Microsoft KB Archive/105128

= ACC: How to Use Command-Line Switches in Microsoft Access =

Article ID: 105128

Article Last Modified on 1/18/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 1.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 1.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 2.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q105128



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



SUMMARY
When you run Microsoft Access from the Start menu or a shortcut, (or Program Manager or File Manager in Microsoft Windows 3.x), you can use command-line switches to modify the startup process. For example, you can open a particular database, run a macro, or supply a password.



MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft Access recognizes the following command-line switches:

In version 1.x only:   /s                  Bypasses the Microsoft startup screen. NOTE: The startup, or splash screen, in Microsoft Access can also be suppressed using the Microsoft Access version 1.x Distribution Kit (ADK).

In version 2.0, the /s switch no longer applies. Instead, include the StartupScreen entry to display your own bitmap logo rather than the default Microsoft Access logo. Although this is a setting for ADT applications, this entry can also be used without the ADT. Include the following statement in your MSACC20.INI file:   [Run-Time Options] StartupScreen=C:\LOGO\MYBITMAP.BMP In version 2.0 only:  /Ini   Starts Microsoft Access using the options in                               the specified initialization file instead of                               the standard MSACC20.INI file. The initialization file must have the same entries as the standard MSACC20.INI file. In Microsoft Access 1.x, 2.0, 7.0, and 97:            Opens the specified database. /Excl              Opens the database for exclusive access. /Ro                Opens the database for read-only access. /User  Starts Access using the specified user name. You'll be prompted for the path to Msaccess.exe. /Pwd    Starts Access using the specified password. You'll be prompted for the path to Msaccess.exe. /X         Starts Access and runs specified macro. /Cmd               Specifies what value to pass to the Command function in an Access Basic procedure that is                      called by a RunCode action in an AutoExec macro. This option must be the last option on the command line. In Microsoft Access 2.0, 7.0, and 97:  /Compact   Compacts the database specified before the /Compact option and then closes Microsoft Access. To compact to a different name, specify a target database. /Repair                      Repairs the specified database and then closes Microsoft Access. /Convert   Converts a version 1.x database to a                               version 2.0 database, with a new name, and then closes Microsoft Access. Specify the source database before the /Convert option. In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97:  /Profile      This replaces the /ini option used in                               previous versions to specify an                               initialization file. The option starts Microsoft Access using the options in a specified user profile instead of                              the standard Windows Registry settings.

/NoStartup                   This option starts Microsoft Access without displaying the startup dialog box.

/Wrkgrp    You can start Microsoft Access with a                               specific workgroup.

/Runtime                     Starts Microsoft Access in run-time mode. NOTE: To use the /Runtime switch with Microsoft Access 97, you must install the Microsoft Office 97 Developer Edition Tools (ODE) or a custom application created with the ODE on your computer.  /Convert   Converts a database in an earlier version (1.x or 2.0) to a Microsoft Access 95 or                              97 database with a new name, and then closes Microsoft Access. Specify the source database before the /Convert option. For example, you could type the following command in the Run dialog box (available by choosing Run from the Program Manager File menu):   c:\access\msaccess.exe Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in versions 1.x and   2.0) /Excl /X Add Products This sample syntax starts Microsoft Access, opens the Northwind (or NWIND in versions 1.x and 2.0) sample database for exclusive use, and runs the Add Products macro. Note that you must include the file name, Msaccess.exe, as shown in the example.

In Microsoft Access 97: /unregserver  Forces Microsoft Access to unregister itself and then exit.

/regserver    Forces Microsoft Access to register itself. Because Microsoft Access is a self registering program, you can use the /unregserver and /regserver switches to remove or refresh the Access registry entries. This can be useful when you need to make sure all Access files are properly registered, but you can not use the "Setup /y" option of the Access setup program. For more information about using "Setup /y", see the following article in the Knowledge Base.

148424 ACC: Troubleshooting Invalid Page Faults in MS Access 95 and 97

Recommended Order of Command-Line Switches
The following is the order to follow when creating command-line switches for Access database shortcuts. All switches are optional.

Document conventions:

<> - Place holder for required text.

<<>> - Place holder for optional text.

{} - Supplies additional information about switch, but should not be copied into command-line.

/runtime

/NoStartup

/wrkgrp 

/User " "

/Pwd " "

/Profile 

/Excl

/Ro

/Repair

/Compact < > {Do not use with repair switch}

/X  {Not the recommended method, use "Autoexec" macro instead or startup options. Do not use with compact or repair.}

/Cmd  {Must always be last. Do not use with compact or repair.}

