ACC2000: Page May Close When a Database Is Opened from Start Menu/Documents (203150)

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

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).

SYMPTOMS

If you have a stand-alone data access page open in Microsoft Access without a database file being open, and you then open an Access database (*.mdb) file from the Documents list on the Start menu, the data access page will be closed before the database is opened.

CAUSE

When you open an Access database (*.mdb) file from the Documents list on the Start menu, it will open in an existing instance of Access if one exists. Access cannot have both an Access Database and a stand-alone data access page open at the same time; therefore, the page will be closed.

This same behavior will occur if you try to open an Access database by double-clicking the file in Windows Explorer or by double-clicking a Windows shortcut that is pointing directly to an Access database.

RESOLUTION

In order to keep the stand-alone page open when you open an Access database, follow these steps:

Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Microsoft Access.
Use the Microsoft Access dialog box to create a blank database or to open an existing file.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Open the sample database Northwind.mdb, and then quit Access.
Make sure you close all instances of Access.
Start Access.
If you see the Microsoft Access dialog box, click Cancel.
On the File menu, click New. Click the General tab.
Click Data Access Page. Click OK.
In the New Data Access Page dialog box, click Design View. Click OK.
In the Data Link Properties dialog box, click Cancel.
On the Start menu, point to Documents, and then click Northwind.

Note that the sample database Northwind.mdb opens in the existing instance of Access instead of starting a new instance.