Feb 27 2021 10:15 AM
"...the forms sidebar..."?
Do you mean the Navigation Pane?
If so, it's gone, unfortunately. You can probably import the form, though, from your most recent backup copy of the accdb.
Feb 27 2021 10:47 AM
@George_Hepworth - No, I deleted the Switchboard Manager from forms so I can no longer open Switchboard Manager. How do I get it back??
Feb 27 2021 11:00 AM
I'm not sure what that means then. Do you mean that you deleted something from a Ribbon?
What version of Access are you using, by the way?
Can you post a screen shot of what you are seeing?
Feb 27 2021 11:03 AM
I created a Switchboard Manager as shown, it appeared in the forms panel as it should. However, I accidently deleted it from there, so I can no longer open the Main Switchboard. I am using Access 2019 with Microsoft 365.
Feb 27 2021 11:12 AM
Thanks. It has been many years since I used the old switchboards so I'm not sure, I think what that did was delete the form itself from the accdb. If so, the solution is, as previously suggested, to go to the most recent backup and import it from there.
Open the Navigation Pane, as I showed, and look for a form there called "Switchboard".
Feb 27 2021 11:18 AM
It also just occurred to me that you must be using an mdb, not an accdb, correct?
Here's Switchboard form in an mdb, opened in Access 2019.
Feb 27 2021 12:19 PM
Feb 27 2021 01:57 PM
Feb 27 2021 02:17 PM
You can follow these steps to import the most recent copy of the switchboard from your most recent backup of the accdb.
Locate the most recent backup copy of the accdb (where you stored it varies, but you should know because you created it). Note the location so you can navigate to it.
Open the working accdb and select "External Data" on the ribbon. Then select "New Data Source". It suggests you'll import data, but it also imports forms and other objects. Select "From Database", then "Access".
This will open a file dialog. Navigate to your backup accdb and select it.
Now you can select the "Switchboard" form (I don't have one to show unfortunately.)
If you made changes to the Switchboard since you last created a backup, you'll have to reimplement those newer changes, but that's better than starting all over again, which is always an option.