I have a database that was built in Access 2010. I'm attempting to do some work in it, but I only have Access 2007. How can I convert the 2010 file so that it can be viewed/modified in 2007? No clear cut answers on the web.

If you only have 2007, you may not be able to! Someone with 2010 may need to convert 'down' for you.

I just did a quick web search and found a ton of links ... here's one:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access-h...A010341553.aspx

No clear cut answers in general! ...

if you will be in a mixed environment between A2007 and A2010, the first thing you need to do is modify the 'New Database Sort Order' option {File | Options | General | Creating Databases (heading) }. You will want to change that option to 'General - Legacy' as the first step for creating a db that is compatible with A2010 and A2007 since A2007 does not understand the new 'General' sort order implemented with A2010.

Once you have created a new db in A2010 with the 'General - Legacy' sort order, then import your objects from the previously created db that is in the 'General' sort order. Once you have done that, you must ensure that your objects do not invoke any A2010 design concepts that are incompatible with A2007.

For a detailed listing of what A2010 can do to create incompatibility, check out: Backward Compatibility Between Access 2010 and Access 2007

Also, there are more threads here on UA, here is one in particular that talks about one of the main "gotch-ya's" in the process.

I've read most links on the web and still when I try to open the file it doesn't work. I get an error. It [censored] because I don't have access to Access 2010, yet the file I need to work with is in Access 2010 file.

To get the file to be usable in A2007, you will have to first do the stuff needed to it in A2007. If you want, you could try to save the database as an Access 2003 database (.mdb), then use that with your A2007 installation and 'upsize' it to A2007 (.accdb)