You may receive the "Microsoft Access can't find the project or library" error message when you compile an Access 2000 database that has been converted to an Access 97 database

When you compile a Microsoft Access 2000 database that has been converted to a Microsoft Access 97 database, you may receive the following error message: Note This behavior does not occur on a computer that has both Access 97 and Access 2000 installed.

This behavior occurs if any reference in the newly converted Access 97 database is listed as missing. For example, when an Access 2000 database that is using the Microsoft DAO 3.6 library is converted back to Access 97, the Microsoft DAO 3.6 library reference is retained in the converted database. If this database is then compiled on a computer that only has Microsoft Office 97 or Access 97 installed, you receive the error message.

To work around this behavior, follow these steps:

1. Open the converted database in Microsoft Access 97.
2. Open a new or existing module in Design view.
3. On the Tools menu, click References.
4. Click to clear the check box for the reference marked as MISSING, and then click OK.

NOTE: If the reference marked as MISSING is a reference to the Microsoft DAO 3.6 Object Library, you must set a reference to the Microsoft DAO 3.5 or 3.51 Object Library in order for your code to compile successfully after you remove the missing reference.

If you cannot find an object library equivalent to the one that is missing, you may need to change the code.

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior:

1. In Access 2000, open the sample database, Northwind.mdb.
2. On the Tools menu, point to Database Utilities, point to Convert Database, and then click To a Prior Access Database Version.
3. Save the new database.
4. Open the database in Microsoft Access 97 on a computer that does not have Microsoft Access 2000 installed.
5. Open a new or existing module in Design view, and then on the Debug menu, click Compile and Save All Modules. Note that you receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.