Edit Microsoft Access Mde File
If the application has been compiled to a mde (or accDE), then design mode will not be available for forms/reports and VBA code. Assuming you have an mdb or accDB (not an mde or accDE in which design changes are NOT possible), then you should. How to Plug Microsoft Access accde and mde Security Leaks I was shocked. I had heard that Constants and Variables could be seen by opening an accde or mde file with a hex editor but when I opened my file I was stunned to see so much of my data, objects, and code in plain text.
-->This article fixes an issue in the VBA code that prevents you from compiling a database or project or there is a reference.
Note
Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.
Original KB number: 283788
Note
Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills. This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb/.accdb) and to a Microsoft Access project (.adp).
Symptoms
When you try to save a Microsoft Access database as an ACCDE or MDE file, you may receive the following error message and the ACCDE file isn't created.
Microsoft Access was unable to create the .accde, .mde, or .ade file.
When you try to save a Microsoft Access database as a MDE file, you may receive the following error message and the MDE file isn't created.
Microsoft Access was unable to create an MDE database.
When you try to save a Microsoft Access project as an ADE file, you may receive the following error message and the ADE file isn't created.
Microsoft Access was unable to create an ADE database.
Cause
You may receive this error message if either of the following conditions is true:
- There is an error in the Visual Basic for Applications code that prevents you from compiling the database or project.
- There is a reference to an Access database (.mdb/.accdb) or an Access project (.adp).
Resolution
- Correct any problems in the code that prevent you from compiling the database or project.
- Remove any references to .mdb, .accdb, and .adp files.
If you need to maintain a reference to a .mdb, .accdb, or .adp file, convert that file into an MDE, ACCDE or an ADE file, and then create a reference to the new file. You should now be able to convert the database or project to an MDE, ACCDE or an ADE file.
Steps to reproduce the behavior
Create a new database.
Press ALT+F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
On the Insert menu, click Module.
Type the following code:
On the File menu, click Save projectname.
Press ALT+F11 to return to Microsoft Access.
On the Tools menu, point to Database Utilities, and then click Make MDE File.
Create an Microsoft Access MDB from an MDE. You can't. Well sorta.
aka How to convert an MDE to MDB
(Updated 2010-09-27)
You can retrieve tables, queries and macros yourself but only because these objects don't have any code associated with them. But you can't get back the code behind the forms, reports and modules. The code in an MDE has been converted to an interpreted or compiled format. There is nothing in human readable format available to retrieve without special tools.
You can get back the controls and layout information on the forms and reports. See MDE forms/reports extractor. Also a Polish version is at Warsztat 2: Konwerter plików MDE do MDB (MDE to MDB converter)
MDE to MDB Conversion Service for Microsoft® Access is a service which can get back the VBA code behind the forms, reports and modules. However no comments are retrievable.
You must keep the original MDB when making an MDE. Preferably in multiple places including offsite unerasable backups such as CDRs.
I have a bi weekly, roughly, backup of all my data files such as Word and Excel documents as well as all MDBs I've ever created on CDR. These have been placed into a safety deposit box. I now have about five or six years worth in the largest box my bank rents and I'm just about running out of room. I zip them first as then they will fit nicely on a CD. .
But according to this article, Time To Check Your CDRs, I should double check those CDs.
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Access Mde File
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