How do I get Monaco SQL Editor to load in my ACCESS program so I can uncheck the box

Question

How do I get Monaco SQL Editor to load in my ACCESS program so I can uncheck the box

Sue Williams 20

All of a sudden each time I try to "Run" a basic query I get an error message "Executing selected SQL text is only supported in the Monaco SQL Editor." Google says to go to "File/Options/Current Database" and uncheck the Monaco SQL Editor box. However, there is no line that says "Monaco SQL Editor" to uncheck a box.

How do I resolve this?

George Hepworth 22,080 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-08-17T22:23:31.62+00:00

Hans has provided the reference for enabling/disabling the Monaco SQL Editor in Access 365.

Let's be clear, though. In order to "execute selected SQL text" in a query in SQL view, you must enable Monaco SQL Editor, that is to say, check that checkbox. "Executing selected SQL text" refers to highlighting only part of the SQL and executing that partial SQL statement as a test.

You would disable Monaco if you unchecked it.

"there is no line that says "Monaco SQL Editor" to uncheck a box"

If you can't see the Monaco SQL editor option in your installation of Access, it would probably be because you do not have Access 365. So, please indicate which version of Access you have installed. Is it Access 365 or an older, pre-Monaco SQL Editor, version.
Sue Williams 20 Reputation points

2025-08-18T00:09:25.9666667+00:00

I hope this is the correct place to continue the conversation with George Hepworth.

The info I have found is: Access 2507 Build 19029.20184

2019 MSO (Version 2507 Build 16.0.19029.20136) 64-bit

As you can tell I only do minimal work with Access using mostly the wizards - my last training with Access was more than 15 years ago before I retired.
Sue Williams 20 Reputation points

2025-08-18T00:10:14.4833333+00:00

To continue and be clear I do not have the line that says "Enable Monaco SQL Editor"
Viorel 124.9K Reputation points

2025-08-18T11:26:15.22+00:00

Probably the editor is not available in Access 2019. (According to documentation, it is for Access for Microsoft 365, i.e. Access 365).

Then it is not clear why the command 'Execute Selection' is present in Access 2019.
George Hepworth 22,080 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-08-18T11:50:21.5433333+00:00

As Viorel noted, the Monaco SQL Editor is supported only in Access 365, and not in Access 2019. You can find that, among other information about it here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-the-monaco-sql-query-editor-094bad0c-47ff-4ebd-8c0e-53b58fa7f59a

See Karl's extended response as well.

Answer accepted by question author

2 additional answers

Your answer

George Hepworth 22,080 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-08-17T22:23:31.62+00:00

Hans has provided the reference for enabling/disabling the Monaco SQL Editor in Access 365.

Let's be clear, though. In order to "execute selected SQL text" in a query in SQL view, you must enable Monaco SQL Editor, that is to say, check that checkbox. "Executing selected SQL text" refers to highlighting only part of the SQL and executing that partial SQL statement as a test.

You would disable Monaco if you unchecked it.

"there is no line that says "Monaco SQL Editor" to uncheck a box"

If you can't see the Monaco SQL editor option in your installation of Access, it would probably be because you do not have Access 365. So, please indicate which version of Access you have installed. Is it Access 365 or an older, pre-Monaco SQL Editor, version.
Sue Williams 20 Reputation points

2025-08-18T00:09:25.9666667+00:00

I hope this is the correct place to continue the conversation with George Hepworth.

The info I have found is: Access 2507 Build 19029.20184

2019 MSO (Version 2507 Build 16.0.19029.20136) 64-bit

As you can tell I only do minimal work with Access using mostly the wizards - my last training with Access was more than 15 years ago before I retired.
Sue Williams 20 Reputation points

2025-08-18T00:10:14.4833333+00:00

To continue and be clear I do not have the line that says "Enable Monaco SQL Editor"
Viorel 124.9K Reputation points

2025-08-18T11:26:15.22+00:00

Probably the editor is not available in Access 2019. (According to documentation, it is for Access for Microsoft 365, i.e. Access 365).

Then it is not clear why the command 'Execute Selection' is present in Access 2019.
George Hepworth 22,080 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-08-18T11:50:21.5433333+00:00

As Viorel noted, the Monaco SQL Editor is supported only in Access 365, and not in Access 2019. You can find that, among other information about it here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-the-monaco-sql-query-editor-094bad0c-47ff-4ebd-8c0e-53b58fa7f59a

See Karl's extended response as well.

Answer 1

Hi Sue,

You usually get this error message when 1. the Monaco editor is not active and 2. when in the ribbon of the query design view you click the down arrow in the item Run and then choose Run Selected. So, you have to try pretty hard to get this to happen. ;-) You should just and directly click Run there.

In the first place, Run Selected only makes sense in (Monaco editor) SQL view of a query and it is wrong that it is displayed and active in design view. We have reported this to Microsoft and it has been fixed, i.e. deactivated, in the beta versions. However, this will not be available in the productive update channels until tomorrow at the earliest.

The reason why you cannot see the Monaco option item and therefore cannot activate the editor is most likely due to your security settings. The database must either be located in a Trusted Location or set as a Trusted Document, or you can alternatively Enable All Macros. All of this can be set in File - Options - Trust Center - Trust Center Settings.

Edit:
When I wrote my reply, I hadn't seen that you have Office/Access 2019. As the others have written, Monaco is only available in 365. So, changing security settings in 2019 will not help. You are probably just one more victim of the "Run Selected" ribbon item (+error msg) that shouldn't be available under such circumstances. Nevertheless, I leave the security info here for people who have the problem in 365.

Servus
Karl

Access Forever News DevCon
Access-Entwickler-Konferenz AEK

Viorel 124.9K Reputation points

2025-08-18T10:41:23.58+00:00

Why does the Monaco editor depend on security settings?
Karl Donaubauer 2,336 Reputation points MVP

2025-08-18T10:55:41.26+00:00

Hi,

Why does the Monaco editor depend on security settings?

I don't know. At least it is mentioned briefly in the documentation where it says: "For security reasons, the Monaco editor is only available on trusted databases; untrusted databases will use the previous monochrome editor."

Servus
Karl

Access Forever News DevCon
Access-Entwickler-Konferenz AEK
Sue Williams 20 Reputation points

2025-08-21T18:48:46.74+00:00

Microsoft has fixed my problem. Thanks for all the assistance.

Answer 2

HansV 462.1K MVP Volunteer Moderator

Don't you see this?

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Answer 3

Sue Williams 20

see below for picture

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How do I get Monaco SQL Editor to load in my ACCESS program so I can uncheck the box

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