ACC2000: Error Occurs When You Try to Use Multiple Instances of a Linked Paradox Table

Whether you open a Microsoft Access database in Exclusive mode or Shared mode, you cannot open or access multiple instances of a linked Paradox table. When you try to do so, you may receive the following error message: When you click OK, you may receive the following additional message:

Add a primary key to the Paradox table in Paradox.

If a Paradox table without a unique identifier is linked to an Access database, you cannot add or edit records in the table.

Also, when a linked Paradox table does not have a primary key, you cannot open multiple instances within an Access database. This is true no matter how the Access database has been opened (Exclusive or Shared). For example, if you have a form that is based on the linked Paradox table open in Form view, and you try to open the source Paradox table or open a recordset against the table, you receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Open any Access 2000 database.
2. On the File menu, point to Get External Data, and then click Link Tables.
3. In the Files of type box, click Paradox (*.db).
4. In the Look in box in the Link dialog box, locate the folder where the non-primary key Paradox file is stored.
5. Click the Paradox file, and then click Link.
6. Click OK to the message that indicates that the link was successful, and then click Close in the Link dialog box.
7. With the Paradox table selected in the Database window, on the Insert menu, click AutoForm to create a new form that is based on the linked Paradox table.
8. With the newly created form open, try to open the same linked Paradox table in Datasheet view. Note that you receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

For additional information about linking to Paradox tables, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: