Access 2000 - Snapshot viewer

[markb]

Hi,
I use a large database at work(roughly 187mb) and when I export a
report
from that database to a snapshot viewer file(.snp), the snapshot viewer
opens
up and gives me an error saying "An error occurred while opening a
snapshot
file.". Then when I try and open the same file again it either opens
up fine
or gives me the same error message. I have tried this on multiple
computers
and they all have the same problem. I use a novell network and the
main
database is copied locally to the hard drive. What should I do?

 

[aaron.kempf]

uh i'd start with reinstalling the snapshot viewer; i think that you
can do a find file for snapview.exe or something along those lines..
look at the version numbers and compare and contrast

 

[[MVP] S.Clark]

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this.", said the patient.
"Don't do that.", replied the doctor.

When exporting the report to the .snp, there is a checkbox labelled
'Autostart'. (To the left of the Export button.) Uncheck it. This will
suppress the initial opening of the document, which should cause the error
to go away. I know this is like the patient above, but I really don't find
a use for the Autostart, so hopefully this solution fits.

 

[dbahooker]

man i wish that MS would have pushed snapshot harder

i mean-- all that they would have needed to do to win the PDF war is
include 'export to SNP format' in XLS

SNP rocks

i've had many many projects where i use snapshots exclusively--- so
instead of runing a report to preview; and then rerunning it for
print-- i export it to SNP and then let the end user have multiple
copies open; etc

it just seems like a really really sharp concept

i even wrote somethign that would automate faxing SNPs once upon a
time; export a SNP to a FAX folder with a date and a fax number in the
file title--- and have an exe sitting around printing SNPs to a fax
driver

worked like a charm

i just wish it was easier to do.

 

[markbegg49]

Yeah, I tried reinstalling the Snapshot viewer upto version 10. I
tried unticking the autostart and the file will sometimes work and then
other times it won't work. Once it dosnt work, the file wont load up
untill the computer is restarted. I cant think of anything else to do.
I mean could be many things thats causeing it, eg. programs open,
location of report (hard drive or network) and so on. Has anyone else
had a similar problem or the same.

 

[dbahooker]

so might you have a different application that is trying to use the SNP
extension?

or can you open a SNP extension by double-clicking it in windows?

maybe windows is trying to make some API call that's saying 'what app
should i use to launch this SNP file' and it's failing there

i just love SNP; i mean-- i've had a couple of clients where i spit
every Access report out to SNP format so that i dotn make the end user
sit and wait for the report twice-- once for preview and once for
printing.

it seems really really powerful; i wish i could just wave my wagic wand
and make it work for you

i'd start with some more info
a) are you using excessively long paths??
b) do you have spaces in your paths
c) can you try it with a shorter path
d) do you have NTFS read-write to the path where you're trying to
export the SNP to
e) do you have any special characters (maybe paranthesis or somethign)
in the name of your reports

etc

hth

 

[markbegg49]

The only progam that I have got that can read .snp is the snapshot
viewer. Since my last post I have found out that the error only occurs
when the computers are on the network. Off the network however, I
havn't once seen the error, but on the network the file may open fine a
few times and then others it won't. I tried saving the files to the
desktop and on our main network drives and the error seems to be the
same there. All the file names are regular names, with and without
spaces. I have tried nameing the reports different names and thats
made no difference either. I have also looked at the programs open at
the time which are usually groupwise, MS access and internet explorer.

 

[SusanV]

I don't know whether this will help you, but I had a similar problem with
one PC, and reinstalling the snapshot viewer fixed the problem.

 

[markbegg49]

I all ready reinstalled the snapshot viewer with versions 9 and 10.
Thanx for the help though. Any other ideas?

 

[dbahooker]

what kindof antivirus do you use?

i would reccomend adding the SNP extension to files to ignore; i've
never heard of a SNP infection; and i used to work in anti-virus in
redmond

 

[SusanV]

Sorry, no...

 

[markbegg49]

I use Mcafee Antivirus and I have tried disableing it, and the error
still persists. Its such a pain! I am trying to log the processes
going on at the time of being logged on and being logged off, but
different process's keep coming and going! I need some way of logging
what is going on...

 

[SusanV]

Can you perhaps print to a pdf instead of exporting to a snapshot file?

 

[aaron.kempf]

ACROBAT sucks.. i mean-- the worst piece of spyware ever written.

i mean-- it sits there and installs 'Adobe Download Manager' for
starters which bundles a half dozen other programs

i mean-- do these idiots really think that i want to make photoshop
albums on every machine everywhere in the world?

it's just too obtrusive.

screw acrobat, the people that wrote it should be SHOT on live TV.

i would reccomend formatting the box, reinstalling windows.. i mean-- i
have a much lower threashold for this than most other people. my idea
is just; when something like this gets hosed and it's not getting
fixed-- i just am too nervous that something else will get hosed

if you really want our help, tell us:

a) what paths' your exporting from each machine
[im hoping that you're going to say 'oh thats the funny part, this
person is missing their G drive when everyone else has it' lol]

b) are you on a domain? have you tried it with a different user on that
domain?

c) have you reinstalled office?
d) do you run windows update religously
e) do a find file for SNAPVIEW, delete all the files in that directory
(unless it's got more than 5 files in that dir lol-- im pretty sure
it's installed into a subdir).. i just dont want you do delete
everything in the office dir; and then say 'but you said'

 

[markbegg49]

I have proved its not the database thats causeing it because the files
are made fine, but it errors sometimes or all the times when I open
them, but the file is exactly as the report was. I am not on a domain
as I log onto our novell server with netware 6.5 on. I have tried it
with a different user and the error still happens. I have not
reinstalled office, but I have reinstalled the Snapshot viewer, ver 9 +
10. On my computer, I actually run windows updates religiously, but on
others its upto them to do it. I can say that its not the database as
the files intact, its not the users as the problem still happens not
matter what user is logged on, and all the computers have WIndows XP
SP2 on. I can only think that its a conflicting program or process,
but is only on when logged in, but I can't seem to find that
process/program. i have tried using a program called "security task
manager", which seems to be a little better than task manager, and can
even to html reports. Any other ideas?

 

[SusanV]

Could be a network issue - the snapshot viewer is trying to open the file
but the transfer is incomplete or somesuch (snapshot files are actually
compressed cab files).

You may be better off outputting to a pdf - although you wouldn't be
"outputting" but rather printing to a pdf. CutePDF is a free pdf printer...

 

[aaron.kempf]

pdfs are for wimps. go play your games elsewhere, susan.. you can take
your pdf and shove it up your nose

are you writing the SNP to a network location?
can you write it locally and then copy if via copyFile or shell or
something

i personally won't do anything against a network for any reason; i
mean-- mdb is too wimpy to ever be run anywhere over a network

 

[markbegg49]

Well I have tried saving on a network and on a local hard drive and the
error is still the same. I dont want to use a pdf as the file format.
Whats's shell?

 

[dbahooker]

shell is a dos cmd

have you tried a 'detect and repair' inside of access? it might prompt
you for the office CDs.

i would try to do something along the lines of add and remove
components and add and remove the snapshot viewer component or
something along those lines

wish i was there im sure i could fix it in a couple of mins

 

[markbegg49]

Yep, I have already uninstalled and repaired Office and uninstalled
snapshot viewer and it still is doing the same. Just thought though,
my office programs have SP1 and SP3 installed, should I try with just
regular office or with SP1 only installed? i dont think that would
help though, because as I have said before, the file errors sometimes
and opens others, so the file is created fine as it opens up and the
data is correct. It must be something running/installed? Also I am
only an IT apprentice and this is my first major problem, and I will be
very glad when a solution is found.