Unrecognized function in Access 2007

[JudyJones]

I have a user who is using StrConv([Fieldname],3) in a query in Access 2007 and is getting an error message that it is an unrecognized function. They have SP2 installed which was my first thought because the copy of Access 2007 I am using does recognize this function. Does anyone have an idea of what else to look for that could cause this type of problem or would a reinstall be the way to go?

[HansV]

Don't reinstall - that's only a last-ditch measure, and moreover it rarely helps. The most probable explanation is a missing VBA reference. This is dependent on the PC, so it has to be solved by the user, or at least on the user's PC.

- Open the database.
- Press Alt+F11 to activate the Visual Basic Editor.
- Select Tools | References...
- Look for references whose check box is ticked (they are listed at the top) that start with MISSING:.
- Clear their check boxes.
- Select Debug | Compile <project> to see if any errors occur.
- If not, StrConv should hopefully work again.

[JudyJones]

That worked like a charm. I hope you realize how much time you save people when you provide fixes that are so simple and yet accomplish what is needed in so few steps.

[HansV]

Simple fixes don't always work, but it's nice when they do!

[agibsonsw]

This MISSING reference issue has been around for a number of years. Are they unable to resolve it (excusing the pun)? Or at least they should 'promote' it as a very common issue.

[HansV]

This MISSING reference issue has been around for a number of years. Are they unable to resolve it (excusing the pun)?

Who are "they"? Microsoft?

A missing reference means that code execution points into a file that is not available. There is no easy way to "resolve" that - it requires human intervention...

[agibsonsw]

Would it not be possible for Microsoft to generate a more helpful error message?

[HansV]

I'm not sure, but I can imagine it would be quite difficult to distinguish code not running because of a missing reference and code not running because the programmer forgot to include a user-defined function or type. So a modified error message could cause unwanted confusion in other situations. But that is just a guess.