Cannot create new db from templates on 2007

[allmarangie]

Many thanks for the detailed explanation. I followed your instructions and hit an error message with "Microsoft ADO Ext 6.0 for DDL and Security." This came up as "Name conflicts with existing module, project, or object library" before compact and repair. Afterwards both References were blank again. Incidentally, I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit Service Pack 1, and I have Access 2007, with Office Service pack 3 installed. The Office Service pack was installed after I discovered the problem with the templates.

[ItsMe]

That is kinda good news except for the part where I do not know what to do now. At least we have an idea of which DLL it is and which version of the ADO library is goofy. I need to go pay a couple bills and then I will take another look. Meanwhile, see if there is another version of W7 32bit that you may be able to copy a DLL file from. I would recommend no compression and copying onto a drive of NTFS format or burn it onto a CD.

[allmarangie]

Could this be extracted from my Windows 7 installation disc? If not, my daughter has a Windows 7 laptop, but I can't see her until Saturday.

[ItsMe]

After I spent a bunch of time on the internet looking for a way to reinstall ver. 6.0 I realized that I asked you to try and reference both versions at the same time. The reason for the error is you can not reference both at the same time. Try and reference one version, follow the compact and repair suggestion and then do the same with the other version, after removing the reference to the first.

I am not finding a good way to reinstall the 6.0 version. Let me know what you find. One approach for the early version is to install Microsoft Data Access Components. You may be able to fix the later version by installing something like Visual Studio Express edition, maybe 2010 or earlier. Copying a couple DLL files may or may not work. I am not finding enough info to determine which of the group are relevant.

[allmarangie]

Hi! There were no apparent errors after referencing the two separately, at least after each compact and repair, the ticks remained in place. I have found quite a number of people have had the same problem with 2007 and 2010, but have yet to see anyone who's solved it. I do appreciate all the trouble you're taking over this.

[ItsMe]

Yah, I thought we may have found an issue with your OS when you tried referencing both versions at the same time. It wouldn't be out of the question to find a problem with the OS if you installed third party software that changed a DLL file. But that is not the case. I would assume your Office suite and OS are not corrupt at this point.

Another thing to consider is what version of Access the template was created in. If I create a template in 2010 it will automatically be formatted as a 2007 accdt file. If I choose certain features that are new to Access 2010, you will not be able to use the template with Access 2007. Access 2007 will not know how to use the file and may produce an error that is difficult to interpret.

Imagine trying to create an application and creating error trapping for things that have not been invented yet, ie special features in 2010. How would you create an error trap that recognizes features not yet invented and then states, "You are using special features that were created in the future and are not compatible with your 2007 version."? Instead, the error would say something that may not be intuitive and may actually be misleading.

[allmarangie]

The templates I'm trying to open are the Microsoft ones either installed with the Office suite, or downloaded from Microsoft from inside Access 2007 itself. I would have imagined that these would be created with the version they're intended for. To go right back to the beginning, I had Office 2003, and uninstalled this. I then did a reboot, and installed Office 2007, but it was about a week or so before I attempted to create a new Db from the offline templates. When this didn't work, I downloaded some from Microsoft with the same result. 2003 templates however, work with no problems.

[ItsMe]

The internet is merged with the help files now. It is difficult to distinguish what is specific to your version of Access and what is "a general search" on the internet.

I am not sure about Access 2007 but 2010 depends on the Bing search engine in its help files. I guess it is really not help files anymore. Anyway, it is not impossible to link to a third party website, while using "Help", when you think you are looking at files stored on your local hard drive.

[allmarangie]

I appreciate your point, but unfortunately, it doesn't help the situation. I have only tried files directly from Microsoft, irrespective of where the help information is located.

[ItsMe]

The point I was trying to make is I would not depend on the templates as being compatible simply because you downloaded them via the Access backstage. Beyond the dozen or so "Sample Data Bases" offered I would not expect every accdb file to be compatible, including template files. I do not even see any sample templates offered in the Access 2010 backstage.


Just because the file format is Access 2007 data base file does not mean it is a 2007 version, it could be a 2010 or 2013 version formatted as 2007. AFAIK 2007 is the latest format.

[allmarangie]

Well that doesn't bode well for solving this, does it? In the meantime, I'm still searching, and checking other forums etc, but without any success.

[ItsMe]

Why don't you try publishing your own template and then see if you can open it? Here is a basic one that does not employ any special features that was created using 2010 and should also work with 2007.

[allmarangie]

Regrettably, this won't open either. I couldn't find any way of saving an .accdt template, so I installed the 2007 Access Developer Extensions which supposedly adds this capability, but that didn't work either. I get an error message saying it was unable to export the table. I've converted .mdb files to .accdb and they open OK. Perhaps I should just stick to .mdb templates if I need them.

[ItsMe]

Go to the Backstage (File tab in the Ribbon) and Publish an accdb (regular DB file) file as a Template (use Save As after you select Template). You should then be able to view your new accdt file from the backstage via My Templates.

This will help to determine if you have an issue with your OS or Access. It may be that any accdt file created with a newer version (from your own version) of Access will not work.

[allmarangie]

To the best of my knowledge, the Backstage view didn't start until 2010. It's not available in 2007.