4GuysFromRolla.com : ASP FAQS : Databases, Errors
Question:	** UPDATED 24 June 2003 **: Why am I getting "Operation must use an updateable query" errors?
Answer:	The answer to this question comes from a post by Derek Branch in the Databases Forum on the ASPMessageboard. Here's what Microsoft has to say about the error message... It's usually a problem with permissions: [http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q175/1/68.ASP] SYMPTOMS The following is a common error encountered when using ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) with Active Server Pages: Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error ' 80004005' [Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access 97 Driver] Operation must use an updateable query. CAUSE This article explains the three primary causes of this error, and the workarounds. Although this article refers to Microsoft Access databases, the information provided here also applies to other types of databases. RESOLUTION This error is typically encountered when your script attempts to perform an UPDATE or some other action that alters the information in the database. This error occurs because ADO is unable to write to the database for one of the following reasons: The most common reason is that the Internet Guest account (IUSR_MACHINE) does not have Write permissions on the database file (.mdb). To fix this problem, use the Security tab in Explorer (see below if the Security tab does not appear!)) to adjust the properties for this file so that the Internet Guest account has the correct permissions. NOTE: When using Microsoft Access databases with ADO, it is also necessary to give the Internet Guest account Write permissions on the directory containing the .mdb file. This is because Jet creates an .ldb file to handle database locking. You may also need to give read/write permission on the Temp folder because Jet may create temporary files in this directory. A second cause of this error is that the database was not opened with the correct MODE for writing. If you perform the Open on the Connection object, you use the Mode property to indicate the permissions on the connection as shown here: SQL = "UPDATE Products Set UnitPrice = 2;" Set Conn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection") Conn.Mode = 3 ' 3 = adModeReadWrite Conn.Open "myDSN" Conn.Execute(SQL) Conn.Close NOTE: By default, the MODE is set to 0 (adModeUnknown), which generally allows updates. Another cause of this error is that the "Read Only" setting may be checked in the Options page for this DSN in the ODBC Manager. The last issue and work around pertains to any SQL data source. The error can be caused by SQL statements that violate referential integrity of the database. Here are a few of the most common queries that fail: The simplest group to deal with are those you cannot change: crosstab, SQL pass-through, union, or update (or make-table) action queries that have UniqueValue properties set to Yes. Another very common cause is when the join includes linked ODBC tables that do not have unique indexes. In this case, there is no way for SQL to guarantee that records are unique in a table that has fields whose value will change with the query. One cause does have a robust workaround. If you try to update a join field on the "one" side of a "one-to-many" query it will fail unless you turn on cascading updates. This way, you delegate referential integrity to the JET engine. Alert reader Matt Smith wrote in with the following situation and solution... "Our situation: ASP and Access DB worked fine locally - did not work when moved to the host server. 'Write' permissions were the obvious culprit, so we modified the permissions on the directory and also thru the IIS Admin interface. Still did not work. Contacted the host and they said "You need to set write permissions before you put the db in it. Try deleting the database, and re-uploading it, and it should work." Had not heard that before, but it worked." WHAT IF THE SECURITY TAB DOESN'T APPEAR IN MY FILE/FOLDER PROPERTIES? If you are not using NTFS--if you are still using Fat16 or Fat32--then it should not appear. But by the same token, you shouldn't have a need for it on such file systems. If you are using NTFS--and especially if you are using WindowsXP--then try the following steps: (1) Bring up "Windows Explorer" or "My Computer" in a window. (2) Click on the "Tools" menu in that window. (3) Click on the "Folder Options" menu item. (4) Click on the "View" tab. (5) Find the checkbox labelled "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" (6) UNCHECK that checkbox! (7) Say OK. Close the dialog. Close the window. (8) You might have to log off and back on again. I didn't, but others have reported they had to. (9) Now go view the properties of a folder or file with Windows Explorer/My Computer and see if the Security tab isn't there! Happy Programming!
FAQ posted by Scott Mitchell at 12/21/2000 6:38:47 PM to the Databases, Errors category. This FAQ has been viewed 119,416 times.