Data Width Errors

This almost always suggests a data corruption problem. A data file relating to CAPITAL has had its structure changed, probably as a result of some form of operating system or

application failure or because the file has been tampered with by a foreign application. For example, modifying the structure of a CAPITAL file - intentionally or accidentally - using Microsoft Access or Microsoft Excel could result in a Data Width Error.

Typically the only reliable solution is to restore a back-up. If the problem file can be located and it is not one that is critical, it is sometimes possible to just restore/recover that

particular file. Data Width Errors can sometimes be generated by the system assigning "nil values" to database fields. The two most common causes of nil value assignment include:

    An error in the application itself.

    Internal memory corruption. (Internal memory corruption faults will also likely to generate errors such "Variable not found" and "Argument Error".)

Running the UPGRADE program with the /RESTORE switch, e.g.,

UPGRADE/RESTORE

will attempt to restore CAPITAL's file structures to their correct state. If data has been lost or corrupted due to the file change, the /RESTORE process will not recover that lost data.

The UPGRADE/RESTORE process will do no harm to a system that is in good working order, although on very large data files this operation can take a long time to complete.

If the problem is not resolved by running UPGRADE/RESTORE report the issue to CAPITAL Office Technical Support in the event that the problem is in fact related to a program defect. Program defects that report Data With Errors are inconvenient but do not cause data corruption.

13/03/2001