Disable Convert/Open Database window when opening an Access 97 database in Access 2003

[DarrenT]

We have a legacy Access 97 database which we need to still develop / run on a Windows XP client (Access 97) and run only on Windows 10 clients (Access 2003).

Eventually we will have everything on Windows 10 clients with the latest version of Access and the database converted accordingly but the above is the situation for the near future.

This is our problem :



When an Access 2003 user opens the Access 97 database a Convert/Open window appears, prompting the user to either i) Convert the database to Access 2002/3 - not good or ii) Open the database (with the restriction that no changes can be made to the database design) - this is fine.

Q. Is there a registry setting, command line start-up setting (or other setting in Access 2003) that will disable the Convert/Open window so the database always opens unconverted i.e. remains in Access 97 format ?

[Perceptus]

If the legacy database is being referenced only, putting it in read only mode may do this for you.

[CJ_London]

Eventually we will have everything on Windows 10 clients with the latest version of Access

be aware that access97 cannot be opened by access 2013 or later so you will have to convert at some point before moving to a later version

What is your concern about updating your 97 db to 2003?

[DarrenT]

Hi Ajax,
We have lots of legacy applications to migrate to Win 10 clients. In the case of MS Access it would be easier if the database could stay unconverted for now (be left in Access 97 format) with the Win 10 clients using MS Access 2003, until we get other aspects of our network in place. We fully appreciate that there are lots of other work-arounds but disabling the Convert/Open window dialog in MS Access 2003 would be convenient for now.

[CJ_London]

so far as I know there isn't. It is years since I've used .mdb's but the principle is the same, you are using a later version access to open an earlier one, it wants to know if you want to update.

Only suggestion I can think of is to install access 97. Still don't know what your concern is updating to 2003.