ACC: Cannot Perform OpenTable Method on Linked/Attached Table

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

SYMPTOMS

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

If you attempt to open a recordset on a linked (attached) table using the dbOpenTable constant (or DB_OPEN_TABLE in version 2.0), you may receive the following error message.

In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97:

   Run-time error '3219':
   Invalid Operation.

   Invalid Operation

   Can't perform operation; it is illegal.

NOTE: Visual Basic for Applications is called Access Basic in Microsoft Access versions 1.x and 2.0. For more information about Access Basic, please refer to the "Introduction to Programming" manual in Microsoft Access version 1.x or the "Building Applications" manual in Microsoft Access version 2.0.

RESOLUTION

In Microsoft Access 2.0, 7.0, and 97:

In Microsoft Access 2.0, 7.0, and 97, a linked table must be opened as the Recordset object. The following code example assumes that you are linked to the Customers table in the sample database Northwind.mdb, which resides in the same folder as the database containing this code. The code opens the Northwind.mdb file, which actually contains the Customers table. The code then creates a recordset based on the Customers table.

Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97:

   Public Function testLink()
      Dim myDb As DATABASE, rstCustomers As Recordset
      ' Open the Northwind.mdb database.
      Set myDb = DBEngine.Workspaces(0).OpenDatabase("Northwind.mdb")
      ' Create the recordset.
      Set rstCustomers = myDb.OpenRecordset("Customers", dbOpenDynaset)
   End Function

   Public Function testLink()
      Dim myDb As DATABASE, rstCustomers As Recordset
      ' Open the Northwind.mdb database.
      Set myDb = DBEngine.Workspaces(0).OpenDatabase("Northwind.mdb")
      ' Create the recordset.
      Set rstCustomers = myDb.OpenRecordset("Customers", DB_OPEN_DYNASET)
   End Function

In Microsoft Access 1.x, an attached table must be opened as the Dynaset object as shown in the following example:

   DIM MyDB as Database
   DIM MyDynaset as Dynaset
   Set MyDB = OpenDatabase("NWIND.MDB")
   Set MyDynaset = MyDB.CreateDynaset("Customers")

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a new, blank database in the same folder as the sample database Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in versions 1.x and 2.0).

2. In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97, on the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Link Tables.

   In Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0, on the File menu, click Attach Table.

3. In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97, in the Link dialog box, click Northwind.mdb, and then click Link.

   In Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0, in the Attach dialog box, click Microsoft Access, and then click OK. In the Select Microsoft Access Database dialog box, click NWIND.MDB, and then click OK.

4. In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97, in the Link Tables dialog box, click the Customers table, and then click OK.

   In Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0, in the Attach Tables dialog box, click Customers, and then click Attach. When prompted that the table is successfully attached, click OK, and then click Close.

5. Create a module and type the following line in the Declarations section:

         Option Explicit
   

6. Type the following procedure:

         Function Test()
         Dim db as Database
         Dim mySet as Recordset
            ' In versions 1.x and 2.0, dimension mySet as table.
            ' Dim mySet as table.
         Set db = CurrentDB()
            ' Create the recordset based on the Customers table.
         Set mySet = db.OpenRecordset("Customers", dbOpenTable)
            ' In version 2.0, use the following line to set mySet
            ' Set mySet = db.OpenRecordset("Customers",db_Open_Table).
            ' In version 1.x, use the following line to set mySet.
            ' Set mySet = db.OpenTable("Customers")
         End function
   
   

7. To test this function, type the following line in the Debug window (or Immediate window in versions 1.x and 2.0), and then press ENTER.

         ? Test()
   

   Note that you receive the error message described above in the Symptoms section.

REFERENCES

For more information about the OpenRecordset Method, search the Help Index for "OpenRecordset."

For more information about how to use the Seek method with linked tables, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q131829
   TITLE     : ACC: How to Use the Seek Method on Linked Tables

Keywords          : JetRS kberrmsg kbprg PgmObj
Version           : 1.0 1.1 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbcode