How to recover lost code when Access was shut down via Task Manager

[mcomp72]

Hi everyone. Apparently something in my VBA code made Access get caught in an infinite loop, and I couldn't break out of it. I tried Ctrl-Break, Esc, Control-Esc, and just about every other combination I could think of, but nothing worked... so I had to shut down Access via the Task Manager.

I opened my Access file back up, hoping it would have an auto-recover thing pop up, but it did not. Since I had not saved my database file for a while, I lost all of the code I had written over the previous 30 minutes. I do still have the .laccdb file that was saved before I tried re-opening my Access file, but I just tried to open it via Access and it wouldn't work. I don't even know if this would have the code inside that I am trying to recover. Any ideas how I could recover the code, or is it lost for good?

[davegri]

When this happens to me, the code is lost. It usually happens to me when I forget to put a .movenext when looping a recordset. It's a bummer.

[mcomp72]

Now that you say that, I think that is exactly what I forgot to put in. UGH. Oh well... time to start rewriting the code, I guess.

[June7]

Save frequently, certainly before running code after edits.

Used to work with a Dell desktop computer with keyboard that has a break key that worked really nice to get me out of infinite loop code. Still haven't figured out how to get the break action with my HP Pavilion laptop.

[orange]

mcomp72,

Not a solution, but rest assured you are not the first to lose code after resorting to Taskmanager to stop/break a looping Access application.
Backup, backup.....(we all know that... but it happens).
When you write some vba, save the code from time to time---you may only lose work since the last save.

After you lose some important vba, your code management practices will change.

Good luck. Been there.

[ssanfu]

The .laccdb file just has who was in the Access dB - no code.

Been there..... for the same reason.... multiple times.

quick save the code: use Ctl+s

I now do this about every 4 lines of code......

[Micron]

Ditto. If you're smart, this only happens to you once. If you're me, then maybe twice
Now I ALWAYS compile THEN save altered code BEFORE running code that involves loops, and a little less frequently during normal coding, but I still compile and save frequently. I do it in that order on the premise that there's no point in saving it if it doesn't compile anyway..
Maybe others don't find this humorous, but check out post 4 here elsewhere in this forum. It might help you to remember to save often.

[CJ_London]

Other thing to remember is make sure you have a backup before you start work - easy to start coding, saving as you go then realise you've gone down a blind alley, or have thought of a better way and you then want to undo what you have done so far. How you now wish you had commented out the old code......

[ssanfu]

Ditto. If you're smart, this only happens to you once. If you're me, then maybe twice

Well...... took me 3 times..


Also found out the hard way: DO NOT edit code while the code is executing!!!
Say you added a break point in the code and are stepping through the code line by line. You find an error or you want to add a line or two. If you make changes while the code is executing (the yellow high light is visible), you have a better than average probability of corrupting the VBA project - ie corrupting your dB.

Go ahead.. ask me how I know.
I had been editing the code while it was executing for months. ALL backups were at some version of corruption.
I was able to open the last backup and save the code. Eventually I was able to recover/recreate the dB - took almost 3 weeks. What a PITA!!!

[CJ_London]

If you make changes while the code is executing (the yellow high light is visible), you have a better than average probability of corrupting the VBA project - ie corrupting your dB.

which reminds me of the other thing to do on a regular basis - decompile. That gets rid of all the rubbish created when making changes that is hidden away