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No Access version released thus far has been backwards compatible.
This means that converting your 2.0 database to Access 95/97 or your Access 95 mdb to 97
is a one way street. Therefore, it's a good practice to make a copy of the database and
then convert the original database.
If you must convert an Access 97 mdb to Access 95 format, you can try the
Downsizer utility. This is a Visual Basic v5 program
which automates the conversion of forms, reports, and other database objects. Obviously,
it cannot convert those objects and properties which didn't exist in Access 95.
Keep in mind though that Access 95 was the most problematic version of Access
and if possible, every effort should be made to upgrade to Access 97.
If however, you have to support users running different versions of
Access, then the best idea is to create a separate front end for each version (which
holds all objects except tables), and then create a back end (which holds only tables) in
the oldest version of Access that you have to support. For example, if you're
working with Access 95 & 97, create the backend in Access 95, and two versions
of front ends, one for Access 95, and the other for Access 97.
Similarly, you can export the tables and the data contained in
them to an Access 95 database. Also, you can copy/paste code and SQL from an
Access 97 mdb back into a 95 mdb. But obviously, this is a manual process and you
will need to re-verify your code strenuously under the 95 environment. Other objects
(forms/reports/macros) cannot be converted backwards.
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