Creating a A97 database in A2003

[Guest]

Hi All,

I used Access 97 at work but Access 2003 at home. Is it possible to create a
Access 97 compatible database in Access 2003 ? Also is it safe ?

 

[Allen Browne]

You can create a database in A2003, and convert it to A97 with:
Tools | Database Utilities | Convert...

It is safe if you use minimal references, and check them. After conversion
to A97, Access will have correctly adjusted the two required references -
Access and VBA. If you used the DAO reference, you may need to change it to
DAO 3.51 instead of DAO 3.6. Last time I did a conversion I noticed Access
had failed to make this change, and it is important.

If you have other references (such as Calendar control, or OCX or ActiveX
controls), you may find that these also need changing when you change
version or when you change computer.

For information on the references appropriate to each version and how to set
them, see:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-38.html

 

[Guest]

Everytime I've tried to convert a database down to 97 using 2003 it always
fails. Says I have some missing component.

So I thought this would be a work around.

You can create a database in A2003, and convert it to A97 with:
Tools | Database Utilities | Convert...

It is safe if you use minimal references, and check them. After conversion
to A97, Access will have correctly adjusted the two required references -
Access and VBA. If you used the DAO reference, you may need to change it to
DAO 3.51 instead of DAO 3.6. Last time I did a conversion I noticed Access
had failed to make this change, and it is important.

If you have other references (such as Calendar control, or OCX or ActiveX
controls), you may find that these also need changing when you change
version or when you change computer.

For information on the references appropriate to each version and how to set
them, see:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-38.html

 

[Allen Browne]

Check your references.

You could also try decompiling by entering something like this at the
command prompt while Access is not running. It is all one line, and include
the quotes:
"c:\Program Files\Microsoft office\office\msaccess.exe" /decompile
"c:\MyPath\MyDatabase.mdb"

Naturally you won't be able to open the A97 mdb using A2003.