Rookie user needs some help!

[Traci]

I have an access db that I am supposed to fix but have never even seen until today, and have a lot of dumb questions but I will start with just one for now..Basically what has happen is that I need to allow the users to enter a scedule # that includes letters and not just numbers. I think I have located the issue in the event procedure but I am not sure. I could only get into design view in an old test copy however in the live db the design view is grayed out? What does that mean

[uncletreetrunk]

It's okay Traci this is a great place for rookies! people are very helpful here besides no such thing as a dumb question I've never touched access until I started my current project

I've seen several posts about getting a database and trying to figure out what's going on. It seems the best advice is to bite the bullet and start over.

To redo the forms, queries and reports so you know exactly what's going on. It's difficult and almost impossible to figure out what the previous owner was thinking without any documentation.

Why do they need to enter a schedule number? To return the schedule etc?

And for the design view being grayed out in the live db I am assuming the previous owner saved the database in .ACCDE to protect his/her forms and code from being altered.

[June7]

If the live db file has a .accde (or .mde) extension then this is a compiled executable and cannot be edited. Must go back to the accdb/mdb to do edits and then save another accde/mde.

[Traci]

There is no way I could start over, this is a very detailed and complicated db!

That was one of my question about the difference bewtween a de an db? It is a de file, how do I determine the owner?

[uncletreetrunk]

haha fair fair. The database I got stuck with was pretty simple so starting over was just easier.

The ending of .accde and .mde can't be undone. There's no way to edit/change the vba/forms in that database. see June's comment

[Traci]

When I open the db file the only form I can view is the main...normally all of the objects would be listed on the left.

[June7]

Hold down the shift key when opening accdb/mdb file. This should override project settings (hiding ribbon/navigation pane/shortcut menu, opening default form, autoexec macro) and you can do what you want.

[Traci]

Holding the shift key did nothing for me. I don't understand why I cannot see all of my forms,tables..ect on the db file...

[June7]

It is possible to code db to disable the shift key bypass. If that was done you could be SOL. If you want to provide accdb/mdb for us to analyse, zip it and attach to a post. If still larger than 2gb will have to upload to fileshare site such as box.com and post link to the file.

[Traci]

I am not going to be able to upload the db due to the sensative data that is on it. I swallowed my pride and contacted the creator of the db who works in the office, and he pretty much told me to figure it out. I am beyond frustrated.

[June7]

The sensitive data is in the backend? Just provide the frontend and will try to do something with it.

The creator still works for this org? Time to get supervisors involved?

[Traci]

How do I send just the front end?

[June7]

Just to make sure, you held down the shift until db fully opened?

If this is a split design then there are two files - frontend and backend. Backend has data tables. Frontend has queries, forms, reports, code. Click the Go Advanced button at bottom of post editor. Attachment manager is below the advanced post editor window. Upload file as attachment to post. 500kb limit unless zip file then 2mb limit. If still too large, upload zip file to fileshare site such as box.com and post link to file.

Have you tried importing everything from the accdb/mdb to see if the issue persists? Try importing in stages and open the file between each stage. Import queries first, then reports, then forms, then modules, then macros.

[Traci]

Sorry I have no idea which file is what..I know where the problem is and how to adjust the code accordingly, but how to get in and fix it is the problem is where I am stuck. So lets start over. I need to take a copy of the current db and test it in the testing environment. Is there a way in access to set the connection to the testing area or do I have to change my odbc? Ideally I dont want to have to change the odbc back and forth...lets start with that.

[Traci]

So I found the connection button and added it to my toolbar, but its greyed out. Also when I open the db file there is no navigation pane where it has all of my objects, why? Its there in the de file?