Error Using Data Form If Too Many Fields Are Present (106206)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you use the Data Form command, the maximum number of fields that you can edit in a database varies by version of Microsoft Excel. The maximum number of fields for each version for Excel is listed in the following table.

   For Microsoft    If the number  You will receive
   Excel version    of fields is   this error message
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

   97               More than 32   Too many fields in the data form.
   7.0              More than 32   Too many fields in the data form.
   5.0              More than 32   Too many fields in the data form.
   4.x              More than 32   Too many fields in the data form.
   4.x              Exactly 32     Dialog box contains too many items.
   3.0              More than 32   Too many fields in the data form.
   2.x              More than 32   Too many fields in data form.
   2.2 (Macintosh)  Exactly 32     Dialog too large.

On page 371 of the "User's Guide," version 5.0, the note at the bottom of the page implies that you can view the first 32 fields of a database that contains more than 32 fields. This note may be misleading. To use a data form with a database that contains more than 32 fields, you must select fewer than 32 fields before you click Form on the Data menu.

RESOLUTION

If you receive any of the error messages listed in the previous table, use either of the following methods:

Reduce the number of fields in your database to 31 or 32 (depending on your version of Microsoft Excel).

-or-
Edit the database directly on the worksheet.

MORE INFORMATION

When you use the Data Form in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later, Microsoft Excel "wraps" the edit boxes in the Data Form so that all edit boxes are visible on the screen. Because earlier versions of Microsoft Excel do not do this, edit boxes in Data Forms in Microsoft Excel versions 4.0 and earlier may not be visible on the screen; they are "pushed" off of the bottom edge of the screen and, therefore, are not accessible for editing.