Question I have a Front End and a Back End, should I have an original? Why can't I edit?

[CarysW]

As title.

I'm really really confused and a bit miffed as I thought I had the hang of this.

I have split my DB so now have the front end and back end but need to edit the design of a form. But I can't edit it in any format I've tried - accdb or accde.

What have I done? Should I have an original? Is there anyway I can find out where my original is located?

I'm feeling a bit stupid now.

 

[RuralGuy]

Can you open the accdb while holding down a <SHIFT> key?

 

[CarysW]

Can you open the accdb while holding down a <SHIFT> key?

Yes but it still doesn't let me edit. I can edit the queries but not the forms or reports.

 

[CarysW]

I'm getting this horrible feeling that it is something I have changed in the properties of all of my forms for security.....don't know what though! Surely it would still at least let me see the properties if this was the case....

 

[TrekMietta]

I had this problem before when i split a DB, i'm guessing your using Access 2007? This is because when you split a database it the FrontEnd links to the tables in the BackEnd and you can't edit linked files, i had to start my whole database from scratch when i done this because i was silly and forgot to make a backup before i split!

I only found this out when i used the MS Access help files!

Regards!

 

[RuralGuy]

Which file has the forms in it?

 

[CarysW]

Which file has the forms in it?

The FE is storing the forms. The BE just has the tables in.

The trouble is I did make a backup copy but have now lost it....I'm guessing I could roll back the folder to the day before I split the DB...one of the good things about being on a server!

 

[Galaxiom]

.... when you split a database it the FrontEnd links to the tables in the BackEnd and you can't edit linked files,

Please explain. I have never used the Access splitting tool and if this is so then I am sure I never will. Nobody would.

If you split a database manually nothing bad happens and I don't see why the tool would do it any differently. Why would the editing of forms be blocked by splitting it? This would preculde further development of a split database. Makes no sense.

Of course you can't edit the objects in the backend from the front end but the backend can be edited then relinked to the frontend.

 

[CarysW]

Please explain. I have never used the Access splitting tool and if this is so then I am sure I never will. Nobody would.

If you split a database manually nothing bad happens and I don't see why the tool would do it any differently. Why would the editing of forms be blocked by splitting it? This would preculde further development of a split database. Makes no sense.

Of course you can't edit the objects in the backend from the front end but the backend can be edited then relinked to the frontend.

I do agree. I think the developers of Access 2007 would be rather stupid to make this the case. And surely there should be a rather large warning to this effect when using the Splitter tool...

Is anyone able to confirm whether this is the case or not as if I'm going to roll back my files I need to do it sooner rather than later.

 

[Galaxiom]

Can you not open the forms in design mode? Or does it just not let you change or save anything?

It is possible something corrupted in the split.

Make a new database. Copy one of the forms from the navigation pane with the clipboard and paste into the new database. See if it will edit.

If it complains link the tables from the back end and try again.

If this doesn't work open the form in design mode and copy everthing. Then paste into an empty form in the new database. You will have to set the properties of the new form and copy the VBA manually.

 

[CarysW]

Can you not open the forms in design mode? Or does it just not let you change or save anything?

It is possible something corrupted in the split.

Make a new database. Copy one of the forms from the navigation pane with the clipboard and paste into the new database. See if it will edit.

If it complains link the tables from the back end and try again.

If this doesn't work open the form in design mode and copy everthing. Then paste into an empty form in the new database. You will have to set the properties of the new form and copy the VBA manually.

The option is 'ghosted' out when I right click on a form in the navigation pane. If I open the form and right click I just get the form view option which is already chosen, close and close all. The Save option is blanked out but that's possibly because I've not changed anything.

 

[CarysW]

Make a new database. Copy one of the forms from the navigation pane with the clipboard and paste into the new database. See if it will edit.

If it complains link the tables from the back end and try again.

If this doesn't work open the form in design mode and copy everthing. Then paste into an empty form in the new database. You will have to set the properties of the new form and copy the VBA manually.

Hmm....the copy option is also not available....the only options available when I right click on a form in the navigation pane are; 'open', 'hide in this group' and 'properties'. And I've just found out that I can't roll back my files as the tape has been used(they only keep a weeks worth).

 

[Galaxiom]

Check the file properties in Windows Explorer. Is it set to read only?

 

[CarysW]

Check the file properties in Windows Explorer. Is it set to read only?

Nope........

 

[Galaxiom]

Running out of ideas.
Have you converted your database to an accde file?

 

[CarysW]

Running out of ideas.
Have you converted your database to an accde file?

Well....yes, and to accdr, and back....just by changing the file extension - maybe I have corrupted the file?

 

[RuralGuy]

Have you tried creating a new db and importing everything from the FE into it? Are you in a trusted location?

 

[boblarson]

Well....yes, and to accdr, and back....just by changing the file extension - maybe I have corrupted the file?

You can't just change an ACCDE to ACCDB from changing the extension. You need the original ACCDB file.

 

[Galaxiom]

You can't just change an ACCDE to ACCDB from changing the extension. You need the original ACCDB file.

But you can change an accdb to an accdr and back without causing any problem.

 

[boblarson]

But you can change an accdb to an accdr and back without causing any problem.

Yes, but if they don't have design ability in a form or report, it would seem that they did this to an accde file and not an accdb file.