HELP, Access database wan't open !!!

[Rale]

Hi everybody,

I am using an Access database created in Office Access 2003. Recently it will not open directly from its location. It opens only when I start Office Access application and than file/open and than select the database. I should mention that the database is on server. When I open it like this (either selecting shortcut on my desktop or directly from the server) it opens and works perfectly. Also, I am using Microsoft Office 2003 so it is not a compatibility issue. I think that this started happening since I have updated my Windows using automatic updates and that is the only thing that I have done prior to having this issue.


I hope I have explained this well.
Please help,

Thanks.

 

[Jeanette Cunningham]

This question is not clear. It reads as if you can't open the database when you double click the file on the server.
Then it say you can open it directly from the server - wouldn't that be the same as double clicking the file on the server?

 

[Rale]

It doesn't open when I double click it at all, either from server or clicking the shortcut. What I tried to explain is that when I open Microsoft Access application and then file/open, it opens even when I select desktop shortcut or when I browse to server where it is located. But it will not open any other way.

 

[thechazm]

That really sounds like a simple file association problem on your computer. I would imagine if you looked at those you might be able to fix it.

The way you see that list is depending on what your OS is but it should look something like this:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\MSACCESS.EXE" "%1"

Hope it helps,

TheChazm

 

[Jeanette Cunningham]

One possibility is that the file you are trying to open on the server is just the backend data file - this is the one that is normally put on the server.

The application file is the one that you would expect to open by clicking it. However the application file would normally be on your desktop computer, not the server.

I am guessing that this database is one that you didn't build, and it probably has code that makes sure that it only opens from the shortcut on your desktop, or by choosing that database after first opening access.

 

[Rale]

Re: HELP, Access database won't open !!!

Thank you for your replies but I am not sure I understand you, I am not so good with this stuff really.

Maybe I made this sound more complicated than it is, but I was trying to explain that it is not a shortcut issue or corrupted file or anything like that. Mbd. file just doesn't open on its own.

When I double click on the mdb file it does not open either way (shortcut, or target location) It only opens if I first launch MS Access application and then file/open and then point to either shorcut on my desktop or browse to its location on the server.
Database itself is on the server because it is used by more people and everybody else can access it using a shortcut.
I could do the same a couple of days ago but not since I updated Windows ( via Automatic updates), or at least I think that that is when the problem started.
What I don't understand is why it will open only through MS Access app and not on double click. I did not update MS office, it is 2003 version and so it is the database.

Thanks again.

 

[Jeanette Cunningham]

I would expect that the mdb file on the server is just the backend database and that you would not want to open it.

Usually an access database used by many different people is split in two.
There are then 2 databases - one is called the back end and the other is called the front end.

The backend contains the data only and is put on the server.

The application or front end contains the screens and windows you see when you use the application. Normally each user has their own copy of the front end on their desktop computer. Very ofter each user has a shortcut to use to open the database.

Is this how your application is setup?

 

[Rale]

I'm really not sure. Couple of people can use it at the same time and add data which is automatically saved in the database. But nobody else has problems opening it but me. It really isn't a problem more of a hassle to open it like I do.
Would it help if i sent you a code or something.
But you would have to tell me what to do.

 

[Jeanette Cunningham]

I understand that you can open and use the database using your shortcut. Is that not enough for you?

 

[Rale]

NO, I Cannot and that is the issue. Nothing opens on double click. The shortcut works only if opened through application.

 

[prley]

I cannot offer any help right at the moment but I know exactly what your are going through. I have numerous applications that have been in place for years now and function just fine but only a few computers use them. Recently I've implemented a new project and one of the older machines will not open the application when the shortcut is doubleclicked on. The hourglass pops up but nothing opens. I too currently have the user opening accesss first then browsing to the database for now to run it. My network department is currently working on the problem so hopefully I'll know something soon. The only differences in this machine is that it's part of a much older batch of machines we purchased.

 

[wind20mph]

Hi everybody,

I am using an Access database created in Office Access 2003. Recently it will not open directly from its location. It opens only when I start Office Access application and than file/open and than select the database. I should mention that the database is on server. When I open it like this (either selecting shortcut on my desktop or directly from the server) it opens and works perfectly. Also, I am using Microsoft Office 2003 so it is not a compatibility issue. I think that this started happening since I have updated my Windows using automatic updates and that is the only thing that I have done prior to having this issue.


I hope I have explained this well.
Please help,

Thanks.

I have the same problem as you do Rale. It's been affecting all users since the patch of Windows XP to SP3 and the windows 7 Ultimate. Like you, I teach the End-users to first rum MSAccess, then open the Shortcut through it. However its a hassle. My co-employees didn't like it. So this is the other discovered method:
- Note: I am still using Access97 because everything works fine with me here. So on all my DB shortcut is: "\\10.215.15.25\APP\Maintenace.mdb" (by the way I am accessing a VPN server running in CentOS Linux via Samba), I have added this line at the beginning: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\MSACCESS.EXE".

so my link source did become like this: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\MSACCESS.EXE" "\\10.215.15.25\APP\Maintenance.mdb"

then it works on the double click on any shortcut. But I prefer a better solution if I could search something from the forum. Anyway hope this helps.