Access 2003 and 2007

[rodmc]

A bit of a general request for info and a bit of a warning to be heeded.

OK, Ive been using 2003 for some time now (quite happily I might add), only to be told a month or so ago that we were getting upgraded to 2007. The first problem here is, not every dept has got the upgrade so we have a massive mix of 03 and 07.

Anyway, after some disagreements about this, I reluctantly agreed to allow 2007 on my machine.

Now, given that to make any major changes in 2003 systems I already built and deployed, I had the choice of converting the systems to .accdb format or asking to get 2003 back in addition to 07. That choice wasnt really a choice as Ive already stated not everyone is getting upgraded so the only avenue was to have both suites in my PC.

So going about work as normal, after making changes to one of the 2003 systems in Acc2003, I found that nothing on the forms would work, no event or code was firing and I was getting the errors about missing references and such, so I checked the Reference Library as stated by MS and it lists no missing references, everything looks the exact as it did with the exception of Microsoft Access Object Library had went from 11.0 to 12.0. See this thread

Anyway, I went to another machine that has not had 2007 anywhere near it and the file works, no problems at all.

This made me think about the install, so I checked the C:\Program Files\Office folder. Now this may be me barking up the wrong tree, but, both versions are in the same folder. Now what Im thinking is that when 2007 was installed in addition to 2003, 2007 has written over some of the 2003 files with its own version of the files that do not work with 2003. Im kinda hoping someone can back this up, cos if it isnt then Im at a total loss. :banghead:

Beware mixing the 2 versions of Access!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rodmc]

Should also add that it works perfectly in 2007 lmao

 

[GinaWhipp]

First and foremost, two different version should have been diverted to two different folders, so yes, that is probably part of the issue. However, here's some tips that might help...
http://allenbrowne.com/Access2007.html

And Access 2007 (and up) needs a Trusted Location, so have a look at...
http://www.access-diva.com/d4.html

As for References, there are some that cause issues even though not listed as MISSING. Have a look here...
http://www.access-diva.com/d5.html#Alert

 

[boblarson]

Not a good idea to mix versions if at all possible. But 2003 and 2007 can be installed on a computer and work just fine. 2010, on the other hand, does not work well being installed with other versions, especially 2007.

Separate folders is something one would want to do. But you also need to know that running a database file on one can affect it when opening in the other. More so when opening in the earlier version after opening it in the later version. It is best to get all on to one version ASAP.

 

[rodmc]

Thank you both, Gina and Bob.

Well, I noticed late yesterday that forms in 2003 do not function at all, even using the button wizard to create a simple close form button (done this in a new file with nothing but the form) didnt work.

Well, hopefully your suggestions work Gina, or someone from our IT will be getting flogged by the end of the day

 

[Lightwave]

Rod I think this is a security feature of Access 2007 - make sure that the back end is in a trusted location and then try and change the macro security settings as below...

1) Open "Customize Quick Access Toolbar" menu to the right of the office button
2) Select "More Commands"
3) Click "Trust Center" menu button on sidebar
4) Click "Trust Center Settings" button on main pane
5) Click "Macro Settings" menu button on sidebar
6) Select "Enable all macros"
7) Click "OK" to close Trust Center
8) Click "OK" to close Access Options

See if that works - I had similar problems when I first started mixing the two I got rid of it but can't clearly remember how I did it!

One thing that computers don't like is if you switch between version. They run some kind of partial install whenever you go from one to the other so if at all possible even if you have 03 and 07 on one machine try and get all applications built in Access on the one machine to remain using one version.

Once you have got round the above its possible to design in 03 and ship out to 07 as 03 format. I never try to design in 07 and ship back to 03 - 03 versions sometimes don't like it. And because 03 can't cope with 07 everything is still being saved in 03 format

 

[rodmc]

Rod I think this is a security feature of Access 2007 - make sure that the back end is in a trusted location and then try and change the macro security settings as below...

1) Open "Customize Quick Access Toolbar" menu to the right of the office button
2) Select "More Commands"
3) Click "Trust Center" menu button on sidebar
4) Click "Trust Center Settings" button on main pane
5) Click "Macro Settings" menu button on sidebar
6) Select "Enable all macros"
7) Click "OK" to close Trust Center
8) Click "OK" to close Access Options

See if that works - I had similar problems when I first started mixing the two I got rid of it but can't clearly remember how I did it!

One thing that computers don't like is if you switch between version. They run some kind of partial install whenever you go from one to the other so if at all possible even if you have 03 and 07 on one machine try and get all applications built in Access on the one machine to remain using one version.

Once you have got round the above its possible to design in 03 and ship out to 07 as 03 format. I never try to design in 07 and ship back to 03 - 03 versions sometimes don't like it. And because 03 can't cope with 07 everything is still being saved in 03 format

Thank for that Lightwave, but it works ok in 2007 its 03 thats giving me the problem which doesnt have the Trusted locations feature

 

[rodmc]

Bob, that would be ideal for them just to update everyone to 2007, unfortunately for me though, they have no plans to roll out 07 over the whole patch they say they dont have the money to license the entire organisation, my take on that is, if you cant roll it out over the entire patch then dont roll it out at all.

It beggars belief why supposed IT pros would even consider something so stupid.

 

[GinaWhipp]

You also might consider running it under the Access 2007 runtime, which is free, for those Users that don't have Access 2007. This will at least enable you to edit the file under 2007 and not Access 2003 as you should always edit in the lowest version used.