corrupted memo field in multi-table query

[KJ]

I have a multi-table query in Access 2003. Several of the tables have memo
fields. When I run the query, the memo fields are displayed as Asian
characters or a symbol of a square. There is one expression that concatenates
first and last name and a parameter on another field. It is only the memo
fields that display these characters. I tried compacting and repairing the
database, but that did not help. Text fields with the same text as the memo
fields display fine. I've tried creating a similar query as a test but I
don't see this error. What might have corrupted this query?

 

[Jerry Whittle]

I avoid memo fields as they are prone to corruption. Have you opened up the
tables and see if any of the records have problem memo fields? If there
aren't too many record I just click on the memo in the first record and hold
the down arrow key. Often when hitting a corrupt record, Access will shut
down with an error message.

At the minimum I could create a new, blank database and import everything
from the problem database into it. Then use the new database file.

Tony Toews has an excellent web page on database corruption.
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/corruptmdbs.htm

Allen Brown also has excellent info on corruption.
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-47.html

I have a white paper in a Word document named Fix Corrupt Access Database
towards the bottom this page:
http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/OtherLibraries.asp

 

[KJ]

Thanks Jerry, I seem to have figured out the problem as I was recreating the
query that wasn't working. When "totals" row was displayed in the original
query, it displayed the strange characters. When I turned the totals off,
the query displayed fine. It doesn't seem to do this if I try it with the
individual tables, but the combination causes the problem.

kj

 

[Pete D.]

Is this all Access or did some Excel get imported or being used as a table?
I have seen this from query when Excel was part of it.

 

[Guest]

I have a multi-table query in Access 2003. Several of the tables have
memo
fields. When I run the query, the memo fields are displayed as Asian
characters or a symbol of a square. There is one expression that
concatenates
first and last name and a parameter on another field. It is only the memo
fields that display these characters. I tried compacting and repairing
the
database, but that did not help. Text fields with the same text as the
memo
fields display fine. I've tried creating a similar query as a test but I
don't see this error. What might have corrupted this query?

 

[Jeanette Cunningham]

KJ,
this is a known problem with memo fields.
see
http://support.microsoft.com/search...n+access&catalog=LCID=1033&spid=&mode=r&lsc=0

for things to avoid when using memo fields.

Jeanette Cunningham

 

[KJ]

Thanks Jeanette,

The link looks like it has some useful workarounds.

kj