MDB (Access 2002-2003) file format in Access 2007

S

samah

Access Learner. Access 2007.

If I create a database in Access 2002-2003 file format in Access 2007
and then split the mdb file into BE and FE, can I use copies of the same
FE in both Access 2007 and Access 2003? Or I have to modify it to use it
in Access 2003?

Thank you in advance.

-samah
 
A

aaron.kempf

well this _DIRECTLY_ contradicts what someone said on the newsgroup
yesterday.

Access 2007 front end and back end
or
Access 2003 front end and back end
or
SQL Server and don't toy with this linked table _CON_.

Sorry

-Aaron
 
A

aaron_kempf

This answer is not consistent with another answer on the newsgroup the
other day.

Access 2003 w/ Access 2003.
or
Access 2007 w/ Access 2007.
or
Access _ANYTHING_ with ADP.

You be the judge/
 
T

Tom Wickerath

I recommend that you do your development work using the lowest common
denominator, ie. your copy of Access 2003. For one thing, if you are used to
using the wizards, you'll find that in Access 2007, the wizards tend to
create what is called "Embedded Macros". These are not supported in Access
2003, so, for example, you can quickly discover that you have command buttons
that do nothing when you develop in Access 2007 and then later open with
Access 2003.


Tom Wickerath
Microsoft Access MVP
http://www.accessmvp.com/TWickerath/
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
__________________________________________
 
P

Pete D.

Access 2007 can use the 2000-2003 version. 2003 cannot use the 2007 version
as it has new features/file formats, which I believe was your question.
 
S

samah

Thank you for your guidance, Tom. While using wizards in Access 2007, is
there any way to avoid Embedded Macros?

Thanks again.
-samah
 
B

BruceM

No contradiction. If the file format is Access 2003, as stated by the OP,
it can be used with both Access 2003 and Access 2007. It doesn't matter in
which version of Access it was created. If a file is created in Access 2007
format it can be used only with Access 2007. As I understand the FE and BE
need to be the same file format.

well this _DIRECTLY_ contradicts what someone said on the newsgroup
yesterday.

Access 2007 front end and back end
or
Access 2003 front end and back end
or
SQL Server and don't toy with this linked table _CON_.

Sorry

-Aaron
 
R

Rick Brandt

BruceM said:
No contradiction. If the file format is Access 2003, as stated by
the OP, it can be used with both Access 2003 and Access 2007. It
doesn't matter in which version of Access it was created. If a file
is created in Access 2007 format it can be used only with Access
2007. As I understand the FE and BE need to be the same file format.
Click to expand...

The back end can be the same version or any older version. An older version
back end is common where multiple users don't all have the same Access
version installed. In that case the back end is in the oldest version of
all those used as front ends.
 
G

George

Here's a relatively common sense way to think about this whole issue without
wading into the arcanity, or dogma, of versioning.

Access 2003 is an earlier version than Access 2007. As with other kinds of
software, newer versions of Access (e.g., 2007) can usually handle files
created in prior versions (e.g., 2003). Therefore, it makes sense that
Access 2007 can open either an accdb (the newer format) or an mdb (the older
format). So far as I have read anywhere in MS published statements, there is
nothing to contradict that/

Again. as a general rule, it is also true that older versions of software
can not handle newer versions. It should be pretty obvious why. The older
version has no way of "knowing" about the features of the newer version, so
it couldn't possibly be expected to handle it.

Therefore, it makes sense that Access 2003 can not open an mdb, but not an
accdb; Access 2003 has no way of knowing what the accdb format is.

The crux of the issue, of course, is that Access 2007 can create files in
either format, mdb or accdb. Being an mdb, in the format Access 2003 already
knows about, Access 2003 can indeed open the mdb just as well as it could
any mdb created in Access 2003.

If you look at other applications in the Office Suite, I believe, you'll
find "Save As" options for both newer (.docx, .xlsx) formats and older
formats (.doc, .xls). Nothing really unusual at all there.

Of course, if gets more complicated than that, as there are also mdbs
created in earlier versions of Access (97, 2000 and 2002). It's probably not
worthwhile wading through all of the compatibilities/incompatibilities in
all the versions out there. We're really only concerned about the two newer
versions anyway.

The point here is that an mdb which conforms to the Access 2003 format can
be opened, or linked to, from either 2003 or 2007. The reverse, of course,
is not true. An Access 2003 mdb could not be expected to link to an Access
2007 accdb as the back end because it wouldn't have any way of knowing how
to do that.

I second Tom's recommendation to go with the "lowest common denominator", at
least partially for the reasons stated above.

Plus embedded macros, while an improvement over the macros of an earlier
day, are, alas, still macros. And, they are one of those "newer version"
features that make don't work in an older version.

George
 
P

Pete D.

All good but filesearch killed all previous versions, as always ask the
question and be prepared to tweak it as the problems occur. Also default
settings of new versions can eat your lunch so upgrade slowly, make one
good, two good and expand slowly. You address this but I felt repeating was
worth it.
 
T

Tom Wickerath

Hi Samah,

No, I'm sorry to say that there is not. This has been raised as a suggestion
to the Access Development Team at Microsoft, for consideration in Access 14.
Hopefully, they will respect user's desire for choice, instead of forcing
their choice upon users.

May I suggest that you navigate to connect.microsoft.com and fill out an
application to be added to their Access list. That way, you can file this
issue directly. They do listen to customer complaints.


Tom Wickerath
Microsoft Access MVP
http://www.accessmvp.com/TWickerath/
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
__________________________________________
 
S

samah

Rick said:
The back end can be the same version or any older version. An older version
back end is common where multiple users don't all have the same Access
version installed. In that case the back end is in the oldest version of
all those used as front ends.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

-samah
 
S

samah

Pete said:
All good but filesearch killed all previous versions, as always ask the
question and be prepared to tweak it as the problems occur. Also default
settings of new versions can eat your lunch so upgrade slowly, make one
good, two good and expand slowly. You address this but I felt repeating was
worth it.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

-samah
 
B

BruceM

OK, thanks for the clarification. It makes sense, now that I think about
it, that several versions be able to use the same data file.
 
B

BruceM

I assume it is clear enough (unless I am completely missing something here)
to somebody reading the post that this:
"Therefore, it makes sense that Access 2003 can not open an mdb ... "
is intended to be:
"Therefore, it makes sense that Access 2003 can open an mdb ... "
but I will point it out anyhow, just in case.
 

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