working with both 97 +2000 dbs

[MontyBurns]

Hi,

I'm doing a lot of work currently with converting databases from 97 to 2k, but I also have to work with 97 databases without converting them.

Obviously you can set which version a .mdb is opened with, but I was hoping to set this to 2000 and add Access 97 to the Send To menu. I created a shortcut to the .exe, but it throws an error:

"The command line you used to start Microsoft Access contains an option that Ms Access doesn't recognize."

Anybody got any tips on how I can do this?

Thanks,
Burns

ps - i'm using W2k Pro

 

[JPeters]

Burns,

Command lines are slash commands, as you probably know. Are you sure that you setup the Target shortcut correctly. It might be you are using an invalid slash command or you have your syntax setup wrong. Maybe incorrect placement of quotation marks in your paths... If this doesn't help, Could you paste your modifications so we can have a look at them?

-Josh ------------------
-JPeters
Got a helpful tip for Access Users? Check out and contribute to 'How to Keep Your Databases from becoming Overwhelming!'
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[MontyBurns]

cheers Josh.

I simply went to the SendTo folder, did a New Shortcut and selected the Access 97 .exe

The path is correct as it will open Access. I'm not sure what I need to modify to get this to work. And I have to hold my hands up and admit I don't know what you're referring to when you say 'slash commands'...

Any help much appreciated,
Burns

 

[JPeters]

The SendTo Folder is a local folder that has been created on your computer, I imagine. And you are trying to make Ac2k your default database opener, but if you want to open up an Access 97 database, you have a shortcut to AC97 placed in your SendTo folder.. right?

Slash Commands are command line options you use when starting access. For instance, if you wanted to start An access database with exclusive access, you would add /excl to your command line .. or if you wanted to open access and start with a specifc macro you would do /x MacroName at the end of your command line to start Access.... it looks similar to this:

My shortcut to open up my email databas and log me into a workgroup reads like this in the shortcut Target:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Msaccess.exe" "U:\Loss Control Dbases\E-Mail DB LC.mdb" /wrkgrp "\\gigfs02\claimsdrv\cludrv\slcdbase\slcwif.mdw" /user Jpeters /pwd ????

THe first part is the location of MsAccess.exe. The SEcond part is the ocation of the database that I want to open with This Shortcut (slash comands don't work well unless you set up your shortcut exactly in this order). THe third part is my slash command '/wrkgrp ' which lets me login to a particula workgroup for this database. The part follwoing /wrkgrp is the network path of the workgroup that i want to join - notice where the quotations are placed. Lastly for this slash command I need to specify a user and password for the workgroup ... so I do /user followd by my name... then /pwd followd by a password. With this particular /wrkgrp slash commmand line option, if the user name and pword aren't recognized by the workgroup -> MsAcecss will kickup a login box prior to opening hte database, so you can correct your login info, or just login as the guest 'User' account that is manually setup by workgroups. Wow, I type too much.

Does this clarify at all, maybe you could right click on your shortcut to msaccess 97 (this is what's not working right?) and copy/paste the info in the "Target" Box in here so we can see if the syntax is correct.

-Josh ------------------
-JPeters
Got a helpful tip for Access Users? Check out and contribute to 'How to Keep Your Databases from becoming Overwhelming!'
thread181-293590
jpeters@guidemail.com
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[MontyBurns]

basically I want to be able to dbl click a db to open in Access 2k, and also have the option of right clicking on the file, going to Send To and clicking an option for Access 97 so I can open it in Access 97.

I (ignorantly) assumed that I could just whack a std shortcut to Access 97's .exe file in the c:\documents and settings\myLogin\SendTo\ folder and everthing would just work as I wanted.

It's just an idea so I don't have to drop files on the Access 97 shortcut on my desktop to open a .mdb in Access 97.

Any ideas on how to do this? I imagine someone's done this before?

Thanks again,
Burns

 

[JPeters]

Okay, I've gotchya - I know what you're up to now!
It's probably not working because the SendTo folder has a particular way of sending the file to the target program. Try seeing if you can add an 'Open With' function to your right click. This would make more sense. Is there a helpfile that you can read for editing your rightclick menus?

-Josh ------------------
-JPeters
Got a helpful tip for Access Users? Check out and contribute to 'How to Keep Your Databases from becoming Overwhelming!'
thread181-293590
jpeters@guidemail.com
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[jitter]

what os are you using? I do the same thing you are talking about in win2000 without any problems...

I did exactly like you. I created a new shortcut in the sendto folder and pointed it to access97.

 

[MontyBurns]

yep - Win 2000. Can't figure it out!

 

[MontyBurns]

i'm getting the error:

"The command line you used to start Microsoft Access contains an option that Microsoft Access doesn't recognize

Exit and restart Microsoft Access using valid command-line options"

Then once Access 97 starts, I get another error:

"Microsoft Access can't find the database file '\\Lon.mdb.'

Make sure you entered the correct path and file name"

The \\Lon is the start of the UNC path, but it seems it's cutting off the rest of the path and then adding the .mdb.

Anyone any ideas? Again, i'm using W2k Pro with Access 97 and Office 2k (inc. Access 2k obviously).

Thanks,
Burns

 

[JPeters]

Monty,
It has got to be something with the quotation marks. We all know how picky windoze is about quotes in the correct space. I'll be willing to bet that your database path is appearing in the wrong spot... or something along the lines. Have you done an advanced search on tek-tips to see if anyone else has done what you're trying to do, then mimic what they did? You can also search google, I find some handy tips in my searches there from time to time... Not nearly as many as I do on this site tho. Tek-tips rocks your socks off!

-Josh ------------------
-JPeters
Got a helpful tip for Access Users? Check out and contribute to 'How to Keep Your Databases from becoming Overwhelming!'
thread181-293590
jpeters@guidemail.com
------------------