XL97: Reference to DAO 3.0 Changes to DAO 3.5 When File Opened

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you open a workbook that references the Microsoft DAO 3.0 Object Library, you may find that the reference changes such that the workbook now references the Microsoft DAO 3.5 Object Library.

In Microsoft Excel 97 Visual Basic for Applications, the reference changes to DAO 3.5 if DAO 3.0 is not installed on your computer. However, if DAO 3.0 is installed, the project continues to reference DAO 3.0.

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

When you open a workbook that references DAO 3.0 in Microsoft Excel 97, the reference changes to DAO 3.5 if DAO 3.0 is not installed on your computer. The References dialog box indicates that DAO 3.5 is referenced, however, DAO 3.0 is still the underlying reference. Therefore, if you save the workbook and open it on a computer with only DAO 3.0, the reference to DAO 3.0 is maintained.

If you would like your project to permanently reference DAO 3.5, do the following:

1. In the Visual Basic Editor, click References on the Tools menu.
2. Clear the "Microsoft DAO 3.5 Object Library" check box.
3. Select the "Microsoft DAO 3.5 Object Library" check box again and click OK.

NOTE: If you permanently change the reference to DAO 3.5, your macro will produce an error when you run it on a computer that only has DAO 3.0 installed.