PRA: "Invalid Method in Expression in Query Expression" Error

Article ID: Q115571
Creation Date: 31-MAY-1994
Revision Date: 19-SEP-1996

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access version 2.0

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

When you try to convert a Microsoft Access version 1.x database to version 2.0, you receive the following error message:

   Invalid method in expression in query expression 'Tablename.Fieldname'

CAUSE

If your Microsoft Access version 1.x database contains a table named Select, or if a table in the database contains a field named Select, and there is a query based on this table or field, the conversion process will stop and you will see the error message stated above. This behavior occurs because the conversion process confuses the table or field name Select with the SELECT SQL keyword when it is converting the queries in the database.

RESOLUTION

In order to work around this problem, open the database in Microsoft Access version 1.x and change the name of any table or field named Select to some other name. Avoid using Microsoft Access SQL keywords as table or field names. Then, start Microsoft Access version 2.0 and begin the conversion process again.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access version 2.0. This problem no longer occurs when you try to convert a database from earlier version of Microsoft Access to version 7.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

In Microsoft Access version 1.x, create a table named Select.
Create a query based on the Select table.
Save the table and query, and then quit Microsoft Access.
Start Microsoft Access version 2.0 and try to convert the database from version 1.x to 2.0 by choosing Convert Database from the File menu.

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