Using RefLibPaths to resolve broken references - step by step example (AccessXP)

Question

Well, I put RefLibPaths on my machine, but when I open the application from a full version of Access, I still get a broken reference. Is there something else I have to do to kick Access in the pants and make it actually use RefLibPaths to resolve the reference?

Answer

1. start MS Access XP and create a code library test database e:\consult\Charlotte\MyLib.mdb
2. create standard module [MyModule] with the following code

Public Function MyFunction()
       MsgBox "MyMessage",  vbInformation + vbOKOnly, "Test RefLibPaths"
End Function

3. make mde file: Tools->Database Utilities->Make MDE File: 
   MyLib.Mdb -> MyLib.mde
4. create a database e:\consult\Charlotte\MyApp.mdb
5. open VB (Alt+F11) window
6. from VB window menu Tools->References... open [References] dialog window
7. click [Browse] to open [Add Reference] dialog window
8. type e:\consult\Charlotte\MyLib.mde in the [File name] textbox
9. click the button [Open] - reference e:\consult\Charlotte\MyLib.mde will be added
10. click the button [OK] to close references window
11. switch to Microsoft Access window (Alt+F11)
12. create a form frmTest with a button cmdTest
13. create OnClick event's code for the [cmdTest] button

Private Sub cmdTest_Click()
     myFunction
End Sub

14. save and close [frmTest] form
15. open frmTest form in Normal view, click [cmdTest] button to see that [MyLib.mde].MyModule.MyFunction is called correctly and that test message appears
16. close e:\consult\Charlotte\MyApp.mdb and quit MS Access
17. rename e:\consult\Charlotte to e:\consult\CharlotteFoust
18. make sure that all your files are in e:\consult\CharlotteFoust folder now
19. create folder c:\testrefs
20. copy MyApp.mdb into c:\testrefs
21. open c:\testrefs\MyApp.mdb, open [frmTest] and click [cmdTestButton] - it will produce a message "Your Microsoft Access database of project contains a missing or broken reference to the file 'MyLib.mde'
22. quit MS Access
23. create a RefLibPath registry key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Access\ and a value for this key

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Access\RefLibPaths]
"MyLib.mde"="e:\\consult\\CharlotteFoust\\"

24. open c:\testrefs\MyApp.mdb, open [frmTest] and click [cmdTestButton] - it works now...

Download test files - testrefs.zip (90 600 bytes)