Error: 'The given mdb file did not contain a valid exported project. Please select a new mdb file'. (NETIQKB26173)

fact
Domain Migration Administrator 7.X

symptom
Error: 'The given mdb file did not contain a valid exported project. Please select a new mdb file'.

symptom
A mdb file error is received when importing a new project into Domain Migration Administrator.

cause

There are several possible causes for this error:

1. The size of the protar is about to exceed the 2 GB limit for an Access database.
   
2. The database you are attempting to import was copied from another install and not actually exported.
   
3. The database you are attempting to import is from a different version of Domain Migration Administrator .

fix

Here are possible resolutoins to the causes stated above. Please remember to make a backup copy of the protar.mdb file (\Program Files\NetIQ\DMA\Protar.mdb) and the project_Name.mdb file that you are trying to import. 

1. Use the Other methods for improving performance steps in the following Knowledge Base article to reduce the size of these files and then try the import again:
   
   
• NETIQKB7081 - DMA performs slowly or errors when opening a project.
  https://www.netiq.com/kb/esupport/consumer/esupport.asp?id=NETIQKB7081
  
  
2. Use the following steps to export the original project and then try the import with the newly created datbase:
   
   
1. Select the project.
   
2. Right-click and select Export Project.
   
3. Complete the wizard.
   
   
3. This is by design. You can only import projects from the same version of DMA.
   
   
• Please refer to the following Knowledge Base article for more information:
• NETIQKB16597 - Can you import an previous version project into a newer version of DMA?
  https://www.netiq.com/kb/esupport/consumer/esupport.asp?id=NETIQKB16597

Formerly known as NETIQKB26173