unrecognized database format 2

[rfis]

On several occasions the following error has been experienced on opening a database object
&quot;unrecognized database format <pathname>\<filename>&quot;

According to the Microsoft website:

CAUSE
One of the following conditions is true:
1. You are trying to open a database or an object in a database that was created in another language edition of Microsoft Access.

2. You are trying to open a database that was created or compacted while the New Database Sort Order was set to a value other than General.

Neither of these causes apply: The database was written in Access 97 and is running on a machine which has only ever had Access 97 on it. Rebooting will solve the problem but I would like to know the cause and i can prevent it reoccuring.

 

[Rohdem]

Usually when I get that error, it is because I am opening a front end that is linked to a corrupt back end that needs to be compacted and repaired. For example, if frontend.mdb is linked to the tables in backend.mdb, and backend.mdb is damaged or corrupt, when I try to open frontend.mdb, it gives me the message 'unrecognized database format backend.mdb'.

Microsoft makes a repair and compaction utility called jetcomp that I would run on the database in question. It generally does a better job of repairing and compacting databases than the Access repair and compact utility.

Mike Rohde
rohdem@marshallengines.com

 

[raskew]

I run into this situation frequently.

Despite what you say about the database having been created in Access 97, my first thought is that you are attempting to open a database created in, or converted to, Access 2000. If someone opened an Access 97 application and converted/saved it to Access 2000, it's no longer readable by Access 97.

If you want to open it, you'll need Access 2000. When it comes time to save it, you'll have the option of saving as an Access 97 database.

 

[rfis]

Thanks for your replies. I can confirm that the database was written in Access 97 (as i wrote it!) and it in our department there are only 2 machines running Access - both Access 97 and none have had previous versions or Access 2000 installed on them. I can open the database ok, the error occurs when i try to run a report (based on a query). However if i close down the database and go back in the report runs fine.

I will try the jetcomp database compaction utility. Can this be found on the Microsoft Support and Downloads webpage?

Thanks
Rachel

 

[Rohdem]

Try this link:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q273/9/56.ASP

Mike Rohde
rohdem@marshallengines.com

 

[Rohdem]

It also might be worth the effort to import all of your objects into a new database and see if you get the same error.

Mike Rohde
rohdem@marshallengines.com