Enabling and Disabling Compatibility Fixes

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Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Vista

You can disable and enable individual compatibility fixes in your customized databases for testing and troubleshooting purposes.

Disabling Compatibility Fixes

Customized compatibility databases can become quite complex as you add your fixes for the multiple applications found in your organization. Over time, you may find you need to disable a particular fix in your customized database. For example, if a software vendor releases a fix for an issue addressed in one of your compatibility fixes, you must validate that the vendor's fix is correct and that it resolves your issue. To do this, you must temporarily disable the compatibility fix and then test your application.

Important

The Microsoft® Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.6 installs a 32-bit and a 64-bit version of the Compatibility Administrator. You must use the 32-bit version to work with custom databases for 32-bit applications and the 64-bit version to work with custom databases for 64-bit applications. If you create a custom database by using the wrong version of the Compatibility Administrator, the database will not open.

To disable a compatibility fix within a database

  1. In the left pane of the Compatibility Administrator, expand the custom database that includes the compatibility fix you want to disable, and then select the specific compatibility fix.

    The compatibility fix details appear in the right-hand pane.

  2. On the Database menu, click Disable Entry.

Important

When you disable an entry, it will remain disabled even if you do not save the database file.

Enabling Compatibility Fixes

You can enable your disabled compatibility fixes at any time.

To enable a compatibility fix within a database

  1. In the left pane of the Compatibility Administrator, expand the custom database that includes the compatibility fix you want to enable, and then select the specific compatibility fix.

    The compatibility fix details appear in the right-hand pane.

  2. On the Database menu, click Enable Entry.

See Also

Concepts

Compatibility Administrator Tool
Known Compatibility Fixes, Compatibility Modes, and AppHelp Messages

Other Resources

Testing and Mitigating Issues by Using the Development Tools