BUG: Invalid TMP Directory Causes GPF in DataEnvironment (190636)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q190636

SYMPTOMS

Visual Basic terminates abruptly with an application error when working with the Custom Properties window of an ADO Data Control or the Data Environment if the temporary directory is invalid or does not exist. This occurs on NT Workstation and NT Server.

Note: Windows 2000 creates a TEMP directory for each profile. If this TEMP directory for the profile is deleted or renamed, the same symptoms may occur.

CAUSE

The ODBC OLE DB provider needs to find a valid directory in which to store temporary information. This directory is specified in the TMP environment variable. If the TMP environment variable specifies a directory that does not exist or cannot be written to (due to a lack of disk space or other disk problem), the ODBC OLE DB provider cannot find a valid temporary directory and an application error occurs.

A variation of this error may occur with other OLE DB providers.

The TMP environment variable should not be confused with the TEMP environment variable, which also stores a directory name.

RESOLUTION

Ensure that the directories listed in the TEMP and TMP environment variables exist. It is always important to have valid temporary directories, stored on a drive having adequate free space.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. On a NT 4.0 machine or Windows 2000 , start the control panel. If using Windows 2000, double click Administrative Tools.
  2. Use the ODBC Administrator to create an Access DSN with the name of NWindTest to the NWIND.MDB sample database located in your Visual Basic directory.
  3. After the DSN has been created, select and start System (in the Control Panel).
  4. Select Environment from the System Properties window.
  5. Highlight TMP from the User Variables List Box.
  6. Change the Value text box to an invalid or nonexistent directory. For example, change C:\TEMP to C:\XXXX.
  7. Click on Set. Click OK.
  8. Open Visual Basic. Create a New Data Project.
  9. Double-click DataEnvironment1 in the Project Explorer window.
  10. Right-click on Connection1, and select Properties.
  11. Select Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers, and click Next.
  12. Select NWindTest from the 'Use Data Source Name' drop-down combo box.
  13. Click on the 'Enter Initial Catalog' drop-down combo box. Note the error that occurs.

Alternate Method to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Execute steps 1 - 8 from Steps to Reproduce Behavior above.
  2. Open frmDataEnv in the design view.
  3. Select (Custom) from the Properties window, and click on the ellipse (...).
  4. Click on "Build" next to "Use Connection String."
  5. Follow steps 11-14 above.

    NOTE: Remember to restore the TMP variable back to a valid directory after you have finished testing.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/3/2005
Keywords:kbbug KB190636
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