I'm having trouble with an access 97 database, when I try to compact I get the following error

'Record(s) can't be read; no read permission on 'C:\Documents.....Master_Data.mdb'

There is definately read permission because other than this issue the DB works fine.

Also Excel files i've set up to read from the database by importing as external data can no longer read the data, they come up with the following error upon refreshing.

'Data could not be retrieved from the database. Check the database server or contact your database administrator. Make sure the external database is available, and then try the operation again.

I've tried following advice on the ms website and giving read permissions to user groups but this isn't working, anyone got any idea's, i'm guessing the two errors are linked to the same issue.

tx

edit

It also gives me this error when trying to copy info from a table

'the microsoft jet database engine stopped the process because you and another user are attempting to change data at the same time'

Despite me being the only person in the database.

Are you opening the database as Exclusive?

Open Access, then click File > Open, then browse to the file, then in the lower right corner, select Open Exclusive.

In the worst case, copy and paste the data from the tables to Excel.

HTH

mmcdonal

Exclusive mode doesn't work for compacting the database.

I've figured out what the second problem was now, a comments field that is formatted as a memo field was causing the export to crash so i've removed the field from the query. I need to get it back in again so will have to figure that out, does anyone know if memo fields can't be exported once one of the records contains more than 255 char's or is it something else that will be causing the problem, I would have thought the field would just be truncated which is fine.

BTW copying and pasting the info to Excel would of course work but this is info required by a lot of people and needs to be a live export, essentially the excel spreadsheet is a way for people who don't need to be in the access db to view the information, a read only viewer.

Memo fields can be problematic, but will transfer with code. I have moved memo fields in Access and blob fields in SQL with VBA and all the characters move.



mmcdonal

This error comes due to missing refrences or corruption in database. You can import your database to new blank database using tool>import option. If still you get error then use access repair software to repair your database.
http://www.repair-access-file.com