ACC: "Application-defined or object-defined error" Error

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

If you use the Error() or Error$() functions to get the textual description of an error message, you may receive the following error message:

   Application-defined or object-defined error

   Private Sub Form_Error(DataErr As Integer, Response As Integer)
      MsgBox Error(DataErr)
      Response = acDataErrContinue
   End Sub

CAUSE

The error message being trapped is Microsoft Access specific. When you pass an error number to the Error() function that is not a Visual Basic for Applications specific error, Visual Basic for Applications does not call back into the hosting application to ask it for the error message.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft Access 7.0 introduced the new AccessError method that you can use to return the descriptive string associated with a Microsoft Access error as follows:

   Private Sub Form_Error(DataErr As Integer, Response As Integer)
      MsgBox Application.AccessError(DataErr)
      Response = acDataErrContinue
   End Sub

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

2. Open the Orders table in Design view.

3. Set the Required property of the EmployeeID field to Yes, and then close the table.

4. Click Yes to the following prompt:

   Data integrity rules have been changed. Existing data may not be valid for the new rules.

   This process may take a long time. Do you want the existing data to be tested with the new rules?

5. Open the Orders form in Design view and set the following form property:

   OnError: [Event Procedure]

6. Type the following code in the form module:

   Private Sub Form_Error(DataErr As Integer, Response As Integer)

             MsgBox Error$(DataErr)
             MsgBox Application.AccessError(DataErr)
             Response = acDataErrDisplay
          End Sub
   
   

7. View the form in Form view and click the New Record toolbar button to advance to a new Order record.

8. Type the following line in the Bill To: combo box and press ENTER:

   Hello World!

   Note that you receive the following three messages:

   Application-defined or object-defined error.

   The text you entered isn't an item in the list.

   The text you entered isn't an item in the list.

   NOTE: Because the Response variable is set to acDataErrDisplay, the error is not trapped. The third message above is the actual error message.

9. Click a customer in the Bill To: combo box list.

10. Click Save Record on the Records menu. Note that you receive the following three messages:

    Application-defined or object-defined error

    < a message box with no text appears >

    Field 'Orders.EmployeeID' can't contain a null value.

    NOTE: The second message box is empty because the error generated is a data access error. The AccessError method does not return data access error messages.

REFERENCES