Unhandleable error opening database

or

Bad File Name or Number (52)

Abstract

Capable 21C can generate a message that says (among other words) 'Unhandleable error opening database' or 'Bad file name or number (52)'. This is a very specific information message which means that Capable 21C cannot open the Capable.mdb database file which is where all your data is stored.

Underlying challenge

While Capable 21C has generated this message, it does not mean that Capable 21C is broken. It just means that it can’t open the capable.mdb, which it must do. The question that needs to be addressed is “why” can’t Capable 21C open the Capable.mdb

Resolution

There are two common reasons why Capable 21C would be unable to open the Capable.mdb file.

1. In a network environment, there is a problem with the particular PC that generated the message accessing the other PC in the network where the database is actually stored.
2. The database has become damaged and cannot be opened.

Detailed Information

1. To test whether the PC you are on can actually connect to the database on another PC in the network, follow these steps:
2. Click on the large green start button in the bottom left hand corner of Windows
3. Choose the My Computer Option (which may be called local disk in some versions of Windows)
4. Double click on Local Disk C:\
5. Double click on the Program Files folder
6. Click yes to reveal files if you get any messages about these files being hidden
7. Double click on the folder called Capable
8. From the menu at the top of the window click on Tools and choose Folder Options from the drop down menu.
9. Click on the View tab
10. Check that the option “Hide extensions for known file types” (at the bottom of the visible window) is UNTICKED. If it is ticked, untick it and choose apply and OK. If it is already unticked, just click OK.
11. You should now be able to see a file called Capable.INI. Double Click on it.
12. The first line of this file should read DATABASE= (something). Click and highlight all the text after the DATABASE=, then hit Ctrl C on your keyboard (this will copy this text). Then close this window by the red X in the top right hand corner, saying NO to Save changes if asked.
13. Then click on the large green start button in the bottom left hand corner of Windows
14. Click on RUN (usually at the bottom of the right hand column).
15. In the white box beside open, delete any text if there is any text in that box. Hit Ctrl V on yor keyboard (this will paste the text that you copied from that other window).
16. Press the enter key.
17. At this point,
18. If a Windows box opens and you can see a folder called Capable.mdb, then it is unlikely that it is a network access issue. To be sure, if you have MS Access installed on the PC you are working on, you can double click on the Capable.mdb and it should open in Microsoft Access (you may get a message about the file being read only but this is OK). You should be able to see a heap of tables starting with Appointment Types. If you can see this, close MS Access by clicking on the Red X in the top right hand corner. You have now established that it is not a network access issue, and your database may be damaged (see section 2) on Damaged Databases.
19. If, when you pressed the enter key, you got one of the various messages saying that you can’t open this folder, then you do have network access issues and this is not something that Capable Software Pty Ltd can help you with. We recommend that the first thing you try is a full reboot of the network. Completely reboot all PC’s, the Server, and any switches or Hubs that you have. If you still don’t have access, the we recommend you call your local PC technician and explain that your network is not letting one of your PC’s open a file on another PC and refer your PC technician to the knowledgebase article on Installing and Configuring Capable 21C in a network.

1. Damaged Databases
2. If you have already established from Section 1 that your database may be damaged, then you should refer to our Knowledgebase article on performing a Compact and Repair. If the problem still persists after performing a compact and repair, you will need to contact Capable Software Pty Ltd for Technical Support, for which charges will apply.
3. If you were unable to establish whether you could actually open the Capable.mdb file (usually because you don’t actually have MS Access installed), then you will need to contact Capable Software Pty Ltd for Technical Support and charges will apply.

Copyright 2008 Capable Software Pty Ltd

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