ACC97: Need Permission to Convert Database or Import Data (236888)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 97
This article was previously published under Q236888
Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to convert or import data from an unsecured Microsoft Access database created in an earlier version of Access into Access 97, you may receive one of the following error messages:
The current user account doesn't have permissions to convert or enable the database databasename.

-or-

You don't have permissions to import, export, or link to the table tablename.
The second error message may or may not contain instructions to log on as a user with more extensive permissions.

CAUSE

See the "Resolution" section.

RESOLUTION

These error messages have three known causes and resolutions as follows:
  • You have System Objects turned on. With System Objects turned on, even the Admin user or members of the Admins group are unable to convert the file or import data because only the Jet database engine has permission to modify all system tables. To hide System Objects, open a database in Access 97 and click Options on the Tools menu. Then click the View tab and click to clear the System Objects check box.
  • The owner of the database or objects in the database is "Unknown." Open the database in the earlier version of Access, and then on the Tools menu, point to Security, and click User and Group Permissions. Click the Change Owner tab. Select each of the database objects and change the owner to Admin. If an object's owner cannot be changed, create a new database in the earlier version of Access and import all of the objects from the existing database. The owner is set to Admin for all imported objects.
  • The MSysACEs and/or MSysObjects System table has become corrupted, and still contains information for objects that no longer exist in the database. Create a new database in the earlier version of Access and import all of the objects that are listed in the existing database on the Change Owners tab in the User and Group Permissions dialog box. To open this dialog box, point to Security on the Tools menu.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. In Access 95, open the sample database Northwind.mdb.
  2. Add a new user to the System.mdw workgroup.
  3. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click User and Group Permissions. Click the Change Owner tab.
  4. Make the new user owner of all database objects.
  5. Delete the new user. The owner of all objects is now Unknown.
  6. Close Northwind.mdb and quit Access 95.
  7. Start Access 97 and try to convert the Northwind database. Note that you receive a permissions error.

Another Way to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Open Access 97.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. In the Options dialog box, click the View tab, and then click to select the System Objects check box.
  4. Close the Options dialog box.
  5. On the File menu, point to Import, and then click Get External Data.
  6. Select the Access 95 version of Northwind.mdb.
  7. Select all of the tables to import from Northwind, and click OK. Note that you receive a permissions error.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/26/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB236888
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