Unable to create MDE file...Help please.

[ZaphodBBB]

Hi

Using Access 2003 and Win XP Pro S.P.2 (not sure what service packs have been applied to Access.

I am trying to create an MDE file from an MDB. The MDB is about 1.4MB in size.
After I convert it to Access 2002 - 2003 format and try converting to MDE, a dialog appears asking me what (Name) to save the MDE as. I usually select identical name to the MDB but with the MDE suffix.

Access then locks up, taking 99 - 100% procesor usage indefinitly (hours) until I use Task Manager to cancel. I then find another MDB on the desktop usually called say db1.mdb which is a kind of incomplete copy of my original database. If I atttempt to open this copy it errors all over the place saying it cannot find files etc.

I created a new database with a single form and one textbox on that form and it was able to create an MDE from that with no problem.

Not sure what Office service packs have been applied as a company firewall prevents us from downloading them or any .exe or .zip files.

Any ideas or help appreciated.

Thanks

[nico5038]

Strange, but some problems can be prevented by first compiling the database code.
Open some VBA code and use Debug/Compile all modules.
Solve all errors before doing the upgrade and creating the .mde !

Nic;o)

[NeoPa]

On top of that I'd also recommend doing a Compact & Repair.
It sounds to me as though you either have a corrupted database or a corrupted install (Access or Windows I don't know). This isn't typical behaviour.

[ZaphodBBB]

Hi Nico and NeoPa

Apparently it is a known issue with Access 2003. Found a link on google to Microsofts site. They say to run Access with a decompile switch then recompile. However I could not get it to run in decompile mode.
I had already compiled the code.
I tried several compact and repairs but no joy.

In the end, I just deleted a comment I had made in the database and recompiled and bingo it created the MDE no problem. Phew!

Thanks again for the assistance, what an amazing resource this site is!

[nico5038]

Glad we could assist :-)

For the Access decompile check:
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/decompile.htm

Nic;o)

[NeoPa]

Any time a change is made to the code it resets the Compiled flag. This should always allow a compile to be done again.

[ZaphodBBB]

Hi

Though my database is running O.K, now I went to the link Nico pointed to re using the decompile switch but it doesnot work for me. The shortcut I created is fine but every time I try to run using decompile I get a message along the lines of:

"The command line you used to start MS Office contains an option that MS Office doesn't recognise." This can only be the \decompile option. Is this known to be available in Access 2003? Unfortunatly due to our rather haphazard update schedule and the fact that our company PC's are locked down so tight we cant download any updates ourselves, I am unable to see what service packs have been applied to my office products.

Anyway have a good week all!!

[nico5038]

Hmm, looks like your company blocks the decompile, as I haven't heard about A2003 being excluded.

The Help / About menu will show always the applied SP's.

Nic;o)