Forms will not Load in Access

Question

I have a database that I designed and have been using for a few years now. I have it setup in a matter where a User chooses an option from a Switchboard that I created and then a form loads on screen with a Title or Header and controls on the bottom half for data entry or selection.

The problem is; when an option is selected on the Switchboard by an End User, the form Title loads and the bottom of the form appears blank (or doesn't load). I need help ASAP. I've Googled and read everything I've found but nothing has helped so far.

Answer 1

Hi John,

All three Users can only see the form header but not the details (no footer). When I open it from my PC I get the same results.

Yes I can open the Query and edit tables directly.

We are using .accdb formatted frontends.

I made a mistake (our network guys takes care User rights across our network, so I wasn't sure at first), they do have delete privileges as well - the database does create a (temp) lock file for all users.

It has tons of queries on several different forms as well as controls. I'm going through and checking every one but this will take a lot of time. The thing is that I'm not receiving any error messages or messages period, that would give me a clue as to what's causing this.

If you think of anything you would like me to try please let me know. Again, thanks for your help.

Answer 2

What is the Recordsource of the form? Is it just the table or is it a SQL statement or named query?

Answer 3

The limit on an Access database is 2GByte, so 1.3 is getting sizable but not pushing the limit yet. 

Can you (or some users) see the form and others cannot? If you open this user's database can you open the Query upon which the form is based, or look at (and edit) the tables directly? Are they using a .mdb, .mde, .accdb or .accde format database frontend?

The reason to give the users Delete access to the folder is that Access creates a "Lock" file when the database is opened, and deletes it when the last user closes it. It's not a dealbreaker if the lock file gets left around and probably won't cause this particular problem. I suspect that there is SOMETHING causing this user (or these users) to be seeing an empty (and non-updateable) recordsource for the Form, but what would be causing that isn't clear!

Answer 4

John, Thank you very much for your reply. It sounds as if you have experience with this problem so I will answer your questions and see if you can help me resolve.

Are the form controls visible, but just empty? Answer = Not visible

Or is the form blank, just white? Answer = Blank, Form Title loaded but without Controls in the lower section

Have you compacted and repaired the database?  Answer = Yes

Do you have a working backup? Answer = Yes, I have a backup

Do the end users have full read/write/create/delete privileges on the folder containing the database? Answer = Yes, they have full read/write/create - Delete no.

And is the database split into a Backend (tables) and Frontend (everything else)? Answer = Yes

This Comment is interesting: "The latter is seen when the form's recordsource is empty (no old records) and does not allow additions (no new record either)."

There is data in the table - could it be that the file is too large? Current size 1.3gig

Answer 5

The symptom suggests that the form's Recordsource isn't returning any records. Are the form controls visible, but just empty? Or is the form blank, just white? The latter is seen when the form's recordsource is empty (no old records) and does not allow additions (no new record either).

Have you compacted and repaired the database? Do you have a working backup? Do the end users have full read/write/create/delete privileges on the folder containing the database? And is the database split into a Backend (tables) and Frontend (everything else)?