Today, I opened a database that I haven’t used in a while that has a custom ribbon and only had half of the icons showing?!
I’m sure many of you out there can relate, when I encounter a random problem I assume it has to be something I am doing wrong. However in this specific instance, this is a longstanding database that has been in operation for well over a decade. So, I started my troubleshooting by following the typical steps:
- reviewed the Ribbon XML
- validated the images existed. No issue there
- reviewed the VBA code behind the ribbon
- ensured my database compiled properly
- tried updating the xmlns (xml namespace), but that made no difference either
Getting nowhere with my current installation, I decided to fire up a VM running Access 2010 et voilà, my icons were indeed all still there and fully functional.
So the Ribbon XML was fine, the images were fine, the VBA code was obviously fine, proving without a doubt that this is yet again another Microsoft issue, no surprise there!
So what was going on?
Sadly, at this point in time I have no clue.
I should also mention that this has happened in the past and as randomly as they disappeared, things eventually reappeared on their own without my intervention. Will this happen again in this instance, your guess is as good as mine.
I did some digging and found out I’m certainly not the first to experience this issue, nor will I be the last.
Some times all custom ribbon icons disappear but it shows ImageMSO icons.
Initially after a reboot Access works fine
subsequently, when I open Access itself, or open a MDB or accdb file, I don't have any ribbon or menu.
If I reboot and repeat the same steps, the ribbon and menu reappear.
etc…
I have no answers, nothing more to say beyond if you found this post because you are experiencing a similar issue, know that you are not alone facing this problem!
Lessons Learnt From All Of This
What have we learnt from this issue?
Although it is nice to be able to customize a ribbon with custom icons, it apparently doesn’t pay to do so with an unstable product like Access that will randomly choose to not display them. Better sticking with the limited built-in images if you want any form of stability. OR simply don’t use the ribbon and stick with building your own menu within your objects.
A Solution (For Me At Least)
I decided to go back to my troubleshooting steps. What was I missing? So I consulted my own article on the subject:
- Restarting Access did nothing
- Rebooting the PC did nothing
- …
Then I performed an Office Repair which then proceeded to perform a reboot. When my PC came back up and I opened the database my ribbon was back?!
Absolutely nutz how unstable Access has become!
Welcome back Daniel, please keep posting. We are happy to see a good number of posts from you in September 🙂
I never left my blog, not yet at least. I have stopped participating in forums and don’t attempt to track all the crappy flawed shit (Microsoft calls updates) breaking Access continuously (nor do they – they are very selective in what they document). My blog continues, for now. When my domain/hosting renewal comes up I will have a decision to make, but until then I remain.
Hello. Mr. Daniel.
Not to get off topic from the article, but what is the procedure for the following process?
I would be very happy if you could tell me.
＞・tried updating the xmlns (xml namespace), but that made no difference either
Thanks.
You’re not off topic in the least and it’s never wrong to ask a question!
In your ribbon XML, in the first line, you should have something like:
Well, it is the xmlns (XML NameSpace) attribute that can be changed.
Sadly, finding good information on this seem near impossible, I’ve Googled and Googled…, searched directly through MS’ site and never found anything worthwhile. Even when I did find something from Microsoft, it made me turn in circles without ever given me real information on the subject. Even MS’ documentation on the “Custom UI XML Markup Specification” published 2021/8/17 only references the 2006 xmlns with no mention of the 2009 version?! All in all, some of the worst documentation and/or search capabilities I’ve ever seen.
It is merely by perusing forum threads that I have found mention of new xmlns in later versions of the ribbon.
That said, the original Access 2007 xmlns was
but later version switched it to
So when I stated that I tried updating the namespace I simply replaced the “http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2006/01/customui” portion of my ribbon XML with “http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2009/07/customui” to see if it would make any difference, and in my case it did not.
Doubling down on what Mohsin Zia Malik has said…
@John F Clark,
could you enlighten those of us who missed the Mohsin Zia Malik quote originally?
Hi Mark.
Mohsin Zia Malik’s comment was: “Welcome back Daniel, please keep posting. We are happy to see a good number of posts from you in September 🙂” which is the 1st comment on this page accessible at https://www.devhut.net/access-the-case-of-the-missing-ribbon-icons/comment-page-1/#comment-7454
Daniel,
Thank you for your hard work! I was recently pointed toward this site. Great resource!
Since you talk of deciding whether to continue to host this blog in the future, have you any plans to archive existing posts, code samples, etc?
This is an obviously selfish request. But, I would hate to lose such a valuable resource.