ACC: Error Exporting to Existing Paradox/dBase Tables

ID: Q99944

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

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

In Microsoft Access, you cannot export a Paradox or dBASE table over the top of an existing, corrupted Paradox or dBASE database file. If you try, you receive the following error message:

Table '<tablename>' already exists.

This error occurs with both dBASE and Paradox formats. Other database exports allow you to overwrite existing database files.


CAUSE

Microsoft Access tries to open the file to verify its contents instead of simply overwriting it.


STATUS

This behavior is by design.


MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97:
  1. Create a new text file and save it as C:\My Documents\Config.dbf. This simulates a corrupted dBASE database.


  2. Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database Northwind.mdb.


  3. Select the Customers table in the Database window, and then click Save As/Export on the File menu.


  4. In the Save As dialog box, click To an External File or Database, and then click OK.


  5. In the Save Table 'Customers' In... dialog box, select dBASE III in the Save as type box.


  6. Type C:\My Documents\Config.dbf in the File name box, and then click Export.


  7. Click Yes to the "Do you want to replace the existing file?" message. Note that you receive the error message:
    Table 'config.dbf' already exists.


In Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0:
  1. Create a new text file and save it as C:\Config.dbf. This simulates a corrupted dBASE database.


  2. Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database NWIND.MDB.


  3. On the File menu, click Export.


  4. In the Export dialog box, select dBASE III and then click OK.


  5. In the Select Microsoft Access Object dialog box, select Customers and then click OK.


  6. In the Export to File dialog box, type C:\Config.dbf in the File Name box, and then click OK.


  7. Click Yes to the "Do you want to replace it?" message. Note that you receive the error message:
    Table 'CONFIG#DBF' already exists. 



Keywords          : kbinterop IntpOff IsmPdox IsmXbase 
Version           : 1.0 1.1 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: March 23, 1999