ACCESS 2003 SAVED BUT DISAPPEARED

[Guest]

I am a first time Access user. I created my database - no problems. When I
went to save it, I did not get the usual dialog box which asks what name you
want to give it and what folder you want to save it into. Nonetheless it
saved into 'My Documents'. I then e-mailed it as an attachment to my second
computer, using Microsoft Outlook Express.

On the second computer I opened it - no problems - and added additional data
- still no problems. As I added new data I regularly clicked on 'Save'.
Apparently no problems - the 'Save' icon was active and it seemed to be OK.
When I had finished I saved again and closed the file. It allowed me to close
it without the usual "Do you want to save changes?" prompt. Again I could not
get a 'Save As' option to choose a location to save it.

Since then I cannot find the modified file. Can anyone tell me how to track
it down? I presume it must be somewhere. It may be something to do with
strange things Outlook Express does when it saves into a temp file for
attachments? The unmodified original attachment received from the first
computer is still available as it was received.

Searching for the file does not help. I get a nil result however I try.

Many thanks!

 

[Nikos Yannacopoulos]

Richard,

Nothing to do with OE; it's just that Access is a different animal,
which a first time user would k=not know, of course. It does not behave
like Excel or Word, so no, you will not find a Save As menu item, and
you will not be prompted to save data as you enter/change it.

To change the file name or save it in a different folder, you need to
resort to Windows Explorer (or My Computer).

New / changed data is saved automatically as you move out of a record,
to the previous or next or new one, or close the form it was entered /
edited into.

Now, in order to find the database file in your HDD, try the following:

* look in "My recent documents" under Start
* open Access and look at the recent files
* if you opened the database directly from OE, then open an Excel or
Word file attached in a mail, and then go File > Save As; notice the
temporary folder it is saved in; chances are the database file is also
in that folder
* all the above failing, do a search for the .mdb file in your HDD
(Start > Search); it might help to restrict by date (last modified) if
you suspect there are several versions of the file on your machine.

HTH,
Nikos

 

[Guest]

Many thanks Nikos for your response, which has helped to clarify the issues
but I still cannot find my file. Nothing appears in "My Recent Documents".
Doing a ".mdb" search reveals nothing, even with Hidden Files and Folders
included in the search. Access itself is more promising. It shows three files
with the correct file name, which is encouraging. Only one of these will open
and it is the original one that was the attachment from the first computer.

It claims not to be able to find the other two. It claims to be looking for
them in C:\Documents & Settings\...\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\025XWFG3\Terrace Documents. mdb". Problem is when I go "My
Computer > Explore, etc." and go to the Temporary Internet Files Folder I
come to a grinding halt. There is no "Content.IE5" folder showing within that
folder and I therefore can't look for the other 025XWFG3 folder within it.

I tried your suggestion of opening Word attachments and doing a "Save As".
Outlook Express saves them to similarly named folders, e.g. 01MBCDIR. It
sounds as thought there is a batch of these folders hidden somewhere but
neither I nor "Search" can locate them.

Any further suggestions, anyone?

RICHARD

 

[John Vinson]

Problem is when I go "My
Computer > Explore, etc." and go to the Temporary Internet Files Folder I
come to a grinding halt. There is no "Content.IE5" folder showing within that
folder and I therefore can't look for the other 025XWFG3 folder within it.

View the folder properties and set the "Show Hidden Files and Folders"
property to True.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Guest]

Thanks John but still doesn't help: "Show Hidden Files and Folders" was
already set to true. Still puzzled!

Richard