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JamesFlag for Canada

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Microsoft Access: Constantly have to refresh table link if a table has an attachment field in it

My database is divided into a front-end and back-end. I regularly make updates to the front-end and then copy the front-end from my computer to my client's computer. Today, I added an attachment field (i.e. data type = attachment) to one of the tables in the back-end. It works fine on my computer. But when I copy the front-end to the client's computer, I get this error whenever I attempt to open a form that references the table with the attachment field in it:

The Microsoft Office Access database engine cannot find the input table or query ''. Make sure that it exists and that its name is spelled correctly.

When I go into the Linked Table Manager, it says it is pointed to the right back-end file. But if I check the box beside that table and click OK, the above error goes away and I can use the database without any further problems.

Or, if I execute this command:

db.TableDefs("tblCustomers").RefreshLink

it also fixes the problem. But I have to do that every time I copy a new front-end to the client computer.

If I delete the attachment field from the table, the above problem goes away and I can copy front-ends without any errors or the need to refresh links. But as soon as I re-add an attachment field to the table, the problem comes up again.

Any suggestions?
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John Tsioumpris
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Well it might be a longshot but i found an also similar case and the culprit was not the Attachment field but rather a Memo Field because it the Property "Append Only" to Yes that caused data to get pushed to a system table...so the info was retained on the system table and because it was the old one...there was an issue...until the Relinking was used to refresh the info.
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ASKER

This gave me hope because the table does have 5 memo fields. Alas, they all have the Append Only property set to No.
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Jim Dettman (EE MVE)
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Daniel Pineault

I'd delete the attachment(s) field(s), and store them on the server.  There are several reason to do so, as you are seeing firsthand.  If you want to learn more, refer to Adding Attachments to an Access Database.