ACC: "Expected: =" Error When ? Is Missing in Debug Window

• Microsoft Access versions 2.0, 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

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

When you use the Debug window (or the Immediate window in version 2.0) to run a built-in or user-defined function that returns a value, if you omit a question mark (?) at the beginning of the line, you may receive one of the following messages:

   Expected: =

   Expected: expression

   Expected: )

RESOLUTION

Type a question mark before the function name when you run a function that returns a value in the Debug Window.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

2. Open the Debug Window by pressing CTRL+G in Microsoft Access 7.0 or 97. In Microsoft Access 2.0, open the Utility Functions module in Design view, and then click Immediate Window on the View menu.

3. Type Date() in the Debug window and press ENTER. Note that you receive the following error message.

   In Microsoft Access 97:

         Compile error:
         Expected: =
   

   In Microsoft Access 2.0 and 7.0:

         Expected: =
   

4. Type Now() in the Debug window and press ENTER. Note that you receive the following error message.

   In Microsoft Access 97:

         Compile error:
         Expected: =
   

   In Microsoft Access 7.0:

         Expected: expression
   

   In Microsoft Access 2.0:

         Expected: statement
   

5. Type Left("This",2) in the Debug window and press ENTER. Note that you receive the following error message:

   In Microsoft Access 97:

         Compile error:
         Expected: =
   

   In Microsoft Access 7.0:

         Expected: )
   

   In Microsoft Access 2.0:

         Expected: statement
   

6. Repeat steps 3-5, but type a question mark at the beginning of each function. Note that you receive results instead of error messages.

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbprg SynGnrl
Version           : 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : Info_Provided