Special Characters have corrupted my database!

[Beth]

I'm a novice Access user who is resposible for maintaining a rather large and
important database. I've encountered a problem with special characters. I
copied text from Word to Access. In doing so, any tabs appeared as boxes.
Access apparently doesn't like these characters and now any time I attempt to
modify the records where these characters appear, I get a warning that says
"The search key was not found in any record." Since Access won't allow me to
make any changes to these records I can't delete this text, nor can I delete
the record. I have been able to recover backed up versions, but each time I
lose an enormous amount of work. Can anyone tell me how to remove these
characters, the text, or the record so that I don't lose changes to all my
other records? I would be happy to provide further information if you have
questions. But again, my Access training is limited! Thanks in advance.

 

[Beth]

By the way, I'm using Access 2000. I've found a solution for 2003 (compact
and repair). Would that work and is there an Access 2000 equivalent?
Thanks

 

[John Vinson]

By the way, I'm using Access 2000. I've found a solution for 2003 (compact
and repair). Would that work and is there an Access 2000 equivalent?
Thanks

If it works in 2003 it should work in 2000, and it's done in exactly
the same way: Tools... Database Utilities... Compact and Repair
Database.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Beth]

Thanks! I found it right after the post (figures). It seemed to work, if by
"working" it deletes the problem record. Does that sound right?

 

[John Vinson]

Thanks! I found it right after the post (figures). It seemed to work, if by
"working" it deletes the problem record. Does that sound right?

If you're *really* lucky and have been living right.

This kind of corruption is sneaky: it can come back. Keep a close eye
on the database to be sure it doesn't arise again. Check out the
suggestions at

http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/corruptmdbs.htm

with special attention to the section on corrupt memo fields.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Tony Toews]

I'm a novice Access user who is resposible for maintaining a rather large and
important database. I've encountered a problem with special characters. I
copied text from Word to Access. In doing so, any tabs appeared as boxes.
Access apparently doesn't like these characters and now any time I attempt to
modify the records where these characters appear, I get a warning that says
"The search key was not found in any record." Since Access won't allow me to
make any changes to these records I can't delete this text, nor can I delete
the record. I have been able to recover backed up versions, but each time I
lose an enormous amount of work. Can anyone tell me how to remove these
characters, the text, or the record so that I don't lose changes to all my
other records?

Your problem may be one of corruption and have nothing to do with
copied text from Word to Access.

OTOH you may have encountered a bug. Could you create a database
with one record and cut and paste the same text into it? And see if
you get the same message.

If so Microsoft may be interested in reproducing your results.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

 

[li chun yin]

I'm a novice Access user who is resposible for maintaining a rather large and
important database. I've encountered a problem with special characters. I
copied text from Word to Access. In doing so, any tabs appeared as boxes.
Access apparently doesn't like these characters and now any time I attempt to
modify the records where these characters appear, I get a warning that says
"The search key was not found in any record." Since Access won't allow me to
make any changes to these records I can't delete this text, nor can I delete
the record. I have been able to recover backed up versions, but each time I
lose an enormous amount of work. Can anyone tell me how to remove these
characters, the text, or the record so that I don't lose changes to all my
other records? I would be happy to provide further information if you have
questions. But again, my Access training is limited! Thanks in advance.