Access VBA: search returning True/False

Two Access2000 problems:

1)
I need to be able to search for a particular record in a table from a user-interface form. The search needs to take a field value as the parameter, and return true or false. It MUST NOT visibly open the table, and does not need to actually go to or return the record. I just need to know if a record with the specified primary key (the parameter) exists.

The entire thing must be done in code, and must be invisible to the user.

2) Is there a way to either suppress or alter Access 2000 message boxes? In particular, I keep getting a “Are you sure you want to append…” message, and I want to either change the prompt, or get rid of the message completely. Can this be done, and if so, how?

Any ideas?