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  1. #1
    NewMexicoNovice is offline Novice
    Windows 7 32bit Access 2007
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    May 2013
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    Beautiful New Mexico
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    Thumbs up Missing .mdw file for inherited MS Access 2007 DB

    Colleagues,



    Need some help for a novice, please.

    Like many who post, I have inherited a problematic database in Access 2007. The original creator is has moved away from the company, left no documentation on the location/features, but did leave the password to their former manager.

    ***The core problem is that no one knows how to merge new-hire, new-employee information into the DB from Excel 2007.***

    From what I've gathered, the original designer split the database into a front end and back end copy. The front end copy is what I and everyone else have access to, but only the home tab is visible; Create, External Data, Database Tools and Datasheet tabs are not visible in the FE copy. The posts tell me to look for a .mdw file, but it's no where to be found in multiple drives, folders, etc.

    When loading the FE copy, I have pressed the shift button down, but it only gives me design view for the FE data entry form only. For the Advanced Security settings tab, the FE "Owner" is whoever happens to have the DB opened first at the moment, although updates to permissions-settings are not allowed by anyone. Any ideas on a workaround to complete a merge of Excel data into a FE copy?

    Thanks for any and all insights and replies.
    Last edited by NewMexicoNovice; 05-07-2013 at 10:16 AM.

  2. #2
    rpeare is offline VIP
    Windows XP Access 2003
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
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    5,442
    Is the database front end a .mdb file? or a .accdb file?

    if you hold down the shift key and double click the front end do you get the database window but nothing shows?

    If so you can unhide objects the previous programmer may have hidden.

    In access 2007 you unhide things like this:

    http://www.techonthenet.com/access/d...entbls2007.php

    you can possibly also check the linked table manager and the items that show up should tell you the name/location of the back end database.

  3. #3
    NewMexicoNovice is offline Novice
    Windows 7 32bit Access 2007
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    May 2013
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    Beautiful New Mexico
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    Thumbs up RPeare, Thank You!

    RPeare, Thank you very much for your insights. This was a real exercise in learning! Your recommendations to view the linked table manager were platinum!!! Basically, I used the linked table manager to locate the back end files. From what I was reading, I was expecting a .mdw file, but the back end files were all .mdb. From there, I imported the data into a new database using the "import tables, queries, forms...into the current database" under "Get External Data." To answer your first question, the FE file is in .mdb format. It seems that most prefer to keep their DBs in .mdb instead of .accdb. Again, thank you for your kindness and insight.

  4. #4
    rpeare is offline VIP
    Windows XP Access 2003
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
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    5,442
    So your issue is solved then?

  5. #5
    NewMexicoNovice is offline Novice
    Windows 7 32bit Access 2007
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    May 2013
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    Beautiful New Mexico
    Posts
    6
    Thanks RPeare...issue is 100% solved. I appreciate your insight!

Please reply to this thread with any new information or opinions.

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