Treeview in MS Access: Part 1 - The basics, loading information into the treeview

This is part 1 of a video series on how to use Treeviews in MS Access 2003-2010. (Sample code available at

Part 1 describes how to load information from a recordset into the treeview, and make small modifications to the layout.

A few people have noticed issues with regards to getting the reference set to the common control library. Usually this is set automatic when you add the active X control, however due to issues with a faulty Microsoft patch, you may need to follow the advice given in
Your results should more closely match my video.

[Myltion]

Just letting you know that even in 2022 this video is still helping people! This tutorial is excellently done and helped me a lot regarding a project. Thank you! :)

[UncleLoren]

In many years of Access development, I had never used TreeViews. The instructions in this video are excellent, everything worked the first time for me, and I'm going to have to watch the rest of the series. It's hardly unusual for data to have a hierarchical representation. I'm excited about using these controls to help the user navigate recordsets and/or change the data displayed on forms. If anyone has trouble with the formatting aesthetics, backcolor, etc., -- and your problem isn't addressed in the other videos -- try playing around with the property settings or modifying them in vba. Lots of useful info out on the various coding forums. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, TheSmileyCoder. (Subscribed!)

[TheSmileyCoder]

Thank you Crystal. Glad you liked it. It means a lot coming from someone with your experience in creating online video tutorials.

[zsugo]

Thank You, it was very helpful in my project (in fact before I can't imagine how to manage multiple levels in Access). Great job !

[SimonPowell]

That video series was awesome, I've been working with hierarchies in a very cumbersome, restrictive manner until I saw this! Appreciate the effort you put in :-)

[diemswo]

I'd like to thank you TheSmileyCoder very much for this nice video, which guided me on creating a TreeView object in my database!
My only suggestion would be to include in its begging the instructions you gave in the comments section of your homepage in 2013 regarding the reference to the “Microsoft Windows Common Controls 6.0 (SP6)”.
With warm regards from Brazil!

[oscarb]

Hi. I followed your video to create a treeview in access 2019. when I run the code as per the 12:12 mark access locks up. I have tracked it down to it being stuck in an infinite loop becuase the bookmarks are not working. When I test to see if the recordset is bookmarkable Access state that it is not. I have searched but cannot find a reason as to why this is. Could you help? Thank you in advance.

[amysarkar]

Perfect! Just what I needed just when I needed it. Thank you so much for putting this out there.

[dollysjoseph]

This was EXTREMELY informative!! Thank you for doing this!!

[LearnAccessByCrystal]

excellent introduction to using the TreeView control in Microsoft Access, thanks Anders ~ Crystal ~ have an awesome day ~

[tchew]

Thanks for this Anders... looking forward to going through all the videos in this series. At the 13 minute mark you configure some of the TreeCtrl Properties... for me, all the drop-down options are empty for me - you wouldn't know what's causing this?

[GKeeperWillie]

Thanks.
And by the way thanks a lot for making and uploading the video. It was just what I needed to get my treeview form up and running :-)

[macyish]

I've been looking for a demo on treeview for some time. Thank you

[maria_venckovskaya]

You're the best! Thank you :) It's was helpful for me.

[TheSmileyCoder]

@Thomas Andersen
You are quite correct. I suppose it could be a version issue. When I add the treeview control in Ac2010 the reference is automatically added for me, but perhaps it is not so in earlier versions of Access. Which version are you using?

[rickhdee]

Thank you for an informative and very well done tutorial.

[GKeeperWillie]

I had the same problem with finding the correct reference. For other users here is what needs to be done:
in VBA go to "Tools", "References", click "Browse" and in the C:\Windows\System32 folder select the MSCOMCTL.OCX file.

[헌일김-ww]

I am using a treeview in a form but I can't set the accurate width and height in the design view. When I have set the width and height I want, I get smaller results than I have set. I have no idea how to fix this problem. Please let me know if you know how to fix this problem.

[adrianconnolly]

Hi

Is there any means to use MS Access as a document manager to view the contents of a SharePoint folder, for file like word and excel file within a folder and open them for mail merge etc.
And display those file’s in a list box using treeview

[cesarbustos]

No matter leave, thank you, yet there has been no expert who can answer my question, maybe I can do it despite my limited experience, Greetings