Unable to link ODBC Tables 1

[goolawah]

I have a simple Access application which includes two tables linked via ODBC to data files in another application and it all works fine. I now need to add two more, similarly linked tables. One of them is fine but when I try to add the other one I get the following error -

I can open the required file in other applications via ODBC. The only problem is when I try to create the linked table in Access. This leads me to think that the problem is Access specific.

I have tried starting from scratch with new ODBC DSN, database names and a new Access database, and have tried rebuilding my data files, but the same problem occurs when I try to add this particular file.

I would appreciate some help understanding the message and how to use the information to trouble-shoot. Like, what does #-1404 refer to?

 

[BobRodes]

Sounds to me like you're trying to link by an index that isn't there. As for the 1404, that looks like a Pervasive error, and I would bet that its description is "no such index." I would suggest that you check your table structure against the structure of the table that works, and see if you can find a way that you're handling the link process differently.

HTH

Bob

 

[goolawah]

Thanks for that Bob. That's what I thought also. The problem is that it occurs even if I select multiple (say 4) tables to link simultaneously, it will link two of them successfully and reject the other two. Always the same ones.

I think it must be something to do with the tables themselves as it always seems to be the same ones that fail, even if I try to link to different data sets.

The tables I am trying to link to are created by another application so I have to live with them the way they are. I have tried using the ODBC trace but cannot understand the output well enough to have any idea what to do differently.

It seems strange that I can access the tables in question through the same ODBC setup. Its only when I try to create linked tables in Access that I get the error.

 

[BobRodes]

Well, you could try creating a copy of one of the tables you're trying to link, and changing the index structure. It's probably some sort of size limitation in the table.

Good luck!

Bob

 

[goolawah]

Thanks Rob, Can you give me any pointers about where to look to change the index structure? My understanding is that these files (to which I am tring to link my table) have their own internal index. They have external data dictionary (.ddf) files. I can open the files with utilities like BTSearch which, I believe, allows me to create new indexes which I think are external. How do I then refer to these as the index to use? Do the indexes remain the same when records are added to, or deleted from, the file?

I have tried re-building the file in the hope that this would re-build the indexes if they were damaged but it made no difference.

As you can see, I am not familiar with this area.

 

[BobRodes]

I'm sorry, I'm not too familiar with your specific area either. I've done a little work with linked tables, but never had to dig as deep as you are going. I would try to go into the other application and experiment with linking in simple tables, and see if I can figure out what in your table is causing the error.

HTH

Bob