Fix Access Export to Text and RTF Fails After Office 365 Update
Question details
Users are unable to export data to MS-DOS text and RTF formats using Microsoft Access VBA following a specific Office 365 update.
- Product
- Microsoft Access
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to run VBA scripts that export database information to text or RTF formats after installing Office 365 Version 2108.
- Observed behavior
- The VBA export process fails entirely. Reinstalling Office temporarily resolves the issue, but the error returns once Office automatically updates to Version 2108 again.
Always create a secure backup copy of your original ACCDB database files before applying compatibility updates or modifying VBA code to prevent accidental data loss during recompilation.
Recompile the ACCDE/MDE File in the New Office Version
Resolve version conflicts caused by the Office 365 update by recompiling your database source file in the newer environment.
The update to Office 365 Version 2108 introduced changes that can break compatibility with compiled VBA code (ACCDE or MDE files) created in older versions of Access. To fix this permanently without disabling updates, you must generate a new compiled file using the updated software.
Find the original, uncompiled ACCDB or MDB source file of your database, rather than the compiled ACCDE or MDE version you are currently using.
Open the source file using the updated Microsoft Access (Version 2108 or later). Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA Editor, click 'Debug' on the top menu, and select 'Compile [Project Name]'.
Once compiled without errors, go to 'File', select 'Save As', choose 'Make ACCDE' under the 'Save Database As' options, and click 'Save As' to generate a fresh compiled file.
Replace the failing ACCDE/MDE file with the newly generated version and test the VBA export functionality to ensure MS-DOS text and RTF exports work correctly.
Manually Export Data via the External Data Tab
Bypass the VBA execution failure by using the built-in manual export features of Microsoft Access as a temporary workaround.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Access VBA export stop working after the Office 365 Version 2108 update?
The Office 365 Version 2108 update introduced structural changes to how Access handles compiled VBA code (ACCDE/MDE files) generated from previous versions. This version conflict breaks specific VBA execution commands, including outputting data to MS-DOS text and RTF formats.
Will reinstalling Microsoft Office permanently fix the Access VBA export error?
No. Reinstalling Office only temporarily rolls back the software version. Unless you explicitly disable automatic updates in your Account settings, Office 365 will eventually reinstall Version 2108 in the background, causing the VBA export error to return.
How can I fix the ACCDE version compatibility error in Access?
You need to open the original source database (ACCDB or MDB file) using the newly updated version of Microsoft Access, recompile the VBA project via the VBA Editor, and then save it as a new ACCDE file. This ensures the compiled code matches your current Office environment.
Can I export Access data to text or RTF without using VBA?
Yes, you can manually export your data. Select the desired table or query in the navigation pane, go to the 'External Data' tab on the ribbon, and choose 'Text File' or 'Word RTF File' from the Export group to launch the manual Export Wizard.
