Microsoft KB Archive/104066

PRACC9309: Incorrect Error Message Using OpenTable Method

PSS ID Number: Q104066 Article last modified on 09-20-1993

1.00 1.10 WINDOWS

= SYMPTOMS =

When you use the OpenTable method in Access Basic on tables with certain table names that do not exist, you get the following error message Syntax error in statement instead of the expected error message Object does not exist For example, if you try open a nonexistent table called “Delete This Table,” you would receive a “Syntax error in DELETE statement” error message, rather than an “Object does not exist” error message.

= CAUSE =

If the table referenced in the OpenTable method does not exist, Microsoft Access tries to interpret the table name as a SQL statement. Since the statement is not valid, you receive the SQL parsing error “Syntax error in DELETE statement.” Because of this, other SQL statements used as valid but nonexistent table names can cause other SQL parsing error messages. Some of the other possible error messages are listed in the table below:

If Table Name Is… Microsoft Access Error Message Is…
Select Syntax error in Select statement Select * from authors Missing semicolon at end of SQL statement (when Authors table does not exist) Select * from authors; Couldn’t find input table or query “Authors” (when Authors table does exist) Select * from authors; Couldn’t find object “Select * from authors;”

= STATUS =

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access versions 1.0 and 1.1. Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional reference words: 1.00 1.10 Tables Programming KBCategory: KBSubcategory: PrgrmVt Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.