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- How to Correct "Couldn't find installable ISAM" error
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-
- This file expands upon the information given in the VB's help file and
- its README.TXT. This includes common errors and traps that have been
- noted in messages in the MSBASIC forum on Compuserve related to this
- error.
-
- "Couldn't find installable ISAM" means that an external file dynamic
- link library (DLL) file couldn't be found. This file is required for
- operations such as attaching or accessing external tables. External
- databases that are affected by the error include: Btrieve, dBase III,
- dBase IV, FoxPro 2.0, FoxPro 2.5, and Paradox 3.x. ODBC and MS-Access
- databases use different methods and DLLs for connecting.
-
- Possible causes when program doesn't work in the VB design environment
- or as an EXE file:
-
- 1) The entry for the database type you are trying to access in the
- [Installable ISAMs] section in VB.INI or <appname>.INI points to
- an incorrect location. For example, VB.INI for some reason has
- its entries pointing to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM when your Windows system
- directory is actually on G:\WIN31\SYSTEM. To correct this problem
- exit VB or your app and edit the appropriate .INI file with Notepad
- or another ASCII editor.
-
- 2) The entry for the database type you are trying to access in the
- [Installable ISAMs] section in VB.INI or <appname>.ini points to
- a network drive, and that drive isn't connected. Check to make
- sure the network is available and the proper drive letter is
- established, and try the operation again.
-
- 3) The entry in the [Installable ISAMs] section in VB.INI or
- <appname>.INI does not exactly match the connect property of your
- data control or the connect parameter in the OpenDatabase function.
- Confirm that the Connect property and the entry in the .INI file
- match, and try the operation again.
-
- Examples of this error:
-
- a. The VB manuals and help file refer to the Connect property for
- a Paradox database as 'Paradox;'. Actually, VB writes
- 'Paradox 3.x;' to the VB.INI file.
-
- b. Here are a couple of common typos:
-
- Typo Correct
- ---- --------
- 'dBase;' 'dBase IV;' or 'dBase III;'
-
- 'dBaseIV;' 'dBase IV;'
-
- 'dBaseIII;' 'dBase III;'
-
- 'FoxPro;' 'FoxPro 2.0;' or 'FoxPro 2.5;'
-
-
- Possible causes when program works OK in the VB design environment but not
- as an EXE file:
-
- 1) You have not created an <appname>.INI file for your application
- or your current .INI file does not have an [Installable ISAMs]
- section in it. To create the required .INI file or to add this
- section to your current .INI, simply load your VB.INI file into
- Notepad (or another ASCII editor) and copy the [Installable ISAMs]
- section into a new file called <your_app's_name_here>.ini or
- into your current .INI if you have one.
-
- 2) Your application cannot find <appname>.INI. To correct this, use the
- SetDataAccessOption command to point to it. For Example:
-
- SetDataAccessOption 1, app.path & "\MYAPP.INI"
-
- or
-
- SetDataAccessOption 1, WinDir$ & "\MYAPP.INI"
-
- (where WinDir$ was set to the Windows directory using the
- GetWindowsDirectory API call)
-
- Using the SetDataAccessOption is the best way to prevent possible
- problems when you deliver your application to end users.
-
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-
- I hope this helps you in working with VB 3.0 and its Data Access
- functions. I've noticed that many people have left messages in
- the MSBASIC forum describing problems with this error message. This
- information should help you get over this hump. If you have and
- additions or corrections to this document, let me know.
-
- You may contact me at:
-
- J. Frank Carr
- 1532 Amber Trail
- Duluth, GA 30136 USA
-
- Voice Mail: (404) 880-5762
-
- CIS: 75120, 2420
-
- America OnLine: JFCarr
-
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