ACC: Using MS Access Version 1.1 Databases in Version 2.0

• Microsoft Access version 1.0, 1.1, 2.0

SUMMARY

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

This article describes several issues involved in using Microsoft Access version 1.x databases in Microsoft Access version 2.0.

MORE INFORMATION

The following issues should be kept in mind when you are using version 1.x databases in Microsoft Access version 2.0:

• When you open an unconverted Microsoft Access 1.x database in Microsoft Access 2.0, you will receive the message:

        Database <database name> was created by a previous version of
        Microsoft Access. You won't be able to save changes made to object
        definitions in this database.
  

  You cannot make any design changes to database objects created in version 1.x until you convert the database to version 2.0. Note that database objects may behave differently in version 2.0 because of new and changed features.

  You can open and use unconverted databases in version 2.0. However, if you want to make design changes to them, use Microsoft Access version 1.x.

• You cannot change permissions in version 1.x databases using Microsoft Access version 2.0. However, if you use a version 1.x SYSTEM.MDA file with Microsoft Access 2.0, the existing security scheme will operate properly.

  You can use Microsoft Access version 1.x to make security changes to the version 1.x database, but make sure to use the version 1.x SYSTEM.MDA file.

• You can update fields on the one side of a one-to-many join.
• A combo or list box displays data as it is formatted in the control's underlying table or query. However, if the row source is a SQL SELECT statement, no formatting is applied.

  If you want the data in a combo or list box to be formatted, apply a format expression to the field in the query.

• If you attempt to open an object in a version 1.x database whose name contains a backquote character (`) in version 2.0, you will receive the error message:

        Couldn't find object <objectname>
  

  While the backquote character (`) is permitted in object names in version 1.x, it violates standard naming conventions in version 2.0. In addition to the backquote (`), you cannot use a period (.), an exclamation point (!), or brackets ([]) in object names in version 2.0.

  Use Microsoft Access 1.x to rename objects in the version 1.x database to remove these characters.

• The CTRL+F4 key combination closes only MDI windows (such as the Database window) in version 2.0. Use ALT+F4 to close pop-up windows. In Microsoft Access 1.x, CTRL+F4 closes both pop-up windows and MDI windows. This behavior is changed in version 2.0 to be consistent with Microsoft Windows behavior.

  This means that you should open your version 1.x databases in Microsoft Access version 1.x and change all occurrences of {^F4} to {%F4} in all SendKeys actions in macros and Access Basic code.

• SendKeys actions to change menus, dialog boxes and property sheets do not necessarily produce the same results in version 2.0 as they do in version 1.x, since the File, Edit, Layout, and Format menus are changed in version 2.0. The Paste Special, Options and Security dialog boxes are changed as well. Several changes and additions to object property sheets also affect how SendKeys actions set properties.

  The following items describe how to accommodate these changes:

       - Open your version 1.x databases in Microsoft Access version 1.x and
         replace all SendKeys actions in macros and code that reference
         changed menus with DoMenuItem actions.
  

       - Set and change security using data access objects (DAO) instead of
         SendKeys. This requires that you first convert the database to
         version 2.0 database format.
  

       - Set properties at run time instead of using code that opens objects
         in Design view, changes properties, then opens the same objects in
         Form view. This requires that you first convert the database to
         version 2.0 database format.
  

       - Use the GetOption and SetOptions methods instead of SendKeys to
         change options. This requires that you first convert the database
         to version 2.0 database format.
  

  Because changes like these can occur with each new version of Microsoft Access, it is best to avoid using the SendKeys action whenever possible.

• Tables are the only objects that you can export to a Microsoft Access 1.x database from a Microsoft Access 2.0 database. You cannot export any other object from a version 2.0 database to a version 1.x database.

  Objects in a version 1.x database opened in version 2.0 can be exported to a version 2.0 database. However, this process converts those objects to version 2.0 objects.

  You can attach a version 1.x table using version 2.0. You cannot attach a version 2.0 table using version 1.x.

• In version 1.x, validation rules for bound controls override validation rules for bound fields in the underlying table. In version 2.0, the validation rules for the field and bound control are combined.

  For example, in version 1.x, if the field validation rule requires the value of a numeric field to be greater than 100, and the validation rule for a bound control on a form requires the value to be less than 75, an entry of 50 in the bound control is allowed.

  The same entry would not be allowed in version 2.0, since the field and bound control validation rules are combined, and there is no number that is both less than 75 and greater than 100.

  It is recommended that you review all of your form and field validation rules and change them where conflicts occur.

REFERENCES

For more information about converting version 1.x databases to version 2.0 format, search for "Convert Database," and then "Convert Database Command" using the Microsoft Access Help menu.

For more information about DAO, search for "DAO," and then "Objects and Collections Reference" using the Microsoft Access Help menu.