title: Renaming fields in linked-table MDB file pair?
body: <p>I have an Access 2003 database using MS-JET linked tables (that is, there are two *.mdb files). The overall task is to move to SQL server. However the existing databases have multiple fields with spaces and other characters that upset both of the Access migration wizards. So the intermediate task is to make a version of the existing mdb's with updated field names.</p>
  
  <p>"Simply" changing field names in the UI mdb file doesn't work, because of the linked tables being read-only in that mdb. Updating the Data mdb file field names first doesn't work because the UI mdb then throws a wobbly on startup and Access gives up.</p>
  
  <p>I'm looking for suggestions, but options I can see are:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>re-integrate the Data mdb back into the UI one, do the updates, then re-export the data. Seems very risky to me (system is live, don't want to play with data any more than strictly necessary).</p></li>
  <li><p>I've looked at several answers here relating to changing ODBC details with VBA code, which is interesting, and I can see how I might be able to programmatically edit the linked tables' names. Is this going to work? Is there a better way?</p></li>
  <li><p>Unlink all linked tables, then edit in UI mdb the remaining forms, reports, queries (but would that work??) and edit the Data mdb fields, and finally relink everything. Will it fall apart?? ... seems likely.</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Any suggestions?
  Ruth</p>