Solved Perhaps Ghosts Are In My Database!

[greensleeves149]

Hi all,

I seem to have multiple problems with my new local Access database (Access 2010) with behavior's I can't explain. My main problem right now is that for the strangest reason, I can't even copy and paste a copy of an existing form (I've tried to do to use for testing purposes to find other issues). If I try and copy and paste a form, I get a load of different error messages.

For example:
"The search key was not found in any record" OR
"Name conflicts with existing module, project, or object library" (I've tried completely different names or similar names and nothing will allow me to take a copy of the form. OR
"The Microsoft Access database engine could not find the object "Copy of frmTest". Make sure the object exists and you spell it's name and path correctly. If "copy of frmTest"is not a local object, check your network connection or contact your server Administrator."

Other times the database simply won't do it, but close Access and reopen Access and the database without pasting a copy of the form.

In a nutshell, it simply refuses to make a copy of the form.

Over the last 4 days, I've tried:
1) Compact and Repair
2) Rebooted the machine several times
3) I've used the Windows 10 Reset and therefore had to reinstall Microsoft Office
4) I've tried creating a new database and importing tables, queries, forms etc

None of those have worked.

Would anyone be able to shed some new light please?

 

[Mike Krailo]

How about recreating the form from scratch?

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Create a completely new blank database, create a form and then see if you can make a copy of that form. If you can, then you can be reasonably sure there's something wrong with your actual database.

With the new database you have created, delete the testing forms. Select all the objects in the offending database and import them into your completely new blank database. See if that cures the problem...

Before you do anything, make a backup or several backups of your database/databases!

 

[GPGeorge]

Hi all,

I seem to have multiple problems with my new local Access database (Access 2010) with behavior's I can't explain. My main problem right now is that for the strangest reason, I can't even copy and paste a copy of an existing form (I've tried to do to use for testing purposes to find other issues). If I try and copy and paste a form, I get a load of different error messages.

For example:
"The search key was not found in any record" OR
"Name conflicts with existing module, project, or object library" (I've tried completely different names or similar names and nothing will allow me to take a copy of the form. OR
"The Microsoft Access database engine could not find the object "Copy of frmTest". Make sure the object exists and you spell it's name and path correctly. If "copy of frmTest"is not a local object, check your network connection or contact your server Administrator."

Other times the database simply won't do it, but close Access and reopen Access and the database without pasting a copy of the form.

In a nutshell, it simply refuses to make a copy of the form.

Over the last 4 days, I've tried:
1) Compact and Repair
2) Rebooted the machine several times
3) I've used the Windows 10 Reset and therefore had to reinstall Microsoft Office
4) I've tried creating a new database and importing tables, queries, forms etc

None of those have worked.

Would anyone be able to shed some new light please?

Re: #4

It may be better to take a slightly different approach. Instead of bulking importing ALL objects into a new accdb, start with just tables. Make sure they all work as expected. Now, import queries. Open each of them in turn, again making sure that all of them work as expected. Do the same for all VBA standalone modules.

Now, the tedious step. Import a form. Try it out. Can you copy paste that form? Does it open properly (it might not if it has dependencies on other forms or code modules)? Do that for each form in turn. As long as the newest form imported works as expected, you're good. At some point, though, does it no longer work? I.e. does the last form imported refuse to copy/paste?

The overall goal is to isolate the problem, if possible, to one form, and concentrate on replacing or rebuilding it.

 

[Pat Hartman]

This database is still a work in process so this is the first time I'm posting it. I haven't written the instructions on how to use it. It contains code that exports your objects to text. This is the best way to get rid of corruption so I would use it as a middle step in the procedure George outlined. Export all the objects to text (except the tables). And then import them group by group or one by one. You will need to copy the form and code modules to your own database in order to use them.

 

[bastanu]

I don't think I've seen any mentioning of suggesting to decompile the existing file first. I would start with that then open the VBE window and try to compile it; make sure you go through every single compile error and address it properly. Finally do another compact and repair.

Decompile and Compact Your Microsoft Access Database to Improve Performance and Fix Corruption

Decompile and Compact Your Microsoft Access Database to Improve Performance and Fix Corruption

www.fmsinc.com

Cheers,

 

[The_Doc_Man]

One other thing I would add, and it is MINOR. I would emphasize that you should create the empty database and then import the items - as opposed to creating the empty database and then opening the old DB and EXPORTING the items to the new DB.

You can do either, but if you have corruption in the old DB, you are better off not having it as the primary DB in your workspace.

 

[sxschech]

This probably isn't your situation, but happened to come across this, worth a look. Could it be related to trusted locations?

MS Access office 365 will not close unless I end the program in Task Manager - Microsoft: Access Modules (VBA Coding)

I am running the latest updated version of Windows 10 Pro. I am also running Office 365 on my desktop. I use an MS Access split database on my machine with no problems until two days ago. Now when I exit Access it closes on the screen but remains running in the TASK Manager. If I try to go to...

www.tek-tips.com

 

[greensleeves149]

How about recreating the form from scratch?

That's a good idea Mike- thank you. I haven't tried that yet and if honest, was trying to avoid it! But it does sound like one of the next steps.

 

[greensleeves149]

Create a completely new blank database, create a form and then see if you can make a copy of that form. If you can, then you can be reasonably sure there's something wrong with your actual database.

With the new database you have created, delete the testing forms. Select all the objects in the offending database and import them into your completely new blank database. See if that cures the problem...

Before you do anything, make a backup or several backups of your database/databases!

That's a great idea. I didn't try that with a new database to isolate whether it's this database or something with Access or my computer.

No worries, I have so many backups of the database in various folders now, after days of trying to isolate the problem at various points.

Importing the objects into a new database sounds smart too- thank you for these ideas...more things for me to try.

 

[greensleeves149]

Re: #4

It may be better to take a slightly different approach. Instead of bulking importing ALL objects into a new accdb, start with just tables. Make sure they all work as expected. Now, import queries. Open each of them in turn, again making sure that all of them work as expected. Do the same for all VBA standalone modules.

Now, the tedious step. Import a form. Try it out. Can you copy paste that form? Does it open properly (it might not if it has dependencies on other forms or code modules)? Do that for each form in turn. As long as the newest form imported works as expected, you're good. At some point, though, does it no longer work? I.e. does the last form imported refuse to copy/paste?

The overall goal is to isolate the problem, if possible, to one form, and concentrate on replacing or rebuilding it.

Thanks GPGeorge. That sounds like a smart and methodical approach to try and isolate the issue/s. Thank you for your input.

 

[greensleeves149]

This database is still a work in process so this is the first time I'm posting it. I haven't written the instructions on how to use it. It contains code that exports your objects to text. This is the best way to get rid of corruption so I would use it as a middle step in the procedure George outlined. Export all the objects to text (except the tables). And then import them group by group or one by one. You will need to copy the form and code modules to your own database in order to use them.

Awesome Pat. Thank you for your generosity is making that available to try. I will give that a go in combination with George's approach.

 

[greensleeves149]

I don't think I've seen any mentioning of suggesting to decompile the existing file first. I would start with that then open the VBE window and try to compile it; make sure you go through every single compile error and address it properly. Finally do another compact and repair.

Decompile and Compact Your Microsoft Access Database to Improve Performance and Fix Corruption

Decompile and Compact Your Microsoft Access Database to Improve Performance and Fix Corruption

www.fmsinc.com

Cheers,

This is awesome bastanu- as a rookie I've never seen or heard of this. I tried doing a google search but clearly I wasn't searching for the right thing. Thanks a lot for posting the link.

 

[greensleeves149]

One other thing I would add, and it is MINOR. I would emphasize that you should create the empty database and then import the items - as opposed to creating the empty database and then opening the old DB and EXPORTING the items to the new DB.

You can do either, but if you have corruption in the old DB, you are better off not having it as the primary DB in your workspace.

Thanks The_Doc_Man. I did import items- so I think I did it right according to what you just said.

 

[greensleeves149]

This probably isn't your situation, but happened to come across this, worth a look. Could it be related to trusted locations?

MS Access office 365 will not close unless I end the program in Task Manager - Microsoft: Access Modules (VBA Coding)

I am running the latest updated version of Windows 10 Pro. I am also running Office 365 on my desktop. I use an MS Access split database on my machine with no problems until two days ago. Now when I exit Access it closes on the screen but remains running in the TASK Manager. If I try to go to...

www.tek-tips.com

This is definitely worth a look- thank you for taking the time to share the link. I know it was a long shot but for some reason I suspected something to do with Windows/Access- hence reinstalling. This is worth looking into too. You never know.

 

[greensleeves149]

Hi all,

Just a small update to all of you that gave me help and advice, after taking the time to rebuild the database bit by bit and test inbetween stages (testing each query, form etc), the new one seems to be working ok now. Thank you for all your time and help. That method appears to have frightened off the ghosts that were causing havoc in the old version!