About references and MDE files

If you try to save as an MDE file a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) or an add-in (.mda) that references another Access database or add-in, Microsoft Access displays an error message, and doesn't let you complete the operation. To save an Access database that references another Access database as an MDE file, you must save all databases in the chain of references as MDE files, starting from the first database referenced. After saving the first database as an MDE file, you must then update the reference in the next database to point to the new MDE file before saving it as an MDE file, and so on.

For example, if Database1.mdb references Database2.mdb, which references Database3.mda, you would proceed as follows:

1. Save Database3.mda as Database3.mde.
   
   
2. Open Database 2.mdb and change its reference to point to the new Database3.mde.
   
   
3. Save Database2.mdb as Database2.mde.
   
   
4. Open Database1.mdb and change its reference to point to the new Database2.mde.
   
   
5. Save Database1.mdb as Database1.mde.