'Error 3048' August 2024

How to work around this critical bug

Since 26th August 2024, you may see this error message while running the 3di:

The message may also say Error 3037: Cannot open any more tables or queries.

After clicking 'End', the program will be unresponsive and unusable.

This is due to a bug in an automatic Office update which Microsoft rolled out on 26 August 2024. Microsoft have acknowledged the problem and have promised to release a fix in the week commencing 2 September 2024.

There is a workaround. You can follow the below steps which should get the 3di up and running again.

Alternatively, if you don't need to use the 3di immediately, you can wait: Microsoft have pledged to release an update 'soon' which should resolve the problem.

The workaround

You will add the 3di installation folder as a 'trusted location' in Microsoft Access.

1. From the Start Menu, open Access.

2. The home page opens. Click Options in the bottom left.

3. Click Trust Center, then Trust Center Settings....

4. Click Trusted Locations then Add new location....

5. Click Browse...then locate your 3di installation folder (for example 3di5_uk_210110k). This is normally found on your desktop.

   In the dialog, select the option Subfolders of this location are also trusted. It should look similar to the below. Click OK to confirm.

6. Click OK two more times to accept the dialogs.

7. Restart your computer from the Start Menu. Note this restart is necessary, unlike in many sets of instructions 😄.

You don't need to reverse the above steps at a later date. In other words, the configuration can be left in place regardless of when Microsoft release a fix.

More information

Microsoft release new versions of Office to 'home' users every few weeks. Frequently these include bugs. Enterprises like large companies and NHS Trusts instead opt to receive Office updates only twice per year. This gives Microsoft six months of free testing on home users to discover any bugs before they hit more valued customers. If you would like to switch to the more reliable 'enterprise channel' on your home machine, you can find instructions here.

Microsoft does not publicly disclose Office bugs to end users, but only to paid insiders who sometimes share this precious information with the rest of us. You can read such a report about the above bug here.