Thursday, November 8, 2007

Cannot update. Database or object is read-only.

In Access 2007 you have a great feature that can copy data from or to a SharePoint list, but the error messages could have been better...

While copying a whole bunch of data, I got the following error:

Cannot update. Database or object is read-only.

Very vague... Looking at the record that caused the error (another great feature of the new Access, it shows which records couldn't be copied) I saw nothing strange. When googling for the error message, I even found a page telling that this was a known issue with a Hotfix for it, so I first thought that there was no way for me to solve this error quickly. When taking another look at the record though, I noticed a multiline field I overlooked. At the end of this field, there was a strange sign (a question mark in a little square), which was obviously causing the error...

So, long story short, if you ever run into this error, just check your data (all of it, don't be like me...) and try copying field by field to determine the field with the "illegal" character.

4 comments:

Vince said...

How did you "look at the record that caused the error"? Is there a detailed log file available??? Please help!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for shareing this. I'll try your way and refraining from smashing my pc.
I am VERY INTERESTED in your comment about checking the records that could not be copied. HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

Sorry about the shouting but if that really was a feature I might save myself loads of time and distress.

Thank you,
vinz

Anonymous said...

how can I check thousands of records for illegal record. .... Dum Idea

Tom said...

To all people who can't find the record that caused the error: I'm not in IT anymore, so I don't have the means to recreate it myself, but as you can read in my post, the new Access (I think it was Office 2007) gives an error message when copying the data. Take a look at this message to see which record causes the error. This way you only have to check one sole line. Good luck!