ACC95: "Unrecognized database format" Using Database Documentor

• Microsoft Access 7.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to run the Database Documentor on an object in a Microsoft Access 7.0 database, you may receive the following error message:

   Unrecognized database format
   '<Path to Temp File>'

CAUSE

The MaxBufferSize setting in the Jet\3.0\Engines\Jet folder in the Windows Registry is too low. For example, this problem may occur after you have installed Microsoft Team Manager 97.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

To modify the MaxBufferSize setting, follow these steps:

1. On the Windows 95 taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Run dialog box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks) in the Open box.

3. Locate the following registry key:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Jet\3.0\Engines\Jet
   

4. Select MaxBufferSize, and on the Edit menu, click Modify.

5. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, enter 0 in the Value data box, and then click OK.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. On a computer running Microsoft Access 7.0, click Start on the Windows 95 taskbar, and then click Run.

2. In the Run dialog box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks) in the Open box.

3. Locate the following registry key:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Jet\3.0\Engines\Jet
   

4. Select MaxBufferSize, and then on the Edit menu, click Modify.

5. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, click Decimal and enter 128 in the Value data box; then click OK.

6. Start Microsoft Access 7.0.

7. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

8. On the Tools menu, point to Analyze, and then click Documentor.

9. Choose any database object and click OK. Note that you receive the error message described in the "Symptoms" section.

REFERENCES

For more information about how Microsoft Team Manager 97 affects the MaxBufferSize setting in the system registry, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q165041
   TITLE     : TMGR: Max Buffer Size Set Too Low

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135120
   TITLE     : Configuration Backup Tool for Backing Up the Registry