"Object does not exist" - what did I do wrong???

[desperateloser]

1st - This is likely pathetically simple and not at all what this site is for, being mostly a snafu using regular Acess stuff and not at all coding or scripting. Please be merciful - I'm really very desperate.

I'm trying to use Access 2002 to set up a simple mailing database, then make labels using it.

I created the database with all the fields and entered the data, saved it, and have tried to use the Label Wizard several times to no avail - it keeps saying "equation references an object that does not exist".

I've done queries with the table, and even successfully transferred the data to an Excel spreadsheet and a Word document, but every time I try and use the table to make labels, I get nothing, and I have yet to successfully use the data from the exported files (the Excel spreadsheet or the Word document.) For some reason, the resulting labels in preview come up either totally blank or with a notation like

>>Address Field<<

But never seem to be replaced by the actual data.

Can anyone figure out what laughably simple thing I've done wrong, and figure out how to fix it???

[ADezii]

1st - This is likely pathetically simple and not at all what this site is for, being mostly a snafu using regular Acess stuff and not at all coding or scripting. Please be merciful - I'm really very desperate.

I'm trying to use Access 2002 to set up a simple mailing database, then make labels using it.

I created the database with all the fields and entered the data, saved it, and have tried to use the Label Wizard several times to no avail - it keeps saying "equation references an object that does not exist".

I've done queries with the table, and even successfully transferred the data to an Excel spreadsheet and a Word document, but every time I try and use the table to make labels, I get nothing, and I have yet to successfully use the data from the exported files (the Excel spreadsheet or the Word document.) For some reason, the resulting labels in preview come up either totally blank or with a notation like

>>Address Field<<

But never seem to be replaced by the actual data.

Can anyone figure out what laughably simple thing I've done wrong, and figure out how to fix it???

It may be nothing that you've done at all - it could be a corrupt Label Wizard.

[desperateloser]

Yes, but they've used it to make labels before, just last week in fact.

I suddenly realized I left out some things:

1) Before I get the "equation refers to an object that does not exist" message, I get a "RunCommand did not run" message, or something to that effect.

After saving the files, I moved them to a folder on the desktop. Is it possible this is because I moved them and Access is looking for them in the wrong place? If so, what would be the best fix???

[desperateloser]

Alternately, can anyone suggest a more appropriate site???

[desperateloser]

Okay, the actual messages are:

"The RunCommand action was canceled", then

"The expression refers to an object that is closed or does not exist".


Alternately, can anyone suggest a more appropriate site???

[Rabbit]

Yes, but they've used it to make labels before, just last week in fact.

I suddenly realized I left out some things:

1) Before I get the "equation refers to an object that does not exist" message, I get a "RunCommand did not run" message, or something to that effect.

After saving the files, I moved them to a folder on the desktop. Is it possible this is because I moved them and Access is looking for them in the wrong place? If so, what would be the best fix???

First, what files did you move? Did you move the whole database?

Second, is there any code or macros that we need to know about.

And third, when are you coming across these error messages?

[desperateloser]

I moved the table I made of the mailing list into a desktop file. Subsequent iterations were saved to that file.

The error messages come up when I try and use the label wizard to make labels using the Access database. It allows me to set everything up, but when I try and execute, the noted messages come up, along with what looks like a garbled version of the file - it's blank with little dots all over it.

I have also exported the data to an Excel 2002 spreadsheet, opened a blank Word document and tried to use the Labels and Mailings tools to make the labels using the Excel spreadsheet, but that doesn't work either - again, it lets me set eveything up, but doesn't use the data to make the labels - they keep coming up blank. I can do that and just cut and paste or copy the data in, but that will take a loong time and doesn't explain what's going wrong.

It's really maddening - such a simple, basic task, and I have no clue what the problem is.

I can do queries with the Access database and they come out fine.

[Rabbit]

Strange. What are the names of the fields in the table?

[desperateloser]

I actually didn't name them at all - they're just "Field 1", "Field 2", etc. When I pull up the Label Wizard, I just indicate which fields I want.

I have since discovered:

1) Other people making labels actually just put the data in Excel, then imported it to Word using the Mail Merge Wizard; when I try the same thing, no dice.

2) Minor but fixable problems (backup files that get made automatically for no reason no matter what, files that aren't recognized or otherwise can't be opened) have occured with this setup in the past, but it seemd to be something.

3) We've just now tried reinstalling Office a couple times, but nothing seems to change; in fact, it now seems to have a problem with the "Office Source Engine", which seems to involve the ability to properly recognize files...

As I say, one way or the other, there's been some way to get address labels out, but for some reason, it's no go all of a sudden. Obviously, we kinda need to figure this one out - we have several important mailings coming up.

[Rabbit]

I'm stumped but I'm not an expert at this so maybe someone else will be able to help you. Have you tried to do it from another machine? Try recreating it on another machine, a small test sample. If that works, try copying the file over.

[nico5038]

It might indeed be a corrupt .mdb.
Best to start a new database and use the File/Get externaldata/Import to get all objects from the corrupted database.
Then try again in this new database.

Nic;o)