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Functions and properties in Access 2007 blocked by sandbox mode
 

This article provides reference information about the functions and properties that sandbox mode allows and blocks in Microsoft Office Access 2007. Note that Office Access 2007 allows several new functions to run in sandbox mode, including MonthName and StrReverse, and it now blocks several more functions, including Assistance, ExportNavigationPane, and LoadCustomUI. As you proceed, remember that you must trust (enable the content in) the database or place the database in a trusted location for the information in this article to be of use.

For more information about enabling the content in databases or placing databases in a trusted location, see the links in the See Also section.

In this article


Set sandbox mode to run unsafe expressions

When you add an expression to a database, Access runs that expression in an operating environment called sandbox mode. Access does this for databases that were created in either Office Access 2007 or in earlier Access file formats. Access enables sandbox mode by default, and in turn, sandbox mode always disables unsafe expressions, even after you trust a database.

If you trust a database and you want to run an expression that sandbox mode disables, you can run that expression by changing a registry key that disables sandbox mode. Remember that you must first trust a database to follow the steps in this section.

This figure shows the process that you follow when deciding whether to run unsafe expressions.

The decision process for enabling or disabling sandbox mode

Caution   Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your operating system, requiring you to reinstall it. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from editing the registry incorrectly can be resolved. Before editing the registry, back up any valuable data. For the most recent information about using and protecting your computer's registry, see Microsoft Windows Help.

If you are not familiar with the registry or you are not comfortable with changing registry keys yourself, contact someone who is or consider converting the database from the earlier version of Access to the Office Access 2007 file format. Also, you must have administrator permissions on the computer to change the registry values.

Change the registry key

 Important   Following these steps allows unsafe expressions to run in all instances of Access for all users on the computer.

Do one of the following:

  • In Windows Vista  
    1. Click the Start buttonButton image, point to All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Run.
    2. In the Open box, type regedit and then press ENTER.

      The Registry Editor starts.

    3. Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder and navigate to the following registry key:

      \Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Access Connectivity Engine\Engines

    4. In the right pane of the registry editor, under Name, double-click SandboxMode.

      The Edit DWORD Value dialog box appears.

    5. In the Value Data field, change the value from 3 to 2, and then click OK.
    6. Close the Registry Editor.
  • In Microsoft Windows XP or Microsoft Windows Server 2003  
    1. On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
    2. In the Open box, type regedit and then press ENTER.

      The Registry Editor starts.

    3. Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder and navigate to the following registry key:

      \Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Access Connectivity Engine\Engines

    4. In the right pane of the registry editor, under Name, double-click SandboxMode.

      The Edit DWORD Value dialog box appears.

    5. In the Value Data field, change the value from 3 to 2, and then click OK.
    6. Close the Registry Editor.

Important  Remember that if you do not first trust the database, Access disables any unsafe expressions regardless of whether you change this registry setting.

You can set the registry value to the following values, with 0 (zero) being the most permissive and 3 being the least permissive.

Setting Description
0 Sandbox mode is disabled at all times.
1 Sandbox mode is used for Access, but not for non-Access programs.
2 Sandbox mode is used for non-Access programs, but not for Access.
3 Sandbox mode is used at all times. This is the default value, set when you install Office Access 2007.

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Functions that you can use in sandbox mode

The following table lists the functions that you can use in Access database engine queries when sandbox mode is enabled. Any functions that do not appear in the list are not available in sandbox mode.

Use the links in the See Also section for more help for the most commonly used functions.

Abs Array Asc Ascb
Ascw Atn CBool CByte
CCur CDate CDbl Choose
Chr Chr$ Chrb Chrb$
Chrw Chrw$ Cint Clng
Cos Csng Cstr Cvar
CVDate CVErr Date Date$
DateAdd DateDiff DatePart DateSerial
DateValue Day DDB Error
Error$ Exp Fix Format
Format$ FormatCurrency FormatDateTime FormatNumber
FormatPercent FV Hex Hex$
Hour IIf IMEStatus InStr
InStrb Int IPmt IRR
IsDate IsEmpty IsError IsNull
IsNumeric IsObject LCase LCase$
Left Left$ Leftb Leftb$
Len Lenb Log LTrim
LTrim$ Mid Mid$ Midb
Midb$ Minute MIRR Month
MonthName Now NPer Npm
Oct Oct$ Partition Pmt
PPmt PV QBColor Function Rate
Replace RGB Right Right$
RightB Rightb$ Rnd Round
RTrim RTrim$ Second Sgn
Sgr Sin SLN Space
Space$ Str Str$ StrComp
StrConv String String$ StrReverse
Switch SYD Tan Time
Time$ Timer TimeSerial TimeValue
Trim Trim$ TypeName UCase
UCase$ Val VarType Weekday
Year

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Functions that cause errors in sandbox mode

The following Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) functions will cause an error when the functions are called from an expression in an Access database engine query, or when called from an Access property.

Use the links in the See Also section for more help for the most commonly used functions.

AppActivate Beep Calendar CallByName ChDir
ChDrive Command Command$ CreateObject CurDir
CurDir$ DeleteSetting DoEvents Environ Environ$
EOF Err FileAttr FileCopy FileDateTime
FileLen FreeFile GetAllSettings GetAttr GetObject
GetSetting Input Input$ InputB InputB$
Kill Load Loc LOF Randomize
Reset SaveSetting Seek SendKeys SetAttr
Shell Spc Tab Unload UserForms
Width        

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Functions blocked by sandbox mode

Sandbox mode blocks the following Access functions when the functions are called from an expression in a query or from an Access property. An asterisk (*) after the function name indicates a function that is new in Office Access 2007.

Use the links in the See Also section for more help for the most commonly used functions.

AddAutoCorrect AddToFavorites ADOConnectString
AnswerWizard Application Assistant
Assistance* AutoCorrect AutomationSecurity*
BeginUndoable CloseCurrentDatabase CodeContextObject
CodeDb COMAddIns CommandBars
CompactRepair ConvertAccessProject CreateAccessProject
CreateAdditionalData CreateControl CreateControlEx
CreateDataAccessPage CreateForm CreateGroupLevel
CreateNewWorkgroupFile CreateReport DataAccessPages
DBEngine DDEExecute DDEInitiate
DDEPoke DDERequest DDETerminate
DDETerminateAll DefaultWebOptions DefaultWorkspaceClone
DelAutoCorrect DeleteControl DeleteReportControl
DoCmd Echo ExportCustomFixedFormat*
ExportNavigationPane* ExportXML FeatureInstall
FileDialog FileSearch FollowHyperlink
GetHiddenAttribute ImportNavigationPane* ImportXML
InsertText LanguageSettings LoadCustomUI*
LoadFromText LoadPicture Modules
NewAccessProject NewCurrentDatabase NewFileTaskPane
OpenAccessProject OpenCurrentDatabase Parent
ProductCode Quit References
RefreshDatabaseWindow RefreshTitleBar ReloadAddIns
ReplaceModule Run RunCommand
SaveAsText SetDefaultWorkGroupFile SetHiddenAttribute
SetOption SetUndoRecording SysCmd
TransformXML VBE  

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Properties blocked by sandbox mode

In addition to the functions listed in the previous section, sandbox mode also blocks a number of object properties. The following table lists the objects and the blocked property or properties for each object.

Use the links in the See Also section for more help for the most commonly used properties.

Object Blocked Property or Properties
BoundObjectFrame Object
Combobox Recordset
Control Object
CurrentProject AccessConnection, BaseConnectionString, CloseConnection, Connection, OpenConnection
CustomControl Object
Form Dynaset
Hyperlink Add to favorites
Listbox Recordset
ObjectFrame Object
Report Recordset
SmartTagAction Execute
Screen ActiveDataAccessPage

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