You receive a "You can't convert or enable an MDE file" error message when you try to open or convert an Access 97 MDE file in Access 2000 (216163)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2000
This article was previously published under Q216163
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Access 2000 to open or convert an MDE file created with Microsoft Access 97, you may receive the following error message:
You can't convert or enable an MDE file.

CAUSE

An MDE file is a database in which all Visual Basic modules are stored in a compiled state and from which the source code has been removed. Because the source code has been removed, you cannot edit the design of forms, reports, or modules in an MDE database.

RESOLUTION

Convert the original Microsoft Access 97 database to a Microsoft Access 2000 database, and then create an Access 2000 MDE file from the converted MDB file. The newly created Access 2000 MDE file can no longer be opened in Access 97.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Access 2000 uses a different method for storing a database's Visual Basic for Applications project than was used in earlier versions. In order to use databases created in earlier versions of Microsoft Access, the database's Visual Basic for Applications project must be converted or enabled in Microsoft Access 2000. However, because the source code for an MDE file has been removed, and because an MDE file cannot lose its compiled state, Microsoft Access 2000 cannot convert or enable the database.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Use Microsoft Access 97 to open the sample database Northwind.mdb that ships with Access 97.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Database Utilities, and click Make MDE File.
  3. Click Save in the Save MDE As dialog box.
  4. Close Microsoft Access 97 and open Northwind.mde in Microsoft Access 2000.
  5. When prompted to convert/open the database, click Open Database, and click OK.
Note that you receive the error message described in the "Symptoms" section .
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/18/2004
Keywords:kbconversion kbopenfile kberrmsg kbprb KB216163
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