ACC97: Sorting and Grouping Dialog Box Does Not Appear (303269)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 97
This article was previously published under Q303269
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

For a Microsoft Access 2000 version of this article, see 302506.
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to access the Sorting and Grouping dialog box in a report, it does not appear.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if the Sorting and Grouping dialog box has been moved completely off the screen.

RESOLUTION

Use one of the following two methods to resolve this issue.

Method 1: Manually Move the Sorting and Grouping dialog box

Use the arrow keys to move the window back onto the screen. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Start Microsoft Access.
  2. Open your database.
  3. Open a report in Design view.
  4. On the View menu, click Sorting and Grouping so that the Sorting and Grouping dialog box becomes the active window (although it is not visible).
  5. Press ALT+SPACEBAR to activate the window's system menu.
  6. Press the M key on your keyboard to notify the window that the arrow keys will be used to move the window manually. Note that the mouse pointer turns into a crosshair.
  7. Use the arrow keys to move the window around. You may have to work at this a while because you may not know where the window is. For example, if the window is off the top of the screen, pressing the UP ARROW key moves it farther off the screen.
  8. When you see the outline of the Sorting and Grouping dialog box, press ENTER to make the contents of the dialog box visible.

Method 2: Edit the Registry

The following technique causes the Sorting and Grouping dialog box to reset to its default window settings. To do this, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Quit Microsoft Access.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run.
  3. In the Run dialog box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  4. Browse to the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Access\Settings

  5. In the right pane of Registry Editor, click the value SGST.
  6. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
  7. When you are prompted for confirmation to delete the value, click Yes.
  8. On the Registry menu, click Exit.
  9. Start Microsoft Access, and then open your database.
  10. Open a report in Design view, and verify that you can open the Sorting and Grouping dialog box.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/27/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB303269
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.