Help - .mdb vs. .accdb

[KAT1162]

Hi,
We recently switched to Access 2007, and all of our existing databases could be used with this version. However, I have just created a new database and found that I can not link files from the database created in the new version (.accdb) to databases that were created in the old version (.mdb). This seems very strange. In order for me not to have to re-write many complicated queries, is there some way I can make these two different types of databases communicate?

Thanks so much!
KAT

 

[NigelShaw]

hi,

You can set 2007 to save db default as 2003 which is .mdb format. You could link then

Be

 

[SOS]

You can link from ACCDB files to MDB files. How are you attempting to do so and what is the error coming up?

 

[KAT1162]

I'll try saving the .accdb in .mdb instead.

In the meantime, I created a new database which was in .accdb. Then went into an original database created in .mdb and attempted to link a file from the .accdb database. The message I received was:

"Attached fields are not supported in the MDB or ADP database formats. If attachment fields are not included inthe source database tables, those fields will not be imported."

The table I intended to attach does not show up under "tables" in the database where I wanted it.

Thanks for everyone's help by the way.

 

[SOS]

You can't open an MDB file and link a table to an ACCDB file, but you can open an ACCDB file and link a table that is in an MDB file.

 

[Pat Hartman]

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. If the .mdb were to recognize the .accdb as a lifeform, the programmers in 2003 would have needed to know what file format a future version of Access would be using. I doubt they had a crystal ball to see into the future.

 

[NigelShaw]

Surely, some of us have a working crystal ball Pat. right.....................

if not, mines a fake as i was working on something for a forthcoming release in 2012 but wanted to prepare. that would mean months of hard work down the pan aarrgggghh!!

 

[suepowell]

I have had this problem too,
If you have the new attachment field type in a .accdb table you can't link to a previous version.

Try changing the attachment type to something else and see if that works.

If you really want to use the attachment field type then you have to convert your old database to .accdb format.

I have to say attachment fields are really useful in the right circumstances.

Sue

 

[boblarson]

If you have the new attachment field type in a .accdb table you can't link to a previous version.

I think this statement is a little confusing. You CAN link to ANY previous version from an ACCDB file (linked tables in an mdb file) at any time. The fact that you are using an attachment data type in your ACCDB file has nothing to do with whether you can link to an mdb file or not. The issue with an attachment data type is that you wouldn't be able to link an mdb file TO an ACCDB file (regardless of whether it is an Access 2007 mdb file or not because the attachment data type does not exist in an mdb file).

Just a reminder that when you say "link to" means that the table resides in the db file you are linking to and not linking from. In other words, you can link to a table in an mdb file from any ACCDB file. But, you cannot LINK TO an ACCDB file from an MDB file. You can link to an Access 2000 mdb file from an Access 2002/2003 mdb file, but you can't link to an Access 2002/2003 mdb file from an Access 2000 file.