Error Message: “You loaded a form or report that has controls or properties that Microsoft Access doesn't recognize and will ignore”

[goldben5]

Dear friends,

What is the reason for this error message and what is the solution for this problem?

“You loaded a form or report that has controls or properties that Microsoft Access doesn't recognize and will ignore”

Thanks in advance

Benjamin Goldenberg ----- I have corrected the shouty post --- UG

 

[tvanstiphout]

In online forums, writing in all uppercase is considered shouting. ----- I have corrected the shouty post --- UG

It sounds like you developed a report in a newer version of Access, then tried to use it in an older version.
You may have to recreate the report in the older version.

 

[DHookom]

Dear friends,

What is the reason for this error message and what is the solution for this problem?

“You loaded a form or report that has controls or properties that Microsoft Access doesn't recognize and will ignore”

Thanks in advance

Benjamin Goldenberg

You asked for help without providing any information about your environment or controls. Do other forms/reports open okay?

 

[Gasman]

Judging by this post, you will be lucky if you get a response.

How to count the number of digits in a field while typing -with vba code?

Hello everyone, How to count the number of digits in a field while typing -with vba code? Thank you in advance, Benjamin Goldenberg

www.access-programmers.co.uk

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Grok provided the following answer --- I have no idea if it is correct or not I have no interest in the post , I just corrected the shouting --- and thought I might as well ask grok to answer the question whilst it was editing the text for me!

What’s causing this Microsoft Access error?
This is a very common error in Microsoft Access and almost always happens for one of these reasons:

The database was created in a newer version of Access and is being opened in an older version
Example: Someone built the form in Access 365 or Access 2019, then you open it in Access 2016 or 2013 → newer controls (like the modern chart control, certain web browser controls, or new properties) are not recognized.
ActiveX controls that are missing or not registered on the PC
Common culprits:
Microsoft Date and Time Picker (MSCOMCT2.OCX)
Windows Common Controls (MSCOMCTL.OCX)
Web Browser control (especially after updates)

The file was saved in .accde / .mde format in a newer version
Locked/compiled databases carry version-specific code that older Access ignores.
Corruption in a single form/report
Sometimes just one control got corrupted during design changes.

Quick fixes (in order of easiest to hardest)
Fix 1 – Open in the same or newer version
Ask Benjamin to open the file in the same version it was created in (or newer). Problem usually disappears instantly.
Fix 2 – Re-register the common ActiveX controls (run as Administrator)
cmdregsvr32 "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\MSCOMCT2.OCX"
regsvr32 "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\MSCOMCTL.OCX"
(64-bit Windows path; use System32 if 32-bit Office on 32-bit Windows)
Fix 3 – Create a new blank database and import everything

File → New → Blank database
External Data → New Data Source → From File → Access
Select the original file → Import tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, modules
Usually leaves the problematic controls behind.

Fix 4 – Decompile (if it’s an .accdb/.mdb)
Create a shortcut with this target:
text"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\MSACCESS.EXE" "C:\Path\YourDB.accdb" /decompile
Open → Compact → Save as new file.
Fix 5 – Identify the bad control

Open in Design View (ignore the error)
Press Ctrl+A to select all controls
Delete one by one until the error stops → you found the culprit
Re-create that control from scratch.

Most of the time it’s Fix 1 or Fix 3 that solves it permanently.

 

[goldben5]

You asked for help without providing any information about your environment or controls. Do other forms/reports open okay?

NO, THE SAME MASSAGE

 

[GPGeorge]

NO, THE SAME MASSAGE

You have been given the answer twice. See post #2 and post #5.

This form was created in a newer version of Access. It uses a a control or property that is only available in that newer version.

Now you are trying to open the form in an older version of Access which doesn't recognize that control or property. It displays the error message instead.

Probably, someone else created this database for you. You can ask them to recreate it in the same, older version you have.
Or, you can upgrade your own Access to the newer version of Access used to create the database so you can use it.

By the way, did you deliberately overlook advice not to use all capital letters? It's considered rude to use all capital letters in forums. People do notice.