Extremely Strange Typing Problem

[webunit]

I've used a large Access 2003 database application for several years and I've
seen my share of weird problems, but this one takes the cake.

In a large table (about 16000 records) a few of the recently added records
have developed a problem with entering data. When one tries to type in a
field directly in the table, letters drop off or get inserted randomly. You
can tell there's a major problem by simply moving the cursor -- instead of
stopping before each letter, the cursor will stop right in the middle of a
letter!! It's as if Access doesn't know the size of the characters and
character spacing. I've made no change to the font used (MS Sans Serif) or
font size.

This happens when typing directly in the table or using the form entry
method. The only solution is to erase the existing text and start over.

I've already run the compact and repair routine to no avail.

Any ideas? Is the database irreparably corrupt?

Thanks.

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

Try running JetComp on it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;273956

or you could import everything into a new empty database.

 

[Jerry Whittle]

I'd try running the database on another computer first. It might not be an
Access problem at all. Maybe memory or video card troubles.

 

[Klatuu]

Is this a split database?
Have you tried a decompile?

Do you have a backup prior this this problem starting that you can test?

You may, indeed, have some corruption, but you can usually recover from it.

 

[Rick]

Try running JetComp on it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;273956

or you could import everything into a new empty database.

If I may butt in...I have a similar problem with a DB that has a corrupted
table. Is there some trick to running this utility?. When I give the
output as a name i want to create, it complains that it can't find the file
(which obviously doesn't exist). If I create an empty database and give it
that name as output, I get "error compacting database" which I also get if
I make a copy of the imput database and use that as destination. Both are
Access 2000 formats and I think Jet 4.0. What am I missing?

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

I haven't had this problem, but then I haven't had a corrupt database in 5
or 6 years, and that one was easily fixed.

I suggest importing your objects into a new empty database. Corrupted
records will usually not import and corrupted objects usually won't either.
You can use my code at:

http://www.datastrat.com/Code/DocDatabase.txt

to backup and restore non table-objects.

 

[webunit]

Sorry I failed to mention that we have the same problem on two different
computers.

 

[webunit]

No it's not a split database. Yes we have backups. Thanks.

 

[webunit]

Thanks, I will try it.

Try running JetComp on it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;273956

or you could import everything into a new empty database.
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access
http://www.accessmvp.com

 

[Rick]

I haven't had this problem, but then I haven't had a corrupt database
in 5 or 6 years, and that one was easily fixed.

I suggest importing your objects into a new empty database. Corrupted
records will usually not import and corrupted objects usually won't
either. You can use my code at:

http://www.datastrat.com/Code/DocDatabase.txt

to backup and restore non table-objects.

I was actually running this on a clean one first and ran into the same
problem. But I created a clean one, did the re-imports on that and it
worked! I guess it wasn't as clean as I thought. I hadn't done the re-
import thing on that one in a while. I somethimnes forget that Compact has
a limited lifespan. Now on to the corrupt one!

 

[Rick]

I haven't had this problem, but then I haven't had a corrupt database
in 5 or 6 years, and that one was easily fixed.

I suggest importing your objects into a new empty database. Corrupted
records will usually not import and corrupted objects usually won't
either. You can use my code at:

http://www.datastrat.com/Code/DocDatabase.txt

to backup and restore non table-objects.

I was actually running this on a clean one first and ran into the same
problem. But I created a clean one, did the re-imports on that and it
worked! I guess it wasn't as clean as I thought. I hadn't done the re-
import thing on that one in a while. I somethimnes forget that Compact has
a limited lifespan. Now on to the corrupt one!

Thanks, Arvin!