ACC: Cannot Change Some Properties of Attached Tables (114216)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2.0
  • Microsoft Access for Windows 95 7.0
  • Microsoft Access 97
This article was previously published under Q114216
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

SYMPTOMS

You cannot change engine-enforced properties such as FieldSize, DefaultValue, ValidationRule, ValidationText, Required, or AllowZeroLength on linked (attached) tables. When you open the linked table in Design view, the following warning is displayed:

In Microsoft Access 97:
Table 'tablename' is a linked Table with some properties that can't be modified. Do you want to open it anyway?

In Microsoft Access 7.0:
Table 'tablename' is a Linked Table. Some properties cannot be modified. Open it anyway?

In Microsoft Access version 2.0:
Table 'tablename' is an attached table. Some properties can't be modified. Open it anyway?

If you try to save changes after modifying one of the properties listed above, you receive a message that states:

In Microsoft Access 97:

This property cannot be modified in linked tables.

NOTE: Microsoft Access 97 will still allow you to save the table. However, the change will not be saved.


In Microsoft Access 7.0:

Microsoft Access cannot save changes to properties of linked tables.


In Microsoft Access 2.0:

This property cannot be modified in attached tables.

CAUSE

You cannot modify engine-enforced properties in linked non-Microsoft Access tables because Microsoft Access cannot enforce validation of a field that may be updated by other products, such as Microsoft Visual Basic.

RESOLUTION

You can add a default value or validation rule at the form level instead of modifying the linked table. For linked Microsoft Access tables, you should change engine-enforced properties in the base tables before you link them.

REFERENCES

For more information about validation rules, search the Help Index for "validating data."
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/6/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB114216
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