ACC97: Conversion or Enabling Fails with 754 Controls

• Microsoft Access 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you use Microsoft Access 97 to convert or open a database created With an earlier version of Microsoft Access, you may receive some or all of the following error messages.

Converting a Database

    Microsoft Access can't open the form <form name>.

    It contains data that Microsoft Access doesn't recognize.
    Re-create the form or, if you maintain backup copies of your
    database, retrieve a copy of the form.

    followed by the message:

    There were compilation errors during the conversion or enabling of
    this database.

    The database has not been saved in a compiled state. The performance
    of the database will be impaired because Microsoft Access will need
    to recompile the database for each session. For information on
    improving performance, click Help.

    followed by the message:

    The Save operation failed.

    followed by the message:

    Device I/O error

Opening (Enabling) a Database

    The form or report <object name> has too many controls.

    Reduce the number of controls on the form or report before
    using it in this version of Microsoft Access.

    followed by the message:

    Invalid operation.

    followed by the message:

    There were compilation errors during the conversion or enabling of
    this database.

    The database has not been saved in a compiled state. The performance
    of the database will be impaired because Microsoft Access will need
    to recompile the database for each session. For information on
    improving performance, click Help.

    followed by the message:

    Unexpected error (32811)

    followed by the message:

    The Save operation failed.

    followed by the message:

    Unexpected error (32811)

CAUSE

There is at least one form or report in your database that contains a Visual Basic for Applications module and 754 or more combined controls, sections, and fields in the RecordSource property.

RESOLUTION

Use the version of Microsoft Access with which you originally created the database to modify the design of the form or report. Decrease the total number of sections, controls, and fields in the RecordSource property to fewer than 754.

If the record source for the form or report contains a large number of fields that you do not need to display, consider creating a query that only selects the fields you need to display, and set it as the RecordSource property for the object.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Access 97 limits the total number of controls plus sections plus fields in the RecordSource property to 754. For example, if a form contains a Detail section, 500 unbound text boxes, a Visual Basic for Applications module, and a record source that contains 255 fields, you receive the errors listed in the "Symptoms" section when you convert or open the database in Microsoft Access 97. This occurs even though none of the fields in the RecordSource property are actually used on the form.

                  Number of Controls: 500
                  Number of Sections:   1
    Number of Fields in RecordSource: 255
                                      ---
                                      756

For more information about errors you may receive when exceeding the 754 control limit, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q162228
   TITLE     : Can't Import Form or Report with More Than 754 Controls

REFERENCES

For more information about Microsoft Access 97 specifications, search the Help Index for "specifications," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.