Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

MS Access - 'Object Bound to table' - cannot edit

Apr 3, 2010 10:15PM PDT

I cannot edit a table located in the server. It always gives me an error that says "Either an object bound to table 'PHONE_DATA' is open or another user has the table open.." (please see screenshot below)

http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz304/contactopia/ABS_FE.jpg

But I am sure that there is nobody in the network that is accessing the specific database or table except for me. I also have full permission in the server.

I would really appreciate your help on this. Regards.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Is this the same problem
Apr 4, 2010 4:18AM PDT

as you reported here?
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6129_102-0.html?threadID=389443

If so, it is best to keep to one discussion as it avoids confusion and duplication of content.

Assuming it is the same, then all I can say is that the same thing happens with a networked Excel spreadsheet file. Since it cannot be edited by more than one person at a time, it cannot be opened for editing if anyone else is using it. However you can open it as Read Only.

Mark

- Collapse -
Not the same problem.
Apr 4, 2010 2:16PM PDT

Hi Mark, thank you for your reply. I'm not sure on how it can be the same problem. Since this thread says that I cannot edit the table where the forms are linked while NO user is accessing it, meaning I am the only one using it and the other thread says that only 2 users can open a form even for the purpose of Read Only at the same time. I know you can only edit when other users are not accessing the said table and I made sure that everyone have their forms closed and I am the only one who has access to the table at that time.


The other thread is different. And also regarding the excel spreadsheet, you can arrange an excel workbook to be shared and changes to be allowed by one person at the same time through, Tools and Share Workbook.

Regards,
Sheila

- Collapse -
Ahh, my error then.
Apr 4, 2010 7:59PM PDT

Thanks for that Sheila, and I hope others here will be able to help with your problems.

I didn't know that about sharing Excel spreadsheets. I learn something new everyday here, Happy

Mark

- Collapse -
"A table on the server".
Apr 5, 2010 5:54AM PDT

That's a rather unclear description. Let me see what it can mean:
1. A certain table in a certain database on a MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL (whatever) database.
2. All tables in that database.
3. All tables in all databases on that server.
4. A certain table in a certain .mdb file on a Windows 200x server that I access via a drive letter that my own mdb-file links to.
5. All tables in that .mdb file
6. All tables in all mdb-files on that server.
7. All tables in all mdb-files on all servers.
8. My mdb-file is on a Windows share (say fHappy and I can't edit a certain table in this mdbf-file.
9. My mdb-file is on a Windows share (say fHappy and I can't edit any table in this mdb-file.

By the way, what do you mean with 'editing a table'. The data view or the design view?

Kees

- Collapse -
Clarification
Apr 5, 2010 2:17PM PDT

Hi Kees,

Let me see if I can clarify it a bit.

We keep two files:
1 - ABS_BE.mdb which is located in a Microsoft 2000 Server. This is the Back end database where all the data is stored.
2 - ABS_FE.mdb which is distributed to all users. It has a form linked to PHONE_DATA table which is located in the ABS_BE.mdb.

I am trying to edit PHONE_DATA table ABS_BE.mdb (Design View) to be able to add more field. Before I do this, I made sure every user has their own ABS_FE.mdb closed and checked if the ABS_BE.mdb located on the server has no ABS_BE.ldb 1kb file which indicates someone has it open.

I hope this makes things more clear.

Thanks,
Sheila

- Collapse -
Re: editing table
Apr 5, 2010 5:22PM PDT

I've never seen this particular error message, although I've used this same construct.

What happens if you copy this data-mdb to your own PC, do the change and copy it back? Logically speaking, one expects the same error. If so, it becomes a game of elimination and work-arounds to find the culprit. It could be something like a macro that runs at opening the database.

The worst that can happpen is that you have to make a new database, make a new table definition in that database and import the data from the old database. Can't be more than half an hour work.

Kees

- Collapse -
Re: editing table
Apr 5, 2010 7:22PM PDT

That is exactly what I did for a work-around at the time that I needed to make the changes to the specific table. I copied the ABS_BE.mdb in my PC and made the changes in my own copy. It did allow me to edit the database in Design View and I had to copy it in the server to replace the original file.

I was also wondering whether the Macros are the cause of this problem. Anyway, I'll try your suggestion and do an elimination and see which of these macros are causing the problem.

Thanks Kees.

- Collapse -
MS Access - Either an object bound to table "XXX" is open...
May 27, 2012 12:04AM PDT

I'm no expert, but here's how I solved, or g0t around this problem. Right click on the name of the table in Access Objects and left click on open. When the table opens, right click on the top margin of the table bar. Left click on close all. Now right click on the name of the table and left click on Design View and it should open for editing. Hope it works for you.
Regards,
Gary

- Collapse -
Thanks for solution Gary
Jul 20, 2013 2:52AM PDT

Your technique works! Thank you.

Your terms: Right and Left click are confusing. I am right handed. Right Click is a "simple" index finger, left button on the mouse click. Left Click is a middle finger, right button on the mouse click.

- Collapse -
No functions
Dec 23, 2013 12:35AM PST

On a mouse with two or three bottons, "left click" means clicking the left button, and "right click" means clicking the right button. And I guess if there are three buttons, a "middle click" would mean the middle button.

It seriously does not matter which finger you use.

- Collapse -
Another 'crazy' solution from Vexen.
Dec 24, 2013 10:23PM PST

I'm using MS Access 2013 on Win8. I hit the same problem on a single-user .accdb file. I couldn't edit one particular table because it was always saying that it was locked out by another process or user. It would have been really useful if it could tell me a bit more information than that! If anyone knows, Access knows, so why not tell me the name of function / form / object / process that has the table locked?

Nonetheless, I followed the procedure above - I right clicked the table and clicked on Design, whereupon the error popped up. I clicked Yes to open it as read-only. Then I right clicked the tabbed window's tab, and selected "Close All", which seemed odd because I clearly only had one instance of it open and I have only just opened the project. But it worked, and when I right clicked "Design" on the table for a second time, it worked.

I'm putting this down to a MS Access 2013 bug.