ACC2000: How to Suppress the Convert/Open Database Dialog Box (275164)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

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

For a Microsoft Access 2002 version of this article, see 290291.

SUMMARY

If you do not want to see the Convert/Open Database dialog box when you open an Access 97 database in Access 2000, you can suppress the dialog box by adding a registry entry called NoConvertDialog to the Access Settings key.

This setting does not prevent conversion; it only prevents the initial Convert/Open Database dialog box from being displayed when the database is opened. You can still convert the database by any other available means.

MORE INFORMATION

The following steps describe how to add the NoConvertDialog subkey, which controls whether the Convert/Open Database dialog box is displayed.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. Registry Editor opens.
Locate the following subkey, and select the Settings subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Access\Settings\
On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
Name the new DWORD NoConvertDialog.
Double-click the new NoConvertDialog DWORD.
Set Value Data to either 0 or 1, and the Base to Decimal. There are two possible settings for Value Data:
- 1 - Opens the database without prompting you and leaves the database in the original format.
- 0 - Displays the Convert/Open Database dialog box.
Set the value to 1 so that the dialog box does not appear. Click OK, and then close Registry Editor.
Open Access 2000, and click Open on the File menu.
Browse to a copy of an Access 97 database and open it. Note that the database opens without prompting you to open it or convert it. The database remains in Access 97 format.

NOTE: If you later want to convert the database, point to Database Utilities on the Tools menu, point to Convert Database, and then click To Current Access Database Version.