Fixing broken switchboards

[MarkP3]

When I added some Access 2003 (Winows XP) machines to our Access 2000 (on Windows 2k)-based database, many of them would not operate some of the Switchboard "buttons" (especially for reports that contained macros). The animation of "click" would operate, but nothing would happen, no form or report would occur like it should.

After several rounds with Microsoft's Access Help guys, here's how we "fixed" it:
1. I deleted all printers from the affected user's computer.
2. I booted into SAFE MODE with NETWORKING, then installed the Windows-based GENERIC TEXT printer.
3. I rebooted into XP and installed the GENERIC TEXT printer there also, for the affected users.
4. I re-installed the usual office printers around our office.

This completely fixed the problem on all XP-based computers. The technician at Microsoft says he cannot explain WHY this works, but I have experienced that it DOES work, so try it if you're having troubles, too. It's some kind of mysterious workaround that "fixes" Windows XP somehow.

 

[MartijnR]

I think it's because the installed printer is somehow saved in the report or database.

I had some trouble in the past, when I 'migrated' a working db to another standalone computer with another printer. I had to open and save all reports to get ridd of the error. Btw, if anybody knows how to get around some annoying portrait/landscape bug
The thing is, with a specific form (with a graph) I wanted a landscape printout, because of the layout. But it would keep changing back to the default setting....

Now that I'm typing this, maybe installing another version of the same printer but with different settings would solve this....seems a bit silly though

 

[Pat Hartman]

Unpatched versions of A2K exibit this behaviour if the name auto correct feature is on.
1. Turn off the name auto correct feature in all databases unless you specifically want it on while you make some changes.
2. Apply the necessary service packs to Access, Jet, and Windows.