SOLVED: Table design bug in click-to-run Access 2016

[HansV]

In the click-to-run version of Access 2016 released on June 7, 2016 (build number 16.0.6965.2053), it is not possible to change the field size of a number field in a table:

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The items in the dropdown list are all blank, and selecting one of them clears the property.
It is not possible to enter a field size manually either, it is not recognized:

S1041.png

If you started changing the field size and run into trouble, just close the table without saving its design.

Microsoft has already been informed of this bug, so hopefully it will be fixed in the not too far future.

As a temporary workaround, one can change the field size of a number field using a data definition query, e.g.

ALTER TABLE Table1 ALTER COLUMN Field1 FLOAT;

This will change the field size of the field Field1 in the table Table1 to Double. One can execute such a query from VBA, for example from the Immediate window:

CurrentDb.Execute "ALTER TABLE Table1 ALTER COLUMN Field1 FLOAT"

[Rudi]

Wow...that is quite an oversight form MS.
BTW: Out of interest, can it be done using straight VBA coding too (instead of data def. query?) (Just asking for the sake of others as negligent as I).

Addendum:
OK... it clearly looks like the data def. query method is far quicker and easier that straight VBA code.
This example, and a number of others I browsed to confirm the fact.

[HansV]

DAO only lets you change the type/size of a field before it has been appended to the Fields collection of its table. Similar for ADOX. So I think we'll have to use SQL, either in the Access interface, or through VBA.

[Rudi]

I see I posted my addendum at about the same time as your reply.
TX for the response. (Clear as always!)

[CData]

"The streaming technology enables you to download and begin to use an Office product before the whole product is installed on your computer." (Microsoft description) Any chance that it was a matter of time involving the download?.... as if you waited longer it would start to work right? ....seems unlikely to me but then it seems unlikely that a mature database would suddenly lose its field size properties. I tend to want to blame it on the new fangled streaming technology.......

[HansV]

No, that has nothing to do with it. There are lots of reports of this error; it still occurs 10 days after the update.

[HansV]

Update: my version of Office 2016 was updated today to version 16.0.6965.2063, and it looks like the problem described above has been fixed. The dropdown list shows all field sizes for number fields again.

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[Rudi]

TX for the update.

[HansV]

Hard on the heels of the previous update, I got another one: 16.0.7070.2022.

S1084.png

Fortunately, table design works fine in this version too.