ACC: Form Wizard Fails to Create Subform

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you try to create a new main form/subform using the Form Wizard in Microsoft Access 97, you may receive the following error message:

   The wizard is unable to create your form.

CAUSE

The name of the table or query upon which your subform is based contains more than 56 characters.

In Microsoft Access 97, the maximum number of characters you can use in an object name is 64. When the Form Wizard names your subform, it uses the table or query name, and then appends a space and the word "subform" to it. If your table or query contains more than 56 characters, the name of the Wizard-created subform contains more than the maximum 64 characters, and the wizard does not allow you to rename it.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, make sure the table or query upon which your subform is based does not contain more than 56 characters.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 97. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

CAUTION: Following the steps in this example will modify the sample database Northwind.mdb. You may want to back up the Northwind.mdb file and perform these steps on a copy of the database.

1. Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

2. Select the Products table in the Database window.

3. On the Edit menu, click Rename. Change the name of the table to tblThe_Name_Of_This_Table_Contains_More_Than_56_Characters.

4. Click the Forms tab in the Database window, and then click New.

5. In the New Form dialog box, click Form Wizard, and then click OK.

6. In the Form Wizard, select Categories in the Tables/Queries box, and then add all the fields in the Available Fields box to the Selected Fields box.

7. Select tblThe_Name_Of_This_Table_Contains_More_Than_56_Characters in the Tables/Queries box, and then add all the fields in the Available Fields box to the Selected Fields box. Click Finish.

8. Note that you receive the error message "The wizard is unable to create your form." Click OK, and then close without saving the main form the wizard created.

9. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to select and rename tblThe_Name_Of_This_Table _Contains_More_Than_56_Characters back to its original name, Products.

REFERENCES