ACC: Error When Opening Table in Design View

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SUMMARY

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

When you try to open a table in Design view, you may receive the following error message, depending on your version of Microsoft Access.

   In Microsoft Access 97 and Microsoft Access version 7.0:

      You can't open the table <table name> for modification.

   In Microsoft Access version 2.0:

      Can't switch to Datasheet view and can't return to Design view.

   In Microsoft Access version 1.x:

      Unable to recover from attempt to switch view. Window
      will be closed.

MORE INFORMATION

This error message occurs only in rare situations. It is an informational message only, not a program error.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior in Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97

1. Two users (User A and User B) both open the sample database Northwind.mdb, non-exclusively.

2. Both users open the Categories table in Datasheet view.

3. Both users simultaneously switch to Design view. User A succeeds, but User B receives the following error message:

         You can't open the table <table name> for modification.
   

4. User B tries to reopen the table in Datasheet view. The table will be opened in Design view as Read-Only without any type of message.

5. Microsoft Access returns User B's focus to the Database window. User B will be able to make changes to the design of the table but will be unable to save them. The Save option on the File menu will be dimmed.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior in Microsoft Access version 1.x or 2.0

1. Two users (User A and User B) both open the sample database NWIND.MDB, non-exclusively.

2. Both users open the Categories table in Datasheet view.

3. Both users simultaneously switch to Design view. User A succeeds, but User B receives the following error message.

   In Microsoft Access version 1.x:

         Table is in use, cannot lock by user '<user B's logon name>'
         on machine <user B's machine name>'.
   

   In Microsoft Access version 2.0:

         Can't open table 'Categories' for modification. Open it read only?
   

4. User B tries to reopen the table in Datasheet view and receives the following error message:

         Couldn't lock table. Table 'Categories' is exclusively
         locked by user '<user A's logon name>' on machine '<user
         A's machine name>'.
   

5. User B is returned to the Database window with the following error message.

   In Microsoft Access version 1.x:

         Unable to recover from attempt to switch view. Window
         will be closed.
   

   In Microsoft Access version 2.0:

         Can't switch to Datasheet view and can't return to Design view.
   

6. Microsoft Access returns User B's focus to the Database window.

In the example above, User A succeeds and User B fails. When User B then tries to reopen the table (non-exclusively) in Datasheet view, User A already has the table open exclusively.