OLE issue

[Michelle Craig]

We have two linked Access databases that a vendor
developed; these form the basis of an application. We
purchased it and had to make some modifications to the
forms and reports. There is a table in the "root"
database (this feeds the other database that has all the
forms, reports, macros, and the end-user interface) that
contains an OLE field that is supposed to link to a .bmp
image file. When the program generates a report, it shows
and prints the image. On my computer, this works fine.

However, when I copy the database to another computer,
what happens is instead of the image showing up in the
field when the user edits the form, the name of the file
appears. Any of the existing links I've created on my
computer work okay, but if the user has to change the
name of the .bmp file in this field, it shows the file
name.

I've gone in to the form properties and made sure that
the field control on the form was set with the following
parameters:

display type = content
update option = manual
OLE type allowed = either (I've tried making this one
or the other but it didn't make any difference)
Enabled = yes
Locked = no

Even if the user creates a new document from this form
that has all new .bmp file links, it STILL puts the file
name in instead of the image. I've made a lot of
modifications to this application on my computer because
it would have taken too much of the user's time for me to
do it at that machine. I don't understand why, when I
copy the database, everything else works okay but this.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Michelle Craig
Mgr Info Support Svc
Kent State Univ - Registrar's Office

 

[david epsom dot com dot au]

OLE means that it uses another application to display
the file: since it is a bitmap, perhaps it is using
MSPaint.

Obviously, it won't work at all if the other computer
doesn't have the Application required.
Less obviously, it may not work if the VERSION or
LOCATION of the application change. If also may fail
if the application is not REGISTERED correctly.

When you work with a form/report in design mode,
you can update the link to the application used
for the linked or embedded data: this may have
happend to you.

You can probably make it work on the other PC
by recreating just the OLE control. If necessary,
delete the control and add it back again.

But FIRST, go to the other pc, create a blank
form, and add a control of the correct type to
it. This will cause registration of the OLE
server if it is not already registered. It may
solve the problem.

(david)