How to Fix Can't Find Project or Library Error

Amy Dennis

Jun 17, 2020 • Filed to: Recover & Repair Files • Proven solutions

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When using MS Excel document or MS Access that assimilate functions or buttons which need VBA (Visual Basic Applications) for the Macros to perform some assigned task, the user may get a compilation error “Can’t find project or library”.

Part 1: What is the cause of this Error?

• This error is usually caused by the user's MS Access or MS Excel program. The reason is that the program has a reference to an object or type of library which is missing and hence not found by the program. Accordingly, the program cannot use VB or Micro based functions or buttons. Therefore an error message is sent.
• Sometimes a library may be toggled on or toggled off causing a missing link between the library and program code. So the compilation error is issued.
• Since there are standard libraries so missing library sounds a bit of the least chance. The other possible reason, in that case, is that library miss-match is the cause of the error. For example, the user may have a library (sat Outlook) version of 2007 but the reference in the code may be looking for the 2010 version of that specific library. So the program fails to find the corresponding library thus issuing this compilation error.
• Another scenario for the same error message is concerning the use of Microsoft XP which includes a reference to web service in the VBA project. When you run this project in MS Office 2003, the same compilation error appears. The reason is the same i.e. object or type of library is missing (or not found).

Part 2: How to Repair Corrupt Excel File

For different situations, some solutions to rectify the problem or to repair corrupted Excel files are always there. Like finding out the missing library or the cause of mismatch if it exists. The library is then added or the code may be rechecked to link to the appropriate library.

How can it be done?

Following the steps:

Step 1. Open the MS Excel file, giving an error message.

Step 2. Ensure that the sheet that has defined functions or buttons is selected.

Step 3. Press “ALT and F11 keys”, for VB Editor in a new window (as below).

Step 4. Click on Tools menu and then select References from the pulled down menu, as shown

Step 5. Following dialog box will display ‘Missing object library or type’ is indicated, as shown below

Step 6. As in above display if check mark exists with the missing library, uncheck it and click OK

Step 7. Exit and save the original Excel file.

Now check to ensure respective functions are working properly.

Part 3: Repair MS Excel File with Excel Repair Tool

Third-party Excel file repair software is there to resolve all such matters quickly and accurately. One of the Best Excel file Repair software, to repair and recover damaged/ corrupt Excel files is described below.

This Excel file repair software is available for single as well as multiple systems. The file repairing tool supports all versions of windows and supports Excel 2011 for Mac. This permits repair corrupted Excel file (.XLS and .XLSX), and restore all the data from corrupt to a new Excel file.

Microsoft Excel Repair Tool

• Recovers all kinds of data stored in damaged excel files such as tables, charts, formulas, comments, images, etc.
• Restore all of your corrupted excel files to their original standing.
• Preview the repaired excel file in real-time, see how much of the file has been recovered as it is being repaired.
• All kinds of MS office corruption errors (for XLS and XLSX files only) can be handled with this tool.
• This excel file repair tool can be used on both Windows and Mac platforms to repair corrupt excel file.
• All kinds of MS office corruption errors (for XLS and XLSX files only) can be handled with this tool.
• This excel file repair tool can repair damaged files of all versions from 2000 to 2016 that includes 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, etc.

Download Windows Version Download Mac Version

Step 1 Select a corrupt Excel file from drive and search.

Step 2 Choose one or all corrupt Excel files to start to repairing process.

Step 3 Preview the repaired Excel file.

Step 4 Select a preferred location to save the repaired Excel file.

In addition to Excel Repair Tool or Excel file repair software, a few tips may be helpful for quick fixes (to recover or repair corrupted Excel file).

Case 1. When an Excel file is open try any one of the following.

1. Try on a different computer
2. Switch off Auto-save.
3. Turn off the file-sharing.
4. Do not run Excel from a floppy
5. Save the file as a web page and reopen it as an Excel file.

Case 2. When Excel cannot open the file, try one of the following.

1. Open the corrupt file on hard-drive. Copy from floppy.
2. Find .xlb file. Also, keep a backup. Delete .xlb. Restart Excel.
3. Open file in MS Word or Notepad. That will let you recover data but not formatting
4. With MS Excel 97/2000 viewer you can view the data and print. Open the file using this free program to recover data. This program will recover formatting as well as cell values.
5. Use Excel XP. This has better options for recovery.