Problem with Access 97 database

[akkrug]

After splitting the file on my Windows XP PC in Access 2002, I created an
executable and saved it to my local program files directory. I kept the
source code intact. When I tried to make an executable on the pc's the
application is being deployed to (Access 2002 on a Windows 2000 o/s), I got
an unrecognized file format error. Any idea what I need to do to fix this?

For now, we are stuck running the application only on my pc!!

Thanks.

Ken K. - 2191

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

You cannot create an executable with any version of Access.

Do you perhaps mean you created an MDE file? (Under Tools | Make MDE File)
An MDE file still requires that each user have Access installed.

 

[akkrug]

Yes, I created the mde on my pc. I also kept the source code on our network.
When I tried to create the mde on each of the other pc's in our department,
I got a message that the file must have been created in a newer version of
Access when I tried to open the front end. All of the pc's in our area are
running Access 2002, but only mine is an XP machine. All the others are
Windows 2000 pc's. One machine up front is running Access 97. I'm not sure
what to try next. Hopefully I won't have to restore from the file before the
split.

Thanks for the help.

Ken K. - 2191

 

[John W. Vinson]

Yes, I created the mde on my pc. I also kept the source code on our network.
When I tried to create the mde on each of the other pc's in our department,
I got a message that the file must have been created in a newer version of
Access when I tried to open the front end. All of the pc's in our area are
running Access 2002, but only mine is an XP machine. All the others are
Windows 2000 pc's. One machine up front is running Access 97. I'm not sure
what to try next. Hopefully I won't have to restore from the file before the
split.

The operating system (Windows 2000, WindowsXP) is not the relevant issue here.
You can run Access97 or AccessXP applications on either operating system.

The problem is the version of Access. Access can only use databases which were
created in the same version or an earlier version; that is, Access97 can open
an Access-97 database, but it cannot open a database that is in Access2000 or
Access2002 format.

When you make a MDE file, it creates it in the version of Access that you are
running. If you are running AccessXP (on any operating system that can run
it), then the .mde file that you created will need AccessXP, or Access2003, or
Access 2007 to run it; it cannot be run by the machine with Access97
installed.


John W. Vinson [MVP]

 

[akkrug]

The pc in question actually has both Access 2000 and Access 97 on it.
Initially the database was in Access 97 format. I converted it to 2002 format
and then split it. Should I restore the 97 version of the database, convert
it to 2002 (or 2000) format, split it again and just stay away from the pc
with Access 97 on it? If it isn't the operating systems messing things up, I
thought maybe the DLL files on the PC with 2 versions of Access could be the
problem. Could just be my lack of prowice with the software!

Thanks again for all your help (& patience!)

 

[John W. Vinson]

The pc in question actually has both Access 2000 and Access 97 on it.
Initially the database was in Access 97 format. I converted it to 2002 format
and then split it. Should I restore the 97 version of the database, convert
it to 2002 (or 2000) format, split it again and just stay away from the pc
with Access 97 on it? If it isn't the operating systems messing things up, I
thought maybe the DLL files on the PC with 2 versions of Access could be the
problem. Could just be my lack of prowice with the software!

It depends on what you want to do. If the only users who need the database
have AccessXP installed, then by all means, make an Access2002 format
database, split, and let them use it. If a user has both A97 and A2002
installed, they'll (of course) need to use A2002 to run it; the fact that A97
is installed on the same computer *might* cause some hassles, but I have
Access 2.0, 97, 2000, 2002 and 2003 installed on my computer and they all
work.

I don't see ANY point in restoring the 97 version if the 2002 version works.
Maybe I'm not visualizing the problem correctly!

John W. Vinson [MVP]

 

[akkrug]

I created the mde on my pc (Access 2002 with XP) and when I copied the mde to
my co-worker's pcs who are both running Access 2002 with Windows 2000, the
error message they are getting now is that Access can't find the database
file. Is it because I have a drive letter in front of the path? Albert's
article mentioned not using the drive letters, but I'm not sure how to id the
file.

Thanks.

Ken K.
akkrug

 

[John W. Vinson]

I created the mde on my pc (Access 2002 with XP) and when I copied the mde to
my co-worker's pcs who are both running Access 2002 with Windows 2000, the
error message they are getting now is that Access can't find the database
file. Is it because I have a drive letter in front of the path? Albert's
article mentioned not using the drive letters, but I'm not sure how to id the
file.

How are they opening the database? Is it a split database? If so, how did you
relink the backend? If you relinked it using drive letters, do the users have
a connection to the folder containing the backend, and are they using the same
drive letter mapping as you are?

You might want to open the .mdb file and use Tools... Database Utilities...
Linked Table Manager to relink the backend. Rather than navigating via My
Computer, navigate to the backend using Network Neighborhood - this will put
the links in the form \\server\path\path\database.mdb which will not be
sensitive to individual drive letter mappings. Then recreate the .mde and
distribute it again.

John W. Vinson [MVP]