ACC: Switchboard Manager Fails w/ Linked Switchboard Table

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

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

When you run the Switchboard Manager in a database where the Switchboard Items table is a linked table, you may receive the following error message.

In Microsoft Access 97

   The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot find the input table or query
   'Switchboard Items'. Make sure it exists and that its name is spelled
   correctly.

In Microsoft Access 7.0

   Couldn't find input table or query 'Switchboard Items'.

CAUSE

The Switchboard Manager Wizard works on the assumption that the Switchboard Items table is a local table, and not a linked table.

RESOLUTION

If you want to use the Switchboard Manager, import the Switchboard Items table into your database so it is a local table.

Note that if you use a linked Switchboard Items table in your database, it has little effect on the Switchboard form itself; all Switchboard buttons function correctly except Change Switchboard Items, which does not work because it invokes the Switchboard Manager.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

If you use the Database Splitter Wizard to split your application into a front-end and a back-end database, the Wizard automatically moves all tables to the back-end database and links them to the front-end database, including the Switchboard Items table if it exists. However, if you split your database first, and then use the Switchboard Manager to create a new switchboard, the Switchboard Manager Wizard automatically creates a local Switchboard Items table, and the Wizard works correctly.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Start Microsoft Access and create a new database using the Database Wizard.

2. In the New dialog box, select Address Book.mdz, and then click OK.

3. In the File New Database dialog box, select a folder and a name for the new database, and then click Create.

4. In the Database Wizard dialog box, click Finish. The Wizard creates and then opens the new database.

5. Close the Main Switchboard form.

6. On the Tools menu, point to Add-Ins, and then click Database Splitter.

7. In the Database Splitter dialog box, click Split Database.

8. In the Create Back-end Database dialog box, select a folder and a name for the back-end database, and then click Split.

9. After the database splits, note that the Switchboard Items table is a linked table.

10. On the Tools menu, point to Add-Ins, and then click Switchboard

        Manager. Note that you receive the error message mentioned in the
        "Symptoms" section.
    

REFERENCES

For more information about using the Switchboard Manager in Microsoft Access 97, search the Help Index for "switchboard forms."

For more information about using the Switchboard Manager in Microsoft Access 7.0, search the Help Index for "switchboards, creating."

For more information about creating front-end and back-end databases using the Database Splitter, search the Help Index for "Database Splitter."