ACC2000: Can't Open or Convert Access 97 MDE in Access 2000

• Microsoft Access 2000

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Access 2000 to open or convert an MDE file created with Microsoft Access 97, you may receive the following error message:

You can't convert or enable an MDE file.

CAUSE

An MDE file is a database in which all Visual Basic modules are stored in a compiled state and from which the source code has been removed. Because the source code has been removed, you cannot edit the design of forms, reports, or modules in an MDE database.

RESOLUTION

Convert the original Microsoft Access 97 database to a Microsoft Access 2000 database. Then create an Access 2000 MDE file from the converted MDB file.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Access 2000 uses a different method for storing a database's Visual Basic for Applications project than was used in earlier versions. In order to use databases created in earlier versions of Microsoft Access, the database's Visual Basic for Applications project must be converted or enabled in Microsoft Access 2000. However, because the source code for an MDE file has been removed, and because an MDE file cannot lose its compiled state, Microsoft Access 2000 cannot convert or enable the database.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Use Microsoft Access 97 to open the sample database Northwind.mdb that ships with Access 97.



2. On the Tools menu, point to Database Utilities, and click Make MDE File.



3. Click Save in the Save MDE As dialog box.



4. Close Microsoft Access 97 and open Northwind.mde in Microsoft Access 2000.



5. When prompted to convert/open the database, click Open Database, and click OK.

Additional query words: prb

Keywords          : kbdta 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999