ACC: "Invalid Bracketing of Name <Expression Object>" Error

ID: Q132184

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

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

When you run an ApplyFilter, OpenForm, or OpenReport action using a macro or custom function with a Where Condition argument, you may receive an error message such as the following:

In Microsoft Access 97:

Invalid bracketing of name '[Forms]![FormName]![Control.Name]'

In Microsoft Access 2.0 and 7.0:

'Forms![FormName]![Control.Name]' isn't a valid parameter name.


CAUSE

The Where Condition argument references a form control containing a dot (.) or an exclamation point (!) in its name.


RESOLUTION

Rename the control and omit the dot or the exclamation point.


MORE INFORMATION

The dot (.) and the exclamation point (!) have a special meaning in Microsoft Access. They are identifier operators you use to refer to objects, controls, collections, or properties as follows: 


   Forms![FormName]![ControlName].property

If you include a dot or an exclamation point in a field name or control name, then Microsoft Access may not be able to interpret the reference when you use it in an expression or in a Where Condition argument.

To prevent reference problems, use letters, numbers, spaces, or the underscore character (_) when you assign object names; do not use any punctuation mark except the underscore character.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior


  1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in version 2.0).


  2. Create the following new macro and save it as Print Label Macro: 
    
      Macro Name          Action
      ------------------------------
      Print Label Macro   OpenReport

      Print Label Macro Actions
      --------------------------------------------------------------
      OpenReport
         Report Name: Customer Labels ( or Customer Mailing Labels in
                                        Microsoft Access 2.0)
         View: Print Preview
         Where Condition: [CustomerID]=Forms![Customers2]![Cust.ID]

    NOTE: [Customer ID] contains a space in Microsoft Access 2.0.


  3. Make a copy of the Customers form and saved it as Customers2.


  4. Open the Customers2 form in Design view.


  5. Select the CustomerID control and change its Name property to Cust.ID.


  6. Add a command button to the Customers2 form and set the following properties: 
    
      Command Button:
         Name: Button1
         Caption: Print Label
         OnClick: Print Label Macro


  7. View the Customers2 form in Form view.


  8. Click the Print Label Button. In the Country Filter dialog box, click All Countries, and then click OK. Note that you receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.



REFERENCES

For more information about the dot and exclamation point operators, search for "identifiers and expressions," and then "Use the ! and . (dot) operators in expressions" using the Microsoft Access 97 Help Index. 


Keywords          : kberrmsg 
Version           : 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 28, 1999