ACC2: GPF Closing Data Outline Control Properties Box

• Microsoft Access version 2.0

SYMPTOMS

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

When you add a data outline control to a form or report, then edit the control's properties, the Properties dialog box is normally modal, meaning that you cannot select anything outside the dialog box.

If, however, you click the property sheet for the form or report containing the data outline control, the property sheet gets the focus, and the modality of the data outline control's Properties dialog box is lost. You can then select anything in the database.

When the modality of the control's Properties dialog box is broken as outlined above, your mouse pointer may disappear, and you may receive a general protection (GP) fault.

CAUSE

The GP fault and disappearing mouse pointer problem occurs only if you close a form while "orphan" windows are still open. These orphan windows are data outline control windows such as the Properties dialog box, or the Edit Control window.

This problem occurs because there is no way for a non-in-place active OLE server application (such as the data outline control) to instruct its container (in this case, Microsoft Access) to disable modeless dialog boxes when opening a modal dialog box on the container's behalf.

RESOLUTION

Avoid closing the form or report's Properties dialog box while you are editing the data outline control.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access version 2.0. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft version 7.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

WARNING: Following these steps will cause a GP fault. You should save and close any open work on your computer before following these steps.

1. Start Microsoft Access and open any database.

2. Create a new, blank form.

3. Open the form's property sheet.

4. Add an unbound OLE control to the form.

5. In the Insert Object dialog box, select the Insert Control option button.

6. In the Control Type box, select Data Outline Control, then choose OK.

7. Click the secondary mouse button in the data outline control, choose Data Outline Control Object, then choose Properties.

8. Click anywhere outside the Properties dialog box (except in the form's property sheet). Note that since the Properties dialog box is modal, you cannot select anything outside it.

9. Click the form's property sheet to select it, then select Event Properties in the property sheet.

10. Select the OnEnter property, then choose the Build button at the right side of the property field. Select Code Builder, then choose OK. The form module will open behind the Properties dialog box.

11. From the File menu, choose Exit. If you are prompted to save your changes, choose No. A GP fault will result.

REFERENCES

For more information about OLE custom controls, search for "OLE custom controls," and then "Insert Object Command (Edit Menu)" using the Microsoft Access Help menu.