ACC97: How to Remove the Most Recently Used (MRU) Files List

ID: Q162819

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multi-user skills.

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

The most recently used (MRU) file list is the list of the last four database files that were opened in Microsoft Access. It appears in the Startup screen for Microsoft Access and at the bottom of the File menu. You can remove the names of the last four opened database files by editing the registry.


MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

In earlier versions of Microsoft Access, the MRU list was stored by user in the workgroup information file (by default, System.mda in versions 1.x and 2.0 or System.mdw in version 7.0). In Microsoft Access 97, this list is stored in the registry.

To remove the file names from the MRU list, follow these steps:

  1. In the Registry Editor (regedit.exe), go to the following registry key: 
    
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Access\Settings


  2. Double-click the appropriate Value name (MRU1, MRU2, MRU3, or MRU4).


  3. Delete the string that appears in the Value data box.


  4. Click OK.


  5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for all the MRU file names that you want to remove.


  6. Close the Registry Editor and open Microsoft Access.


The Startup screen and File menu no longer display the MRU file name(s) that you edited in the registry. This does not permanently remove the MRU list, however. The next time you open a database, the database file name will be added to the list.

Additional query words: custom options stored 


Keywords          : kbui UifOthr 
Version           : 97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 26, 1999