ACC97: Can't Export to MDE If MS-DOS File Extensions Hidden

• Microsoft Access 97

SYMPTOMS

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

If you have your operating system configured to hide MS-DOS file extensions, when you try to export a Microsoft Access 97 object to an MDE file you may receive the following error message:

   Microsoft Access can't find the database file '<MDE File Name>.mdb.'
   Make sure you entered the correct path and file name.

RESOLUTION

When you export objects to MDE files, make sure that you are not hiding MS-DOS file extensions in Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0. Follow these steps to check your configuration:

1. Start Windows Explorer or double-click My Computer on your desktop.

2. On the View menu, click Options.

3. Click the View tab.

4. Click to clear the "Hide file extensions for known file types" check box.

5. Click OK.

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. Perform steps 1-5 in the "Resolution" section, except click to select the "Hide file extensions for known file types" check box.

2. Start Microsoft Access and create a new blank database named Db1.

3. On the Tools menu, point to Database Utilities, and then click Make MDE File.

4. Save the MDE file as Test.

5. Close the DB1 database.

6. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

7. Click the Macros tab in the Database window, and then select the Customers macro.

8. On the File menu, click Save As/Export.

9. In the Save As dialog box, click "To an External File or Database," and then click OK.

10. In the "Save Macro 'Customers' In" dialog box, select Test and click

        Export. Note that you receive the error message mentioned in the
        "Symptoms" section. Click OK on the error, and then click Cancel in the
        dialog box.
    

11. Perform steps 1-5 in the "Resolution" section to display file

        extensions again.
    

REFERENCES