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Fix Access 2013 Errors After Using Analyze Table

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve table structure and query errors that occurred after running the Analyze Table wizard in Access 2013.

Product: Microsoft Access 2013
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Fixing database functionality after the Analyze Table wizard inadvertently breaks table structures or queries by modifying lookup fields and splitting related tables.
Observed behavior: Table structures change, Combo Box lookup fields lose their properties, and existing queries return errors due to modified or missing related fields.

Before you start

Before making structural changes to your tables or queries, verify which specific queries are failing and take note of the fields that the Analyze Table wizard recently modified.

Solution 1Recommended

Fix the List Rows Property in Lookup Fields

Restore missing or invalid List Rows properties for Combo Box lookup fields to ensure dropdown menus function correctly.

Running the Analyze Table wizard can sometimes reset or corrupt the properties of lookup fields. Specifically, the List Rows property for Combo Boxes may become blank or invalid, causing errors when trying to input data.

Open Table Design View

Right-click the affected table in the Navigation Pane and select 'Design View'.

Access Field Properties

Click on the specific field that is experiencing the lookup error. In the lower pane, click the 'Lookup' tab.

Verify Display Control

Ensure the 'Display Control' property is set to 'Combo Box'.

Update List Rows

Locate the 'List Rows' property. If it is missing or invalid, enter a valid numeric value, such as 16, and save the table.

Solution 2

Update Queries for Decomposed Tables

Adjust existing queries to account for new table relationships created when the wizard splits a single table into multiple tables.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Analyze Table wizard do in Access?

The Analyze Table wizard evaluates your database design and recommends structural changes, such as splitting a large, redundant table into smaller, related tables to normalize data and improve database efficiency.

Why did my queries break after using Analyze Table?

When the wizard splits tables, it often replaces original text fields with numeric foreign keys. Existing queries that search for or output the original text fields will fail until they are manually updated to join the new tables.

How do I undo changes made by the Analyze Table wizard?

The Analyze Table wizard does not have a built-in undo button. If you did not choose to let the wizard create a backup query simulating your old table, you must manually reverse the structural changes or restore your database from a previous backup file.

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