Can no longer set General Date/Time format

[Jan Il]

Hi all, Access 2002 XP - Windows ME

I have a check registry I just recently successfully completed, and I had to
uninstall and reinstall the Office 2002 XP Pro to resolve a hardware issue.
Since the reinstall, I can no longer enter a Date/Time entry in the
CheckDate field, either in the table direct, or from the data entry form. I
have tried resetting the formats for the field in the table, and the control
in the entry form, but, nada.

The Date/Time entries that were made prior to the last activity, are fine,
but, I can no longer enter the Date with a time. No matter how I set the
format, it will just accept the date, not the time.

I would *truly* appreciate any suggestions on how to reformat this field,
or perhaps a reference where I might be able to find out how to rectify this
situation. I'm totally new to 2002 XP, and I have no clue what may have
caused this type of thingie to happen.

Best regards,
Jan

 

[Tim Ferguson]

I would *truly* appreciate any suggestions on how to reformat this
field, or perhaps a reference where I might be able to find out how to
rectify this situation. I'm totally new to 2002 XP, and I have no
clue what may have caused this type of thingie to happen.

First thing would be to _remove_ all the formatting. I suspect either an
InputMask or perhaps a MaxLength setting on the textbox.

When you say "you can't", what happens exactly: no response to keystrokes,
error message, speaker beeps, etc?


Tim F

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Tim!

First thing would be to _remove_ all the formatting. I suspect either an
InputMask or perhaps a MaxLength setting on the textbox.

When you say "you can't", what happens exactly: no response to keystrokes,
error message, speaker beeps, etc?

Sorry... in the original setup of the table, the field format was set for
General date/time to set a chronological entry that would be unique in the
event more than one entry was made on the same date. After I opened the db
in Access 2002 XP, any entry in that field afterward would not add the time
with the date. Being that the field format was set to General date/time, I
got an error stating that it was not the right format for that field. Nor,
could I enter a time to go with the date, I got the same error message. I
tried removing the format from that field and compiled, then tried to reset
the format again. Still no go. All the previous entries with the date/time
remained in tact and were fine, but, no new ones could be added correctly. I
then tried in the control on the form, no luck there either.

Strange though, even after I removed the General Date/Time format from that
field on the table, it still would not let me enter even just a date, I got
the error message about it being the wrong format.

Thank you very much for your time and assistance with this issue, I truly
appreciate it.

Jan

 

[Tim Ferguson]

Sorry... in the original setup of the table, the field format was set
for General date/time to set a chronological entry that would be
unique in the event more than one entry was made on the same date.

I don't really understand this: since DateTime values are in effect double-
precision floats, they do not make for good unique keys.

After I opened the db in Access 2002 XP, any entry in that field
afterward would not add the time with the date. Being that the field
format was set to General date/time, I got an error stating that it
was not the right format for that field. Nor, could I enter a time to
go with the date, I got the same error message.

This is odd too: I cannot duplicate this error, but then again I do not see
a "General Date/Time" number format. "General Date" works normally, without
error, and "General Time" and "General" do not exist.

On the other hand, the format "General Number" applied to a DateTime field
does give exactly this error: although why that is so I cannot guess. [1]

I tried removing the
format from that field and compiled, then tried to reset the format
again. Still no go.

What happens with no format: simply clearing the Format box and leaving it
blank? If this causes an error, then something very odd is happening at the
Text-to-Date level, which is a function of OLEAUT32.DLL, and is also
governed by the Control Panel regional settings. It would be a good idea to
look at the control panel and make sure there is nothing out of the
ordinary there.

[1] I am working from Access 2000, but I have not read anywhere of any
major changes in the way that DateTime values are implemented.

All the best


Tim F

 

[Jan Il]

same date.

I don't really understand this: since DateTime values are in effect double-
precision floats, they do not make for good unique keys.

Okay..here is the SQL from the query, it is for a check
register project. The code is a combination from Tom
Ellison and Dan Artuso. (07/27/03 - queries ng.)

SELECT T.CheckNo, T.CheckDate, T.Transaction, T.CheckAmt,
T.DepositAmt, T.TransactionType, T.Comment, (SELECT SUM(Nz
(DepositAmt, 0) - Nz(CheckAmt, 0))
FROM MyCheckRegister T1
WHERE T1.CheckDate <= T.CheckDate) AS RunningBalance
FROM MyCheckRegister AS T
ORDER BY T.CheckDate;

As I said, it was working perfectly, and the General Date
format did exactly what it was supposed to per Dan Artuso
and allowed the balance items to be calculated per each
check or deposit entry.

This is odd too: I cannot duplicate this error, but then again I do not see
a "General Date/Time" number format. "General Date" works normally, without
error, and "General Time" and "General" do not exist.

The format is General Date, which includes the date and a
time (i.e., 07/31/03 12:00:00 PM). Sorry for the
confusion.

On the other hand, the format "General Number" applied to a DateTime field
does give exactly this error: although why that is so I cannot guess. [1]

I tried removing the
format from that field and compiled, then tried to reset the format
again. Still no go.

What happens with no format: simply clearing the Format box and leaving it
blank? If this causes an error, then something very odd is happening at the
Text-to-Date level, which is a function of OLEAUT32.DLL, and is also
governed by the Control Panel regional settings. It would be a good idea to
look at the control panel and make sure there is nothing out of the
ordinary there.

Yes, that is just what is happening. I have cleared all
format settings, in the table and in the form control,
but, when I try to enter just 07/03/03, I get the error
message that is an incorrect format for that field. I
thought this strange too, but, hey, I'm totally new to
2002 XP, so I have no experience with how the conversion
may or may not affect the workings of the database. I'll
check out the control panel settings and see if there has
been something thrown amuck there. If I copy the date &
time from another record into the field and change the
time and date manually, it is fine, but, I can't just type
it in. ??? It has only started this since I went to 2002
XP, then opened it in 2000 again.

[1] I am working from Access 2000, but I have not read anywhere of any
major changes in the way that DateTime values are implemented.

All the best

Well.. I suppose this is another of those odd ungrade
thingies that can not be explained. I even tried exporting
everything into a new blank database to see if that would
help, but, it was still the same. I'll do some more
troubleshooting.

Thank you very mcuh for your time and assistance, Tim, I
truly appreciate it.

 

[Tim Ferguson]

I have cleared all
format settings, in the table and in the form control,
but, when I try to enter just 07/03/03, I get the error
message that is an incorrect format for that field.

Okay: this sounds like a problem before the entry even gets to Jet or the
database. Try something like this in the immediate window

? #01/02/03 14:00#

An alternative test would be to create a new database, add a table with a
single plain DateTime field, and see if you can type into that. What
happens if you type date values into Excel (mind you, it's possible that
Excel uses its own parsing engine...).

All in all it's very odd. I'd be interested to hear if you manage to solve
it.

All the best

Tim F

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Tim!

Okay: this sounds like a problem before the entry even gets to Jet or the
database. Try something like this in the immediate window

? #01/02/03 14:00#

Here is what I copied from the Immediate Window:

? #01/02/03 14:00#
1/2/2003 2:00:00 PM

An alternative test would be to create a new database, add a table with a
single plain DateTime field, and see if you can type into that. What
happens if you type date values into Excel (mind you, it's possible that
Excel uses its own parsing engine...).

I created a new database, with a new table with the Plain DateTime in that
field, which did allow me to type the date into it, but there was no time
added. This is too weird...

I then reinstalled my WindowsME to make sure that all the basics were
covered, and checked the Control Panel to make sure that the necessary
settings were all correct.

There was not a problem with Excel, it performed as it should. I tried
several
situations and formulas and all functioned properly.

All in all it's very odd. I'd be interested to hear if you manage to solve

'k... this may seem a bit unconventional...and...I don't know why, but, it
seems that I do get these type of situations...so,

I tried a variation of troubleshooting techniques with all sorts of
combinations..and still could not resolve the problem. So, when all else
failed, I thought, it's no good as is, so..go for the gusto..what the
Petunia, it can't do any more harm. Thus, I decided to do a decompile
according to the instructions I received from Dirk Goldgar a while back in
regards to another real poser I had.

Afterward, I opened the db in 2000 and deleted the table, then recreated it,
set the format for the General Date, then did a compact/compile and closed
it. Then I opened it in 2002 XP. I was able to manually enter the date
08/07/03, and when I tabbed to the next field, and upon completion of the
entry to the other fields, the balance amount updated as it should. This
surprised me. Then I
closed the db and reopened it again in 2000 and made another entry, the
results were the same as in 2002, no errors. Why?? Don't have a clue at
all. But..I did find that when I highlighted the CheckDate field, the
*time* was then also displayed with the date, but, when the field was not
highlighted, only the date is displayed in the filed..??? I mean, the field
is plenty big enough to display both date and time. But, if the cursor is
not in the field, only the date is displayed ??? Not even a clue on this
end.
<g>

Thus, even though it looks like only the date is showing up, both date *and*
time were actually being entered. Guess that is why the balance update was
working after all.

Well...this is just really weird stuff, Tim, what can I say. This was not
the case before I did the decompile, as I could not enter just the 08/03/03
date in the filed without the format error, in either 2000 or 2002, much
less
get the time too.

I dunno...this type of problem is typical of all the other types of problems
I have
had with my 2002 XP upgrade. Maybe I should either have an exorcism
performed on my PC...or stop watching X Files. Anywho, this is where things
are at this point.

Thank you very much for all your time and help, I truly do appreciate it..
;-))

Very best regards,
Jan