ACC97: "Can't find the dynamic-link library (DLL) Mso97rt" Err

• Microsoft Access 97
• Microsoft Office Developer Edition 97

SYMPTOMS

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

When you use the /runtime switch to start Microsoft Access 97 on a computer that does not have the Microsoft Office 97 Developer Edition Tools (ODE) or a custom application created by using the ODE installed, you may receive the following error message:

   Can't find the dynamic-link library (DLL) Mso97rt.

   You can't use the /runtime command-line switch unless you have installed
   Microsoft Office 97 Developer Edition Tools.

CAUSE

The file, MSO97rt.dll, needed to simulate the Microsoft Access run-time environment, is only installed on your computer when you run Setup of the ODE or a custom application that was created with the ODE.

RESOLUTION

To use the /runtime switch with the retail version of Microsoft Access 97, you must install the ODE or a custom application created with the ODE on your computer.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

In versions of Microsoft Access earlier than Microsoft Access 97, it was possible to use the /runtime switch with the retail version. However, to simulate the Microsoft Access run-time environment in Microsoft Access 97, you must have an application that contains the MSo97rt.dll file installed on your computer.

The following information is contained in the Microsoft Access 97 Help topic, "Simulating the Microsoft Access Run-Time Environment":

   If you have the Microsoft Office 97, Developer Edition Tools installed,
   you can test and debug your application in Microsoft Access by using the
   Microsoft Access /runtime startup command-line option to turn off full
   Microsoft Access features and simulate the environment in which users
   will run your application.

   Tip  If Microsoft Access is installed on a user's machine, you can test
   your run-time application by copying the file Mso97rt.dll to the user's
   c:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VBA folder.

   Also, for this method to work, your application must have a startup
   form that provides access to all the objects you want available (a
   main switchboard form), because you can't display the Database window
   in run-time mode.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

The following steps assume that the Mso97rt.dll file has not been installed on your computer by a custom application or the ODE.

1. Create a shortcut to start Microsoft Access.

2. Using the right mouse button (right-click), click the shortcut, click Properties, and then click the Shortcut tab.

3. In the Target box, following the path to MSAccess.exe, type the path to the database you want to open, and then type "/runtime" (without the quotation marks). If the path contains spaces, enclose it in quotation marks.

   For example, the following command line starts Microsoft Access and then opens the Northwind sample application in run-time mode:

         "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\MSAccess.exe" "C:\Program
          Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Samples\Northwind.mdb" /runtime
   

4. Double-click the shortcut to start the application in run-time mode. Note that you receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

REFERENCES