Function 'Left' not recognized

  • Thread starter Thread starter trapp
  • Start date Start date
T

trapp

Can anybody help me with this:

I am using the Left function in the underlying query for a
form (stored with the form, not a separate query). I need
to use it in order to make a criteria based on the first
letter of the data in a field. It worked just fine for a
long time, but now all of a sudden, Access says that it
can't find the 'Left' function. To further complicate
things, the function still works in similar places on
other forms.

Thanks in advance.
 
Sounds like a Reference problem. Go to any code window and Click Tools >
References. In the list, check to see if any are MISSING. If so, uncheck
it and click OK. That usually fixes it. In rare cases, you may have to
browse for the missing reference.
 
The machine may have a missing reference.
Open any module in Design view.
On the Tools menu, click References.
Click to clear the check box for the type library or object library
marked as "Missing:."

An alternative to removing the reference is to restore the referenced
file to the path specified in the References dialog box. If the
referenced file is in a new location, clear the "Missing:" reference
and create a new reference to the file in its new folder.

See Microsoft KnowledgeBase articles:
283115 'ACC2002: References That You Must Set When You Work with Microsoft
Access'
Or for Access 97:
175484 'References to Set When Working With Microsoft Access' for
the correct ones needed,
and
160870 'VBA Functions Break in Database with Missing References' for
how to reset a missing one.
 
Could also be a starting-to-corrupt .mdb file. Spefically, we've see
"Left" be one of the first oddities to pop up then things start to g
bad.

You can run what I call a "bait and switch" to solve the problem:

1. Create a new, empty DB.
2. Go in there, and File > Get External Data > Import
3. Select the file you've been working with
4. Go to each tab and select all
5. Import away.

You'll also have to re-set your references and startup options.
Besides ridding you of the Left problem, it should also reduce you
file size, often by an exceptional amount.

We've especially noticed the corruption starting when you generate
lot of unhandled errors (common while developing). Dunno why... jus
Access not cleaning up after itself, apparently. Sometimes resettin
the refereces has worked, but the problem comes up more and more ofte
until you bait and switch.

Hope that helps
 
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