Microsoft KB Archive/99936

= ACC: Error When Opening Attached Table in Shared .MDB File =

Article ID: 99936

Article Last Modified on 5/9/2003

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APPLIES TO


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

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This article was previously published under Q99936



SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to open an attached table in a shared .MDB file, one of the following error messages appears:
 * Couldn't find file &quot; :\ \ &quot;
 * &quot;:\ \ &quot; isn't a valid path
 * Couldn't open file &quot; :\ \ &quot;



CAUSE
The path to an attached table is hard-coded in the table's properties. For a shared .MDB file, this path is very likely invalid.



RESOLUTION
To work around this problem, either change the path to the attached file so that it is valid, or import the data instead of attaching the table.

To verify and correct the path for an attached table, use the following procedure:
 * 1) Open the table in Design view.
 * 2) From the View menu, choose Table Properties. The Description property contains the path to the attached table.
 * 3) Place the .MDB file and its attached tables on a share on a dedicated server.
 * 4) Use one of the following two naming conventions:
 * 5) * Choose a drive letter (for example, &quot;u:&quot;) and make sure all users connect to the share using that drive letter. Use the same drive letter for the attached tables.

-or-
 * 1) * Use the universal naming convention (UNC) for the attached tables (for example, \\ \ \ ).

NOTE: To attach a database using UNC, specify the UNC name and the database name where you normally would specify the drive and database names. For example, instead of logging on to the network drive, typing the database name, and choosing Attach Table from the File menu, you need only enter the UNC name and the database name in the Attach dialog box, as follows:

\\MYSERVER\PUBLIC\MYDB.MDB



MORE INFORMATION
If the .MDB file is placed on a non-dedicated server that does not allow redirecting to itself (for example, Microsoft Windows for Workgroups), you must maintain two separate .MDB files, one to share with other workstations and one for your local computer.

Maintaining two separate copies of the .MDB file is necessary because Windows for Workgroups does not allow a server to redirect to itself. For example, if the server name is SERVERNM, the SERVERNM computer cannot use the path \\SERVERNM\SHARE to access a file from its own hard disk.

If the .MDB file is placed on a non-dedicated server that does allow redirecting to itself (for example, Microsoft Windows NT), you only need to maintain one .MDB file.

