ACC95: Using Version 1.x and 2.0 Databases in MS Access 95

ID: Q136131

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

If users of your database run different versions of Microsoft Access on their computers, you should not convert a shared database to Microsoft Access for Windows 95 version 7.0. Instead, open the shared database in Microsoft Access 7.0 without converting it. This makes it possible to share the database with users of Microsoft Access version 1.x or 2.0. The process of opening a shared database without converting it is called "enabling" a database.


MORE INFORMATION

When you enable a database, Microsoft Access 7.0 users can open the database and view objects as well as add, modify, export, or delete data. However, users cannot create objects, edit objects, import data, or modify database permissions. To enable a database, follow these steps:

  1. Start Microsoft Access 7.0.


  2. On the File menu, click Open Database and select a database created in Microsoft Access version 1.x or 2.0.


  3. In the Convert/Open Database box, click Open Database, and then click OK.

    Microsoft Access 7.0 opens your database and displays the following message:
    You can't make changes to the database object in the database '<filename>'. This database was created in a previous version of Microsoft Access.


Enabling a database may increase the size your original .mdb file because Microsoft Access 7.0 uses Visual Basic for Applications whereas earlier versions of Microsoft Access use Access Basic. For each module in a version 1.x or 2.0 database, Microsoft Access 7.0 must copy and convert the Access Basic code to Visual Basic code. The converted code is stored in a hidden system table called MSysModules.

Microsoft Access 7.0 does not have a menu command to "de-enable" a database. However, if you want to return an enabled database to its original size and no longer have it be enabled, you can do so by following these steps:
  1. Open your database using Microsoft Access version 1.x or 2.0.


  2. On the View menu, click Options.


  3. In the General category of the Options box, set the Show System Objects option to Yes, and then close the dialog box.


  4. In the Database window, click the Tables tab.


  5. Select the MSysModules table and press the DELETE key.


  6. Close your database.


  7. On the File menu, click Compact Database to reduce the database to its original size.



REFERENCES

For more information about opening a database without converting it, search for "convert," and then "Convert a database" using the Answer Wizard from the Microsoft Access for Windows 95 Help menu. 


Keywords          : kbusage CnvOthr 
Version           : 7.0
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: April 23, 1999