MS Access "Can't complete the Output operation"

Anonymous

I have an Access DB which has a number of reports that can be exported - mostly in .xls format. Starting the last few days, attempting to export the reports for some users results in Runtime Error 2587 - "Can't complete the output operation". This only happens with .xls. All other export formats work without issue - .pdf, .rtf, .txt. I have tried performing exports directly through the ribbon to isolate and ensure there's no syntax or similar issue with my VB code. When attempting to export through the ribbon, the error message still says "Can't complete the output operation". Again, I can export these same reports to all the other available formats from the ribbon with no issue. It's just excel causing the issue.

I cannot replicate this issue on my system which makes troubleshooting difficult. Based on the limited similar issue's I've found posted I have had the end users with this issue attempt running a repair on Office 365 and rebooting their systems with no success. I am not a system admin so my access is limited and am currently waiting on assistance from that department.

Some users are running Win 10, some Win 11. All users have the same Surface pro. All users have Office 365 installed from the same package. I've had users with this issue send me their .mdb to try on my system and the issue goes away - further indicating this is an issue with the particular devices, and not with the database itself.

Logically speaking, it sounds to me like an issue with Office but this is a little above me so looking for some guidance on how I may be able to troubleshoot such an issue, especially being that I can only attempt fixes remotely on other users' systems.

Thank you!

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

If you are using Office 365 Current Channel, which is Version 2206, there is an update available, which you can get by choosing File/Account/Office Updates/Update Now. This should take you to Build 15330.20264.

Can anyone who is hitting this problem update to this version, and let us know if you are still seeing a problem with import/export?

Shane Groff

Access Engineering

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138 additional answers

Anonymous

2022-07-25T08:17:05+00:00

Still with the same error. The version of office 365 is as following:
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Anonymous

2022-07-24T20:29:54+00:00

This did not work for us. Check for more updates
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Anonymous

2022-07-22T16:00:13+00:00

I just ran my Access programs in O365 and had absolutely no problem. We received new W11 PCs and I decided to set one up and install O365 apps on it. No problem.
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Anonymous

I created a somewhat minimum (not) working example, reproducing the bug I encountered, when trying to export a report via VBA.

Create new database
create simple table
create report
create form

4a. add button to form

4b. add following VBA code for the button

Option Compare Database
Option Explicit

Private Sub btnExport_Click()
    On Error GoTo EXPORT_ERROR
    
    Dim exportReportName As String
    Dim exportReportFile As String
    
    exportReportName = "SomeReport"
    
    exportReportFile = "SomeReport.xls" ' 'xls' or 'xlsx' doesnt seem to make any difference

    'I dont think this is in any way related to the bug
    DoCmd.OpenReport exportReportName, acViewPreview
    
    'This line fails
    DoCmd.OutputTo acOutputReport, exportReportName, acFormatXLS, exportReportFile, True

    'This code won't be reached in case of error, cause of the 'On Error' statement
    MsgBox "It Works :)"      'no, it doesnt :(

    Exit Sub
EXPORT_ERROR:

    MsgBox Err.Number & ": " & Err.Description

End Sub

When you hit the button, a 'MsgBox' pops up with the Error number 2587.

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