SYMPTOMS

When you click the Open Database command on the File menu to open a database, the default folder for opening databases is a folder other than your working folder.

CAUSE

The Default Database Folder option setting has been changed from its default setting.

RESOLUTION

Change the Default Database Folder option setting back to its default setting. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Start Microsoft Access and open any database.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. Click the General tab.
4. In the Default Database Folder box, change the setting to a period (.).
5. Click OK.
6. Quit and then restart Microsoft Access.

If Microsoft Access does not recognize the default or working folder specified by an icon that you use to start Microsoft Access, follow the steps in the "Resolution" section to reset the Default Database Folder option setting.

NOTE: In Windows NT, to see the working folder specified by an icon that you use to start Microsoft Access, select the icon in Program Manager, and then click Properties on the File menu.

NOTE: In Windows 95, to see the working folder specified by an icon that you use to start Microsoft Access for Windows 95, using the right mouse button (right-click), click the taskbar, click Properties, click the Start Menu Programs tab, click the Advanced button, double-click the Programs folder, right-click the file name (for example, Microsoft Access), click Properties, click the Shortcut tab, and then view the assignment made to the Target box.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Open any database.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. Click the General tab.
4. In the Default Database Folder box, change the setting to "C:\Windows" (without the quotation marks).
5. Click OK.
6. Quit and then restart Microsoft Access.
7. On the File menu, click Open Database. Note that the default folder is now the Windows folder instead of the Microsoft Access folder.

For more information about the Default Database Folder setting, search for "Default Settings - Default Database Folder" using the Microsoft Access for Windows 95 Help Index.