Form flashes uncontrollably

[ry]

I inherited a database (access 97 on XP pro SP2) the file is on a domain
network drive and is accessed by several people.
--hope that's enough background--
Here's the situation, for the navigation the creator used rad buttons
which initiates the execution of one or more macros. Sometimes the
macros are calling other macros but eventually they open a form. It
blows to change or debug, but it usually works. Somewhere around 5% of
the time it doesn't work and results in flashing Access screen. It
appears to be a loop because right clicking the program in the task bar
results in a flashing context menu from which you cannot close the
program. So I CTRL-ALT-DEL and exit that way. I can't tell if this is
macro related or if the error is taking place during the loading of the
form. On what should be the form; there is a gradient and no controls
are visible.

At first I was wary of a bad access 97 installation, but I know it
happens on at least two other PC's and at least one other database (also
crammed full of macros).

Has anyone encountered anything similar? Or, does anyone have any
trouble shooting ideas?

 

[Allen Browne]

This could be a bunch of things.

First step would be to comment out or remove any Timer event code in any
form in the database.

Next, look for events that trigger other events cyclically. For example, if
you use the Current event of a subform to requery the parent form, this
causes the main form to reload its record, which causes the subform to be
reloaded, which triggers the subform's Current event, which ... It is very
easy to set up that kind of infinite loop.

The custom nav buttons could also be triggering that kind loop.

Conditional formatting will not be an issue in Access 97.

Hope you have lots of backups. Resetting the database without closing it is
a good way to corrupt the database.

 

[kabaka]

Sorry to jump in like this - but I can't find a solution anywhere.

I have a similar problem except that I'm not getting the flashing on a form
but rather when I run some queries and then open the report based on the
resulting temp table. The queries are against ODBC linked tables and take
about 20 seconds to run. Also, the report takes about 10 seconds to open.
During this time, it is not unusual for the user to go to a different program
and do something else for the 30 seconds. When she comes back the screen is
flashing. No forms anywhere. Do you have any suggestions as to either the
cause or a workaround?

Thanks!