"Unrecognized Format" Trying to Open Access Database Converted from Pocket Access (240074)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows CE Services 2.2
  • Microsoft ODBC Driver for Access 3.5
  • Microsoft ODBC Driver for Access 4.0
  • Microsoft Access 97
This article was previously published under Q240074

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a Microsoft Access 97 database that was converted from a Microsoft Pocket Access database, you may receive the following error message:
Unrecognized format
After you receive this error message, you cannot open the file in Access 97.

CAUSE

The Access converter used to convert Pocket Access (.cdb) files to Access 97 (.mdb) files uses the latest Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver for the Jet database engine installed on the computer. If the latest version is a Jet 4.0 driver, it creates a Jet 4.0 database with an .mdb extension when it is called to create a new database. Access 97 uses the Jet 3.5 driver, which cannot read a Jet 4.0 database. The Jet 4.0 driver can read any Jet format, but can write only Jet 4.0 databases.

RESOLUTION

This problem is resolved in Microsoft ActiveSync 3.0.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/28/2003
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB240074
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.