PRJ98: "Unrecognized Database Format" Error Saving to Access Database (232779)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Access 97 or Microsoft Project 98, when you open a Microsoft Project 98 database, you may receive the following error message:

Unrecognized database format '<Drive>\<Path>\<Filename>.mdb'.

The database or project does not open.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when you save a project in Microsoft Project 98 in either the Project Database (*.mpd) or Microsoft Access 8.0 Database (*.mdb) format, and the Access 2000 database (ODBC) driver is installed on the computer.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, follow these steps:

In Microsoft Access 97, create a new (blank) database.

NOTE: To save the database in the Project Database (*.mpd) format instead of the Access (*.mdb) format, follow these steps:
1. In the Save as type list, click All Files (*.*).
2. Type the name of the project you want to save followed by the .mpd extension.
3. Click Save.
Close the database.
In Microsoft Project 98, open the project you want to save as a database.
On the File menu, click Save As.
In the Save as type list, click either Project Database (*.mpd) or Microsoft Access 8.0 Database (*.mdb).
Select the database that you saved in step 1.
Click Save. When prompted, click Append.
Select the export options that you want.
Click Save.

You can now open the project in Microsoft Access 97.

MORE INFORMATION

The Microsoft Access 2000 database (ODBC) driver is included with MDAC 2.x. MDAC 2.x ships with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5, Microsoft Office 2000, Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0, and other products.

To verify what version of the Access database driver is installed, follow these steps:

On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click the ODBC Data Sources icon.
Click the Drivers tab.

Access 2000 database driver versions are listed as 4.x. Access 97 database drivers are 3.5x.