ACC2000: Errors Messages When You Export Query to dBASE (208446)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access 2000

This article was previously published under Q208446

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to export a query in dBASE (any version) file format, you receive the following error message:

Couldn't find object queryname.dbf.

When you try to save the underlying table to dBASE format, you receive the following error message:

Cannot define field more than once.

When you try to export the query using the TransferDatabase method, you receive the following error message:

Run-time error '3191':
Can't define field more than once.

CAUSE

dBASE has a 10-character limit for the size of field names. When the first 10 characters of two (or more) fields in a Access table are identical, if you try to export the table or query in dBASE file format, there will be duplicate field names.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, use one of the following approaches:

Rename the table fields so that the first 10 characters are unique for each field.
Alias the field names in a query. For example, in the query Field row type: [NewField]:[OldDuplicateField]

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create the following table:

   Table: Table1
   ------------------------
   Field Name: abcdefghijk
   Data Type : Text

   Field Name: abcdefghijkl
   Data Type : Text

Create a query based on Table1 that includes both fields.
On the File menu, click Export.
In the Export Table dialog box, under Save As Type, select dBASE III (*.dbf), and then click Save.

Note that you receive the following error message:
Couldn't find object Table1.dbf

REFERENCES

For more information about exporting to an Xbase file, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type dbase in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	6/24/2004
Keywords:	kb3rdparty kbbug kbnofix KB208446