JET 3.5 Cannot update. Database or object is read-only

[mflower]

Anyone ever had a problem with linking files whose extension is unknown? With Access 97, JET 3.5 prevents files of certain file extensions from being linked. How do u overcome this? It's frustrating because I cannot link this file which hasn't got a file extension.
Thanks
mflower

 

[tlbroadbent]

Access linking has a security feature to prevent linking to text files with unrecognized extensions.

If possible, you should add (or change) an extension of txt, csv, tab, etc. You can also update the registry to allow Access to link or import additional extensions. Read the MS Knowledgebase article at

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q247/8/61.ASP

for more information.
Terry

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[mflower]

Hi tlbroadbent
Thanks for your help, however, I've added in the file extensions in the registry. However, its the files which I do not know their extensions that I've got the problem with. Anyone would know if I can write code to say that I want to link to files of any extension?

 

[tlbroadbent]

Are you dealing with text files or some other format (i.e., Excel workbooks, Word documents, etc.)? Terry

http://members.home.net/tlbroadbent/index.htm

 

[mflower]

The extension is unknown because in Windows Explorer, the extension is just File, therefore I need something that will be specified in Jet 3.5 so that I can link the file. It can be a text file.

 

[tlbroadbent]

Can you change the extension to TXT before linking? Terry

http://members.home.net/tlbroadbent/index.htm

 

[mflower]

tried changing the extension but doesn't work

 

[tlbroadbent]

Can you open the file in Notepad or a similar text editor? Terry

http://members.home.net/tlbroadbent/index.htm

 

[mflower]

Yes, I'm able to open the file in Notepad or any text editor. But even with that, I cannot create a file association

 

[tlbroadbent]

When you said, "tried changing the extension but doesn't work" did you mean you were unable to change the extension or could not link even after changing the extension?

Have tried copying the file to a file with a known extension such as TXT?

copy unknownfile newfile.txt Terry

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[mflower]

i will try your code, but what i meant was i can't change the file extension because the extension type is just "FILE", but if I create an association in Windows Explorer, I can open the file. btw, would I just write that one line of code copy unknownfile.... in the Code section? thanks

 

[tlbroadbent]

No. What I mean is to go to a DOS Window and copy the file. Or in Windows Explorer copy the file and paste it.

Simpler yet - in Windows Explorer, right click the file, choose rename and name it whatever you want including a TXT extension. Terry

http://members.home.net/tlbroadbent/index.htm

 

[mflower]

yes, changing the extension by renaming it works. however, this means this step must be done every time before I link it. won't this affect other users because its a shared database, and they are able to link the files while my Jet 3.5 will not allow it?

 

[tlbroadbent]

Am I understanding correctly that you have now linked the file and can get to the data? Does every user have a copy of the database or is it shared across a network. If shared, the file should be available as a table to all users of the database once it is linked.

I'm still not sure what the complete name of the file was prior to renaming. Did the file have an extension or not? What are your view options in Windows Explorer? Does Windows hide extensions on known file types on your PC? Terry

http://members.home.net/tlbroadbent/index.htm

 

[mflower]

the database is shared across the network. i've seen when using the datbase in other user's pc, linking the file is ok. however, in my pc, i have to change the extension to txt first before i link it.
yes, in windows explorer, the view is show all files. however, this file has no extension, the extension is really FILE. it's probably the program which runs it and produces the file without a txt extension.

 

[kathryn]

May I butt in?

Mflower,

you say "this file has no extension, the extension is really FILE". Do you see that this is totally contradictory? Is the file name MyFile or is it MyFile.FILE??

You can rename a file from within Access. Would that help you? Do you know what the name of the file will be and wehre it will be every time?

Kathryn

 

[mflower]

the file is really myfile without any extension, and the type is File, if this is clear enough. i think for the moment, the only was would be to change the extension to txt and then link the file in Access. thanks for your help kathryn and tlbroadbent i appreciate it. the problem is that the file is created without any extension and is actually a type of text file.

 

[kathryn]

Mflower,

Check out the File commands in access. Look at the help topic "Directories and Files Keyword Summary". The Name command should be able to rename your file for you without you having to do it manually. Kathryn

 

[tlbroadbent]

Type "file" is simply Windows way of saying, "I don't know what type of file this is but I know it is a file." Adding the extension TXT allows Windows and Access to identify it as a text file because that is how the TXT extension is defined in the Windows registry. Terry

http://members.home.net/tlbroadbent/index.htm

 

[alanjung]

It's a Windows thing. You will notice that in some cases, such as *.DOC, Windows says "Microsoft Word Document" as file type. For any file extension it doesn't know, it will say the extension and FILE. For example, the file myfile.abc will come up as a file of type "ABC File." Hence, when there is no extension, the file type will be just "FILE".


Alan