[SOLVED] Determine real cause of ODBC failure (error 3146) with ms-access?

Determine real cause of ODBC failure (error 3146) with ms-access?

My client is using Access as a front end to a SQL Server database. They recently started getting ODBC - 3146 errors from time to time when running some reports. From what I can tell, this is just a generic ODBC call failed error.

I've tried sticking some error handling in the VB script that is launching the reports, but I am not having any luck getting extra error information.

Code looks a bit like this.

Public Function RunReports()
  On Error GoTo MyErrorTrap

  DoCmd.OpenReport "blah", acViewPreview
  DoCmd.Close

  DoCmd.OpenReport "foo", acViewPreview
  DoCmd.Close

Exit_function:
  Exit Function

MyErrorTrap:
  Dim errX As DAO.Error
  Dim MyError As Error
  If Errors.Count > 1   'This always seems to be 0, so no help
    For Each errX In DAO.Errors  'These are empty even if dont check for Errors.Count
      Debug.Print "ODBC Error"
      Debug.Print errX.Number
      Debug.Print errX.Description
    Next errX
  Else
    Debug.Print "VBA Error"
    Debug.Print Err.Number
    Debug.Print Err.Description
  End If

  'Also have tried checking DBEngine.Errors, but this is empty too

End Function

I've also enabled tracing on the ODBC side, but that has bogged things down way too much, and I am so far unable to recreate the ODBC error.

I am completely open for suggestions on how to diagnose this.

Solution

A variety of problems can prevent Microsoft Access from connecting to a data source on SQL Server. Whatever the cause, Access tends to offer the generic Error 3146. But you aren't stuck with that. Typically there are other errors exposing the problem with clarity. Do this by reviewing all errors in the `DBEngine.Errors` collection.

You'll need error handling is turned on in VBA settings for this to work.

Sub Update_Temp()
On Error GoTo ErrorTrap
    ' Execute connect code at this point
Exit_errortrap:
    Exit Sub
ErrorTrap:
    Dim myerror As DAO.Error
    For Each myerror In DBEngine.Errors
        With myerror
            If .Number <> 3146 Then  'We aren't interested in 3146
                MsgBox .Description
            End If
        End With
    Next
    Resume Exit_errortrap

End Sub