ACC97: "The Wizard Was Unable to Create the Relationship" Error

• Microsoft Access 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you use the Lookup Wizard to create a Lookup field in Design view of a table, you may receive the following error message:

   The wizard was unable to create the relationship.

CAUSE

This error can occur if the Lookup Wizard tries to create a relationship between the current table and the lookup table before you save the current table. This error does not occur if you accept the default table name when the wizard prompts you to save the current table.

RESOLUTION

Save the current table to give it a name before you run the Lookup Wizard.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 97. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

2. Create the following new table in Design View. Do not save the table.

         Table: tblLookup
         ---------------------------
         Field Name:  ID
            Data Type: AutoNumber
         Field Name:  UnitPrice
            Data Type: Lookup Wizard
   
         Table Properties
         ----------------
         Primary Key:  ID
   
   

3. In the Lookup Wizard dialog box, click "I want the lookup column to look up the values in a table or query," and then click Next.

4. In the "Which table or query should provide the values for your lookup column?" dialog box, click Order Details, and then click Next.

5. In the "Which fields contain the values you want included in your lookup column?" dialog box, add OrderID and UnitPrice to the Selected fields box, and click Next.

6. In the "How wide would you like the columns in your lookup column?" dialog box, click Finish.

7. Click Yes when the wizard prompts you with the message that you must save the table before relationships can be created.

8. In the Save As dialog box, type tblLookup in the Table Name box, and then click OK.

   Note that you receive the error message. If you accept the default table name in the Save As dialog box, the wizard is able to create the relationship without a problem.

REFERENCES