Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8 message in Access 2003

[Philip Leduc]

Hi There,

I would like to get some more information about the message popping up when
running a Access 2003 database that includes macros/VBA code.

"Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8 or later must be installed to block unsafe
expressions without affecting common functionality.
The latest Microsoft Jet 4.0 service pack is available from Windows Update.
To block unsafe expressions, see the About Microsoft Jet Expression Service
sandbox mode Help topic, which is available from the link at the bottom of
this topic.
If the service pack is not applied:
Wizards and builders may not start.
Switchboards created by Switchboard Manager will fail.
The RunCode macro action for calling a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
procedure will fail.
Event handlers that call VBA procedures will fail.
VBA procedures called from a property sheet or used in a SQL statement will
fail.
Filtering on a hyperlink field will fail.
Some VBA functions called from a property sheet or SQL statement will fail.
More information about this error message online.

Does anyone have more information about the consequences of downloading this
service pack on:
1) Existing code in Access 2003 mdb files
2) Running earlier Access versions on the same machines ie Access 2000

Philip

 

[Allen Browne]

Philip, you can download the update and not enable Sandbox mode.
This gives you full functionality in all versions. More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=294698

This whole issue is really bizzare. Never in my life have I seen a software
company INTENTIONALLY frustrate users like this. Every time you open any
file - even one you wrote yourself, you have to carefully read through
*THREE* large and obtuse dialogs to locate where the question is that you
are supposed to be answering, and end up choosing the non-default answer,
i.e. THREE TIMES the default answer is, "Give up and DO NOT use this
software!"

It is possible to avoid this by choosing Low Security. Although this is
explicitly "not recommended" by Microsoft (they *REALLY* do not want you to
use this software!) that works if you can find the menu item hidden away
under Tools | Macro | Security (why Macro?), AND if the menu item is there.
The menu item is frequently NOT there, and you have to reset your menus to
get it back. Did you get the impression that they do NOT want you to use
this software yet?

(It is actually worse than that, because if you did develop software in
previous versions of Access and your clients do buy A2003, they will all run
into this issue. Imagine the support nightmare?)