ACC: OLE Object Inserted into Object Frame Displayed as Icon

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

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

When you insert an OLE object into an unbound object frame, the image is displayed as an icon within the frame instead of filling the entire frame.

CAUSE

Because Microsoft Access depends on an OLE Automation server to display OLE objects within the unbound object frame, there are two possible causes for this behavior:

No application that can function as an OLE Automation server has been associated with the object type.

-or-

The application associated with the object is not capable of functioning as an OLE Automation server.

RESOLUTION

You must ensure that an application capable of acting as an OLE Automation server (such as Paint) is installed on your system and that it is set as the default application to open the OLE object. If you are not sure that the application is capable of acting as an OLE Automation server, refer to its documentation or contact the manufacturer of the application.

The following steps will restore Paint as the default application used by Microsoft Access to insert Bitmap OLE Objects:

1. On the Start menu, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.

2. On the View menu, click Options.

3. In the Options dialog box, click the File Types tab.

4. In the Registered File Types box, click Bitmap Image and click Remove. (NOTE: If you are unable to locate Bitmap Image in the Registered File Types dialog box, skip to step 5.) Click Yes when asked if you are sure you want to remove the file.

5. In the Options dialog box, click OK.

6. In Windows Explorer, on the File menu, click Close.

7. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel

8. In Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

9. In the Add/Remove Program Properties dialog box, click the Windows Setup tab.

10. In the Components list, click Accessories, and then click Details.

11. Locate Paint within the Components list. (NOTE: If the component is not selected skip to step 15.)

12. Click to clear the Paint check box, and click OK.

13. In the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box, click Apply.

14. Click Accessories once again, and then click Details.

15. Click to select the Paint check box, and then click OK.

16. In the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box, click Apply.

17. Click OK to close the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Open a new blank database in Microsoft Access.

2. Create a new form in Design view.

3. In the toolbox, click the unbound object frame and drag the object onto the form.

4. In the Insert Object dialog box, click to select Create From File. Click the Browse button, and select a .bmp file from the Windows folder.

5. After selecting a .bmp file, click Open, and then click OK.

6. Switch the form to Form view. Note that the .bmp image is displayed as an icon.

REFERENCES

For more information about OLE Servers, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q112748
   TITLE     : ACC: How to Use In-Place Activation with OLE Objects

   ARTICLE-ID: Q103257
   TITLE     : Reading, Storing, & Writing Binary Large Objects (BLOBs)