Old Version Of Access Application Used To Create Database and Forms but Can’t Open in Newest Version

[SiriusDark]

So I have an Access Database with forms that was created in a much older version of Access, any time it is opened in the newest version of Access it gives errors about msowc.DLL and msdatgrd.ocx being missing, I know they are old office files but I am not the original designer. This is connecting to an sql database so it has many queries, macros, controls, and reports that I know nothing about. Would re-saving the database in the newest version of Access clear this up or will all the forms and queries have to be rewritten? I know almost nothing about Access so I came searching for help. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do.

[#2]

Although it may make changes to the file components, I think it's worth trying to convert the database to the newest version of Access.

But, Before making any changes to the database, ensure you have a backup copy of the original database.

[#3]

Hi,

The Office Web Components (owc) were used for some features that don't exist any more in modern versions of Access and I doubt that it's still possible/useful to reinstall the dll, like in earlier Windows/Office times. The same might apply to the datagrid.

I guess that the exact error messages talk about "missing or broken references" for the files you mention. If that's the case then you should find out if and where the application really uses the two external components. For this you could look into the forms and reports and check them for white rectangles where the missing controls might have been placed once.

You can also try to open the VBA editor in the application (press Alt+F11), go to the menu item Tools - References and uncheck these two that say "missing" there. Then choose the menu item Debug - Compile and look if there are (many) places that throw errors. This is another indication about the use of the components.

Servus
Karl
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[#4]

@Karl_Donaubauer Thank you for the reply. Since I am not the original designer and there are several hundred, if not thousands of individual components inside of it this is a great place to start and I will look into this for sure.

If it happens that every component has one or both missing files then would you say it’s best to just rebuild it from scratch?

[#5]

Hi,

It depends on how large the contribution of the affected components to the application is, whether they can be replaced by other objects/methods and with how much effort. In addition, other aspects play a role with the topic update or rewrite. How outdated is the application in different regard, how well maintainably it is provided, how are the available developer resources, which are the goals etc. etc.

In other words, this can only be judged by someone who knows the application and the circumstances better than us fellow readers here in a forum.

Servus
Karl
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