linking DBase Files

[Boone]

I have a dbase file I am trying to link (or import) to Access XP. I can link
and/or import the .dbf file, but this contains a Memo field that references a
much larger .dbt file. How can I access the info in the .dbt file. I see no
way to link to this file. It does not seem to be one of the file types listed
in any of the import or link windows that I can find. I did fine a reference
on MS.com that said,

"If you link a Visual FoxPro or dBASE table with a memo field, then
Microsoft Access needs the associated memo (.dbt) file to open the linked
table. If you delete or move this file, you won't be able to open the linked
table."

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HP051885461033.aspx

So, what does this mean, "needs the associated memo (.dbt) file " and how do
I do it?

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[John Nurick]

Hi Andrew,

Normally all you have to do is put the .dbt file in the same folder as
the .dbf, then link to the dbf.

 

[Boone]

Thank you. Does this mean then that if you set up a linked .dbf table and use
the memo field from this (.dbf) table in a query, on a form, or in a module,
then Access will automatically reach out to the .dbt file for the complete
linked information?

Thanks.

Andrew

 

[John Nurick]

That's how it's meant to work.

Thank you. Does this mean then that if you set up a linked .dbf table and use
the memo field from this (.dbf) table in a query, on a form, or in a module,
then Access will automatically reach out to the .dbt file for the complete
linked information?

Thanks.

Andrew

 

[Boone]

Thanks. I've linked the dbf table and set up the mdx index. I've also created
a query of the table in the linked .dbf file and a From to display the data
the query pulls.

The form has a large text box with a vertical scroll bar. Any idea why when
I try to scroll down the box to see the entire contents of the memo field I
get the following Error Message:

"Invalid argument. (Error 3001)
You tried to perform an operation that involves a routine in a DLL, and one
of the arguments to the routine is invalid. Check your entry to make sure you
have specified the correct arguments, and then try the operation again.

This error also occurs when you attempt to use mutually exclusive constants
in an argument to a method, such as specifying both dbConsistent and
dbInconsistent in the options argument to the OpenRecordset method."

I've noticed also that if after I get the message I arrow through the text
box I will get an additional line or 2 of nonsense characters. (I expect
more...)

Thanks.

Andrew

 

[John Nurick]

My first guess is that something's gone wrong between the dbf and the
dbt. This is always a possibility with dBase: the dbt stores the data
for the memo field while the dbf stores the locations of the various
chunks of memo data within the dbt. So the first question is, can you
access all the memo field contents using dBase?

Beyond that, I don't have an answer. If you search this newsgroup (e.g.
using Google Groups advanced search) for something like

dbase memo winegarden

you'll find posts from Cindy Winegarden, a FoxPro MVP who really knows
the Access/xBase issues.